Real Ale

Hi

Are there any micro breweries in Oahu or any bars selling beers from small breweries?

Larsue

Real Ale

Hi Larsue,

There are a few on Oahu. Kona Brew pub in Hawaii Kai, Brew Moon at Ward, and Gordon Biersch in the Aloha Tower market place. I like Kona the best out of those three. Sam Choy%26#39;s on Nimitz also brews their own beer, not too bad.

Aloha

Real Ale

Hi Mokuloa kane

I will be staying at the Marriott waikiki next week and would like to know if the places that you mentioned are within walking distance. I too am very interested in Brewpubs/Microbreweries. Also Is there a brand called Longboard and if so where is it available?

Thanks

tom

Longboard is a Kona Brew lager.

Kona Brew Fire Rock is their best-selling ale, but they also make Lavaman Red Ale.

Longboard and Fire Rock are available at the markets, even Safeway, but most of Kona Brew%26#39;s specialty ales are at the brewery only.

Haven%26#39;t been on Oahu, only in Kailua-Kona, but I think it would be safe to say it%26#39;s a fun experience.

The most intense beer joint on the island, a classic American Ultra-Bar %26amp; Grill...

Is the Yardhouse in the newish Beach Walk project, at 226 Lewers St in Central Waikiki. It has some 130+/- beers on tap.

The corporate website which has a list of ones that may be available is, (followed by the center%26#39;s webpage):

www.yardhouse.com/locations_list.asp鈥?/a>

www.waikikibeachwalk.com/dine_details.aspx鈥?/a>

Of those previously mentioned, Gordon Biersch has the best location by far, right on the harborfront in a great shopping district, and the beer has a solid German taste, potent and full-bodied. It is well-known to those in the Western US where several brew pubs are located; and also the maker of the ';house name'; beers they sell in Trader Joe%26#39;s markets.

Sam Choy%26#39;s on Nimitz Highway has the best food by far (a renowned local chef), and the beer is surprisingly above-average to good-plus.

Brew Moon in Ward Centre reflects local tastes and is relatively light (even for their porters/stouts), clean (no full aftertaste), and super low bitterness. Pretty good food in a Northwest Modern setting, though.

While one can get fresh and ';true'; Kona Brewing Co. products (inlcuding Longboard) on tap in many Honolulu bars, all of the bottled beers you buy of their products (no matter where) is produced on the West Coast nowadays.

The original Kona Brewing facility in the Old Industrial Park in Kailua-Kona only makes enough to fill the demand for kegs.

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;all of the bottled beers you buy of their products (no matter where) is produced on the West Coast nowadays.

yes, but several years back the owners explained to me that this was not by their choice ... they were forced to bottle on the mainland.

suggest Yates and Jackson in Lancs.....in the north

Ale in Hawaii....get serious chum....it aint here

Larger is all we go.... chilled. Fire Rock Ale...is a poor mans lager.... not a bitter in the lot....

Cheers

HD

KK...

It is all part of Anheuser-Busch%26#39;s plan to control the world of American brewing.

They identified numerous brands they wished to exploit, inlcuding Kona Brewing, Widmer Bros., and Red Hook, and then purchased meaningful interests in them. They got their interests in the KBC by buying a substantial share of Widmer, who in turn was a major holder of KBC ownership.

They could not begin to competitively ';tap'; (yes, a pun) the potentials of the brand, particularly its popular Longboard product via a Big Island bottling plant; too costly, too hard to ship; too little capacity potentials....it had to be made on the mainland if only for ease of marketing purposes.

And, now you can find it in most major grocers and bottle shops on the West Coast.

Has it impacted quality or taste? Who%26#39;s to say, but when bottled, it is not a local Hawaiian product any longer.

Interesting, amberloo ...

what I thought I remembered, from maybe five years ago, was that the brewery was running into obstacles with licensing from the state to sell the bottled beer.

We were at the brewery in Kona, talking to the owner, and asking why only Fire Rock and Longboard were available in the stores.

Do you know if this was prior to Busch acquiring its interest?

As he told it then, other major beer companies were making it hard for KBC to expand.

I felt bad for them. From what they said, they had no wish to be bottling in Oregon and wanted to stay local.

My husband is a beer guy, and I would like to take him to lunch at one of the brew pubs mentioned, esp. Kona Brew. But we%26#39;ll have the kids with us. Are any of these place more family friendly than others?

Have not been to Yard House on Waikiki but have been to others. Food was very good and they had over 50 beers on tap. A selection of imports, craft beers and local ones. Plan on checking out the one in Waikiki in July.

I am also staying at Marriott Waikiki and am pretty sure it is within walking distance.