A TOUR OF KAKA'AKO'S BEER SCENE

In the islands where the mai tai has reigned supreme, a crop of new breweries in the Kaka’ako neighborhood of Honolulu has brought attention to the good ol’ brewski. While we know that the pandemic has hit bars especially hard, and the following breweries are not doing business in the same way as usual, you can bookmark this page for when we can all share a brew together again. Until then, pick up their cans and growlers to-go to show your support.

In the last decade, Kaka‘ako, the historic center of Hawaii’s original breweries, has once again become home to the craft beer movement in the state. But old fashioned it is not. Local brewers get creative with ingredients and flavors of the islands to whip up tropical-inspired ales, blondes, and stouts.

The OG of Hawaiian beers, Primo, was founded in 1901 and brewed in the historic red brick building on Queen Street in Kaka‘ako. It is still in stores today. Together with its main competitor, Royal Beer, it dominated the local beer scene from the 1930s to 1962, when Royal Beer fizzled out and Primo moved production to the mainland. It would be another 30 years before in-state brewing returned to Hawaii.

Today, the Queen Street area is once again the epicenter of the beer craze across the state, with new breweries popping up every couple of years. We’ve done the hard work of sipping our way through Kaka‘ako to give you the lowdown on the best brewpubs in town.

ALOHA BEER CO.

Master brewer Dave Campbell, who once owned the first home-brew shop in Hawaii, partnered with businessman Steve Sombrero to open Aloha Beer, located between the original Primo and Royal Beer locations. Come for the brew—the indoor pub serves eight signature beers on tap, including the popular Hop Lei IPA—stay for the food. The outdoor carport houses a food truck offering specialties from pork guru Robert McGee as well as handmade artisan pizza pies from one of our favorites, Fatto A Mano. Those in-the-know head upstairs to the HiBrau room, a speakeasy hidden in their factory. The masculine, moody-chic décor pairs nicely with their strong cocktail list. 700 Queen St., Honolulu

HANA KOA BREWING CO.

The newest kid on the block is the two-story warehouse of Hana Koa Brewing, opened by couple Josh Kopp and Chrissie Pinney when they moved home after working in the California beer biz. The interiors are sleek and modern and the menu is a far cry from typical bar food—think smoked eggplant bruschetta, a selection of salads, and spicy lettuce wraps. Try their Pina Hoplada, a coated coconut IPA with hints of pineapple; or the Black is Beautiful, an imperial stout with the taste of chocolate lava cake whose proceeds go to the Popolo Project here in Hawaii. 962 Kawaiahao St., Honolulu

HONOLULU BEERWORKS

Named after the historic Honolulu Ironworks that was located a few blocks away, this neighborhood stalwart was one of the first brewpubs in the state, and has remained a staple for the after-work and after-surf crowd. Think long, communal tables, outdoor seating, and ample brews on tap.  Try the Point Panic Pale Ale, named for the famed surf spot down the street. 328 Cooke St., Honolulu

VILLAGE BOTTLE SHOP & TASTING ROOM

Can’t make up your mind on which brewery to visit? The Village Bottle Shop in the SALT complex carries beers from its Kaka’ako neighbors, other Hawaii breweries and beyond. Its tasting room has a rotating selection of 16 beers and 8 wines on tap (you can check online to see the state of each keg), from the likes of Maui Brewing Co. and Big Island Brewhaus, to obscure favorites from the mainland and Europe. The bottle shop offers countless more varieties of beers and ciders to-go. Monday night trivia draws a crowd and their savory pies are not to be missed. 675 Auahi St., Honolulu

WAIKIKI BREWING

With the opening its second location in Kaka’ako (the first is, fittingly, in Waikiki) in a new, larger facility, Waikiki Brewing became one of the largest producers of craft beer in Hawaii. This outpost boasts two bars carrying 10 beers on tap along with a BBQ-centric menu and cornhole area. Their six signature brews are available in to-go growlers or in cans sold in stores across the state. We especially love how Waikiki Brewing is on a mission to support the local economy: the cans are made in Kapolei, spent grain goes to Mountain Valley Farms, and grain bags are upcycled to a local roofing company. Cheers to that! 831 Queen St., Honolulu