What's Good Hawaii?

[Juncture]

I was recently in Hawaii and was disappointed in Beer Lab. Nothing really stood out to me as great, but overall it's a decent place.

Village Bottle Shop was pretty good, their selection wasn't the greatest in terms of draft, but their bottle selection is decent. I went on a Sunday and the place was pretty packed. The location is nice too, lots of cool art around the neighborhood.

 

[jmgrub]

I was recently in Hawaii and was disappointed in Beer Lab. Nothing really stood out to me as great, but overall it's a decent place.

Village Bottle Shop was pretty good, their selection wasn't the greatest in terms of draft, but their bottle selection is decent. I went on a Sunday and the place was pretty packed. The location is nice too, lots of cool art around the neighborhood.

With the caveat that Oahu is leaps and bounds better than the Big Island beer-wise, you don't come to Hawaii for the beer (at least not yet).

I thought BeerLab was solid when I visited. Had a couple of good IPAs and a refreshing fruited gose or berliner (don't remember which).

Still need to make it over to Village Bottle Shop sometime.

 

[FoudreGuy]

beerscenes and I are off to Kauai with our families in less than a month. Not excited or anything.

How are those Ola cans? I see they make it over to the island.

Also, are the Lanikai special bottles (sours, stouts, barleywine, etc.) still Oahu only?

 

[jmgrub]

beerscenes and I are off to Kauai with our families in less than a month. Not excited or anything.

How are those Ola cans? I see they make it over to the island.

Also, are the Lanikai special bottles (sours, stouts, barleywine, etc.) still Oahu only?

As far as Ola goes, Ma'a Lager is my go to beach beer right now (and my go-to Ola beer in general). My favorite of the cans. Need to try the Kona Gold (pineapple cider) in cans soon.

 

[WICali]

you don't come to Hawaii for the beer (at least not yet).

This is true. Regardless, the best beer on Oahu is served at the Harbor Pub, Suzie Wong's Hideaway and Arnold's. Thank me later.

 

[jmgrub]

Just an FYI in case anyone is planning an Oahu trip for late 2019 or early 2020, Ola's investor packet that I saw at the brewery a couple of weeks ago indicates that they are opening a tasting room on Oahu (location not disclosed) late in 2019 (wouldn't be surprised if that got kicked to 2020 though).

 

[FoudreGuy]

How's their IPA? Looks like that's the only can that they send over to Kauai.

 

[jmgrub]

How's their IPA? Looks like that's the only can that they send over to Kauai.

Satisfactory. Would be surprised if they're not also sending the Ma'a Lager (which I prefer) to Kauai, but cannot independently confirm.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Satisfactory. Would be surprised if they're not also sending the Ma'a Lager (which I prefer) to Kauai, but cannot independently confirm.

Ola’s website only shows the IPA at one shop on Kauai, br I’ve also seen it at others stores on Yelp pictures. Guess I’ll just find out for myself in a couple weeks.

The vastly different distribution channels between the islands is so weird.

 

[jmgrub]

Ola’s website only shows the IPA at one shop on Kauai, br I’ve also seen it at others stores on Yelp pictures. Guess I’ll just find out for myself in a couple weeks.

The vastly different distribution channels between the islands is so weird.

I would be surprised if the grocery stores on Kauai didn't have more than just IPA, but lemme know what you find in a few weeks.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Man, Untappd's "purchased here" function is super helpful in tracking down beers to get in Kauai next week.

Maui Makena Cloud IPA? Safeway in Kapaa.
Ola Ma'a Lager? Foodland in Kapaa.

And people say Untappd sucks.

 

[jmgrub]

Man, Untappd's "purchased here" function is super helpful in tracking down beers to get in Kauai next week.

Maui Makena Cloud IPA? Safeway in Kapaa.
Ola Ma'a Lager? Foodland in Kapaa.

And people say Untappd sucks.

Makena Cloud was solid IMO. Had it on draft a couple times a few weeks ago. Could be getting a bit on the older side at this point though.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Had a great time in Kauai.

The Hawaii beer selection is much improved in the stores than it was three years ago. Lots of cans from more than just Maui now. Ola, Honolulu Beerworks, Waikiki, etc.

The selection of non Hawaiian beers is much worse than last time. Princeville Wine Market still had the same Cascade bottles they had three years ago with a “warning these are sour and there are no refunds!” sign. Didn’t see Logsdon, Belching Beaver or Eclipse anymore.

Draft on the island is a combination of InBev, Kona, Maui and Honolulu Beerworks if you’re lucky. The two breweries on the island are either uninterested in or unable to distribute outside their facilities to other places on the island which surprised me.

Had dinner at Street Burger one night which had a huge taplist that was mostly InBev (10 Barrel, Golden Road, Elysian, Goose Island, Four Peaks, etc.) with a few local taps and the only place I saw Breakside anywhere on the island. Curious how long their BCBS keg is gonna last...

Best bet is to bring your own beers and take them to Kauai Ono. Best dinner deal on the island at $60.

 

[danbanana]

Had a great time in Kauai.

The Hawaii beer selection is much improved in the stores than it was three years ago. Lots of cans from more than just Maui now. Ola, Honolulu Beerworks, Waikiki, etc.

The selection of non Hawaiian beers is much worse than last time. Princeville Wine Market still had the same Cascade bottles they had three years ago with a “warning these are sour and there are no refunds!” sign. Didn’t see Logsdon, Belching Beaver or Eclipse anymore.

Draft on the island is a combination of InBev, Kona, Maui and Honolulu Beerworks if you’re lucky. The two breweries on the island are either uninterested in or unable to distribute outside their facilities to other places on the island which surprised me.

Had dinner at Street Burger one night which had a huge taplist that was mostly InBev (10 Barrel, Golden Road, Elysian, Goose Island, Four Peaks, etc.) with a few local taps and the only place I saw Breakside anywhere on the island. Curious how long their BCBS keg is gonna last...

Best bet is to bring your own beers and take them to Kauai Ono. Best dinner deal on the island at $60.

My wife and I will be heading to Kauai around this time next year for our 5th anniversary. Just looked up Kauai Ono and **** yessss that will be on our list. Thanks for this.

 

[yabu]

Best bet is to bring your own beers and take them to Kauai Ono. Best dinner deal on the island at $60.

This! x 10 !

I filled up our luggage with beer. Cold Ipa's from the states in the warm climate of kauai, was fabulous.

 

[FoudreGuy]

We drank Hill Farmstead E and a Holy Mountain Sunroom at Kauai Ono. Go with something Brett forward or without fruit to accentuate the food there.

Also drank four bottles of Floodland on beaches with proper glassware and stouts back at our place.

I’d also like to just say that Hanalei Island IPA on draft is killer. $4 happy hour pints at the Oasis restaurant at the Waipouli resort where we stayed. Galaxy hops and POG. Plus made on the Big Island and not like the bottles made in Portland.

 

[rcubed1]

We drank Hill Farmstead E and a Holy Mountain Sunroom at Kauai Ono. Go with something Brett forward or without fruit to accentuate the food there.

Also drank four bottles of Floodland on beaches with proper glassware and stouts back at our place.

I’d also like to just say that Hanalei Island IPA on draft is killer. $4 happy hour pints at the Oasis restaurant at the Waipouli resort where we stayed. Galaxy hops and POG. Plus made on the Big Island and not like the bottles made in Portland.

Yeah the Kona stuff brewed on the BI is good.

 

[jmgrub]

Yeah the Kona stuff brewed on the BI is good.

Yeah, haven't had a bad pub beer yet. They tend to stick to a pretty safe set of styles (with an island flare), but they do them well.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Yeah, haven't had a bad pub beer yet. They tend to stick to a pretty safe set of styles (with an island flare), but they do them well.

I noticed that StreetBurger had a Kona Hibiscus Brut IPA on tap the morning we left. Looks like they're trying something slightly outside their safety wheelhouse.

 

[jmgrub]

I noticed that StreetBurger had a Kona Hibiscus Brut IPA on tap the morning we left. Looks like they're trying something slightly outside their safety wheelhouse.

That's true. My downstairs neighbor works in marketing for Kona Brew and gifted me a few crowlers of that beer a week or two ago. Great for the beach. While it sounds like something more experimental for them, it still had a relatively "safe" taste to it.

 

[FoudreGuy]

With access to all the locally grown fruit you'd think they'd try some hazy/milkshake IPAs, sours and maybe pastry-ish stouts, but clearly their clientele at the Oahu and Big Island pubs aren't interested in any of that.

 

[jmgrub]

With access to all the locally grown fruit you'd think they'd try some hazy/milkshake IPAs, sours and maybe pastry-ish stouts, but clearly their clientele at the Oahu and Big Island pubs aren't interested in any of that.

Yeah Ola is doing some hazy/milkshake stuff. Just had the lilikoi lime milkshake IPA on Saturday.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Yeah Ola is doing some hazy/milkshake stuff. Just had the lilikoi lime milkshake IPA on Saturday.

That's actually something that surprises me. I know some of the breweries on Oahu are doing fruited stuff and Maui has done a few, but kinda surprised that the majority of fruited beers over there are lilkoi and guava wheat beers.

Taro or Haupia Pie Imperial Stout. Easy enough.

 

[rcubed1]

Granted I haven't been to Ola in almost a year but it seemed like they were using all their more interesting fruits in the ciders.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Ola's Kona Gold cider was really damn good. Wish I would've bought more than a single can.

 

[jmgrub]

Granted I haven't been to Ola in almost a year but it seemed like they were using all their more interesting fruits in the ciders.

This is still correct, aside from the relatively new milkshake IPA series (the two thusfar have been lilikoi lime and tangelo) and the double IPA series (watermelon and grapefruit so far).

That's actually something that surprises me. I know some of the breweries on Oahu are doing fruited stuff and Maui has done a few, but kinda surprised that the majority of fruited beers over there are lilkoi and guava wheat beers.

Taro or Haupia Pie Imperial Stout. Easy enough.

You could do a BA stout with some combination of coffee, cacao, vanilla, coconut, honey and sea salt all using island ingredients.

 

[jmgrub]

Was at Ola last night for trivia and just wanted to reiterate how good the new batch of Lilikoi Lime Zest "Milkshake" IPA is. One of the best beers I've had on the island, and perfectly suited for the climate.

Also, Ola posted on IG this morning that they have put their first beer into Woodford barrels, but didn't say what it was.

 

[jmgrub]

In case anyone is coming to the Big Island in the next few weeks, I was at Kona Wine Market yesterday and they told me that they are going to have a keg of Parabola on for growler fills hopefully either late this coming week or next week.

This is a rare occurrence here, so thought I'd give the heads-up.

If not, I will drink it all.

 

[jmgrub]

In case anyone cares, after many delays, Ola started food service tonight. Dumplings, salads, poke (from one of the best local spots, Da Poke Shack) and flatbreads. Serving from 5-9 PM to start, noon-9 PM to follow once they have their system dialed in. One of only a few places serving food after 8 PM in town, so that's a plus. Dumplings were solid, and my wife said the poke was very good (as is typical for Poke Shack).

 

[NeedsMoreDog]

In case anyone cares, after many delays, Ola started food service tonight. Dumplings, salads, poke (from one of the best local spots, Da Poke Shack) and flatbreads. Serving from 5-9 PM to start, noon-9 PM to follow once they have their system dialed in. One of only a few places serving food after 8 PM in town, so that's a plus. Dumplings were solid, and my wife said the poke was very good (as is typical for Poke Shack).

yes this is relevant to my interests. my folks have a timeshare at paniolo greens