Drink Local Guide: 10 Locally Brewed Beers to Try Right Now
From two styles of IPA to a Thai peanut ale, these locally brewed beers should be on your must-drink list.
Photo: Steve Czerniak
Golden Sabbath, Big Island Brewhaus
The sweetness of local honey comes through in this strong Belgian ale, tempered by deep notes of stone fruits and spices for easy drinking.
Pineapple Mana Wheat, Maui Brewing Co.
Maui Gold pineapple gives this smooth wheat beer a tropical kick.
Hapa Brown Ale, Hawai‘i Nui Brewing Co.
Rich without weighing you down, Hapa Brown is an award-winning brown ale that smells of light toffee and tastes of smooth caramel malt.
Pilot Pale Ale, Home of the Brave Brewing Co.
This patriotic pale ale is light and citrusy with a subtle sweetness and dough malt body. A well-balanced beer celebrating America’s fighting men and women.
Pillbox Porter, Lanikai Brewing Co.
Locally made in Kailua, the porter was one of the original beers the company launched, and it still delivers with flavors of vanilla, chocolate and malt.
Hana Hou Hefe, Waikīkī Brewing Co.
This mild, crowd-pleasing beer is just the ticket for hot, sunny Island days.
Hop Lei IPA, Aloha Beer Co.
Taking inspiration from West Coast, hop-forward IPAs, this citrusy, zingy beer makes a forceful counterpoint to Aloha Beer’s more well-known lager.
Nimbus IPA, Beer Lab HI
Founder Nic Wong says this East Coast-style IPA is one of few to remain on the tap menu for months. He says it’s best enjoyed “very, very fresh, within days of brewing.”
Bangkok Wheat, Honolulu Beerworks
A truly one-of-a-kind “Thai peanut” ale with coconut, fresh lemon and Hawaiian chilies, this beer is only a small-batch run, so try it before it’s gone.
Lokahi Pilsner, Koholā Brewery
This German-style pilsner beer has a grainy malt sweetness and was a 2016 Great American Beer Fest bronze medal winner.
Read more about drinking local in the October issue of HONOLULU Magazine, on newsstands now, or click here for the digital edition. You can also purchase the issue at shop.honolulumagazine.com.
