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.
Local beers
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.

bigislandbrewhaus.com

 

Pineapple Mana Wheat, Maui Brewing Co.

Maui Gold pineapple gives this smooth wheat beer a tropical kick.

mauibrewingco.com

 

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.

hawaiinuibrewing.com

 

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.

homeofthebravebrewing.com

 

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.

lanikaibrewing.com

 

Hana Hou Hefe, Waikīkī Brewing Co.

This mild, crowd-pleasing beer is just the ticket for hot, sunny Island days.

waikikibrewing.com

 

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.

alohabeer.com

 

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.”

beerlabhi.com

 

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.

honolulubeerworks.com

 

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.

koholabrewery.com

 

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.