Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Beer Dinner Tonight Pairs Barbecue with Aloha Beer Co.
It’s the second of the resort’s three-part Summer Beer Dinner Series with all-local Hawai‘i breweries.
Photo: Alexander Gates
The Hilton Hawaiian Village is no stranger to celebrating local beer—they’ve hosted the Great Waikīkī Beer Festival, after all. Now, the hotel has a Summer Beer Dinner Series that pairs local flavors with local breweries. I was invited to the first, featuring beers from the classic Kona Brewing Hawai‘i at Tropics Bar & Grill on the beach. It was a precursor to tonight’s dinner—a global barbecue theme with Aloha Beer Co.—and an August seafood celebration with Koholā Brewing from Maui.
Photo: Alexander Gates
This is a great evening for any local beer fan. Here’s a recap of the kickoff in June to whet your whistle.
Photo: Alexander Gates
The four-course menu was a fusion of German cuisine with a local spin. From Kona Brewing Hawai‘i, master brewer Vincent Morenza shared the inspirations behind his choices of beers for the courses. We started with a Pūpū Duo: a Kaua‘i Goteborg Bite with sushi rice, spicy bigeye ‘ahi poke and tobiko; and a crispy Kualoa Ranch oyster with bacon pineapple relish, Maui lavender and saikyo miso aioli. This was paired with Gold Cliff IPA, a tropical beer made with local pineapple juice.
Photo: Alexander Gates
Then came a “German Plate Lunch” of swordfish schnitzel with lemon and parsley, house-made bratwurst, rye sauerkraut and German potato salad. Leaning into German classics, this was paired with Wailua Wheat, a summer seasonal to refresh the palate.
The entrée was Eisbein Ham Hock with Okinawan sweet potato spaetzle (an egg noodle), braised red cabbage, parsley, red wine vinegar and Kona coffee sauce. This came with one of my personal favorites, Fire Rock Pale Ale, now only available in Hawai‘i. Throughout, we nibbled on a variety of breads, including soft pretzel bites with Hilton’s house-made whole grain mustard.
The finale? Lavaman Red Ale with apfel and zimt finger, which is caramelized apple, vanilla cream, apple compote, streusel and caramel sauce.
“I’m 100% German and haven’t made German food in so long,” Hilton executive sous chef Joseph “JJ” Reinhart told us, “so this is special to me. My main focus is Japanese cooking, so you’ll see those flavors mixed in.”
The evening was relaxed, with a beautiful sunset and live music nearby. If you’re a beer fan and appreciate a great meal, this is a lovely and memorable evening on Waikīkī Beach. If you’re at tonight’s Beer Series barbecue dinner with Aloha Beer Co., stop by and say hi—I’ll be there too!
The event is for 21+ only, with tickets priced at $95 plus tax and tip.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beer Pairing Dinner with Aloha Beer Co.
Where: Tropics Bar & Grill inside Hilton Hawaiian Village
When: Wednesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $95 plus tax and tip, available online
Parking: Validated at Hilton Hawaiian Village
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Alexander B. Gates is a regular contributor to Frolic Hawai‘i. @alohastatebeer
