Hawai‘i’s Beer Scene: Openings, Closures and Beer Festivals to Go to

There’s a lot happening in Hawai‘i beer, and we’re here to pick it apart for you.

 

 

If you’re a beer fan in Hawai‘i, sometimes it feels like nothing happens for a while, then all at once it pours. There’s a lot happening on the local beer scene this spring—and we’re here to pick it apart for you.

 

Beginnings

Koholā Brewery

Lost to the Lahaina wildfires in August of 2023, Koholā Brewery is temporarily down but its beers are once again flowing, thanks to help from Kona Brewing Hawai‘i. You can find Koholā cans like Talk Story in grocery and beer stores, and drafts including Lahaina Haze at bars and restaurants on Maui and Kona Brewing’s Kona brewpub, with the rest of the state coming soon. A taproom in Wailea should be opening in the next few months, so keep an eye on Koholā’s social media for details.

 

koholabrewery.com, @koholabrewery

 


SEE ALSO: Koholā Brewery Burned Down. So Kona Brewing Is Making Beer for Them


 

Mucho Aloha Brewhouse customers at outdoor tables

Photo: Bryce Johnson

 

Mucho Aloha Brewhouse

The state’s newest brewery just opened in Kōloa, outside Po‘ipū on Kaua‘i. You may recognize the rooster cans from the days when its beers were contract-brewed, but now Mucho Aloha Brewhouse makes its beers at its own physical location on a former plantation site. Look for Mucho Aloha beers and Baja Mexican-style grinds on your next trip to the Garden Isle.

 

5330 A Koloa Rd., muchoalohabrewhouse.com, @muchoalohabrewhouse

 

Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room Kapolei

Hawai‘i’s best beer bar and bottle shop is opening a second location in Kapolei Commons. The collection of beers on tap and canned and bottled beers will be as plentiful as the original spot in Kaka‘ako, but Village’s new location will be 1,000 square feet bigger with a full-service restaurant. The shop has been in the works for well over a year and is now hiring beertenders and servers, bottle shop cashiers, a lead cook, dishwashers and prep and line cooks.

 

4450 Kapolei Pkwy, villagebeerhawaii.com, @villagebeerkapolei

 


SEE ALSO: 10 New & Coming Eateries on O‘ahu: March 2024


 

Endings

 

Beer kegs line the floor of a production facility

Photo: Alexander Gates

 

Beer Lab Hawai‘i Waipio

The micro-chain’s largest production facility unexpectedly closed its doors in early February due to a leasing issue. That meant shifting production to the Beretania location, including moving all brewing equipment and getting it up and running. Beer Lab’s first brews at Beretania, where a recent mural contest has brought new colorful artwork to the outdoor beer garden, started on March 12, so beer is now flowing at all three locations.

 

94-515 Uke‘e St. #310, Waipahu, beerlabhi.com, @beerlabhi

 


SEE ALSO: Beer Lab Just Opened a Beer Garden and Poke Counter on Beretania


 

a tap wall and tables in a pub

Photo: Alexander Gates

 

Grace in Growlers

A pour-your-own style beer bar that donated a portion of its proceeds to local charities is also unexpectedly closing this Friday, March 29. The final days, dubbed Garage Sale Week, saw the sale of Grace in Growlers’ interior furniture and glassware. The other business on the premises, Empty Elle Bagels, is searching for a new location and hopes to bake again soon, but the beer bar will not return.

 

143 Hekili St., @graceingrowlers

 


 

Festivals

April 20: Kaua‘i Brewers Festival
Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center
4475f Nuhou St., Lihue
kauaibrewersfestival.com

 

May 18: Maui Brewers Festival
Maui Arts & Cultural Center
1 Cameron Way, Kahului
mauiarts.org

 

festive people under tents and tropical trees at a beer festival

Photo: Alexander Gates

 

July 13: Hilo Brewfest
Hilo Yacht Club
77 Laehala St., Hilo
hilobrewfest.com

 

Drinking local beer is supporting Hawai‘i jobs. However you support, cheers to beer doing great things for the community. Anything we missed? Let us know!