The craft beer community in Hawaii has experienced a lot of change and growth in the last year. Tons of great new breweries have gained distribution, new local breweries opened for business and we’ve seen more beer focused bars open their doors. A year ago this month Troy Terorotua opened Real A Gastropub and the beer scene on Oahu has never been the same. The team at Real, including beer manager Tony Raso, have helped changed the craft beer landscape in Hawaii by working tirelessly to gain access to new beers. Real will be celebrating its 1 year anniversary this week and has a stellar list of rare and special beers it will be tapping.

One beer comes from San Diego based Ballast Point and was specially made just for Real’s anniversary. Real has a special relationship with Ballast Point and we can thank Tony for helping to get them distributed in Hawaii. I caught up with Tony to get more details on the one of a kind beer that Ballast Point made just for Real. Tony is a San Diego native and developed a close relationship with Colby Chandler, R&D Director at Ballast Point, while managing the beer program at a local bar. “When I moved to Hawaii in 2008, I brought the beer over to Hawaii and continued to show my support. When the time came for our Anniversary Beer, I approached Colby and asked him to make a beer for us. He was very happy to do a custom blend of three small batch beers and release it exclusively to us” Raso noted.

The Ballast Point Real Anniversary beer is an even blend of 3 beers including 12%ABV Barmy Honey Apricot Ale, 10% Dorado IIPA and 7% Fathom IPL. The final product comes in at 9.7%ABV and is a Imperial IPA with notes of Honey and Apricot. Raso mentions, “the Dorado should help bring the bitterness and grapefruit aroma to the Barmy and the Fathom IPL should also add some citrus and pine to the aroma.”

This special blend is exclusive to only Real and the tap room at Ballast Point. So if you’re not planning on being in San Diego anytime soon, you’ll want to make sure you make it to Real’s Anniversary party this Thursday to give it a try. Tony is excited to share the blend with Hawaii’s craft beer community. “Should be loved by both beer geeks and non-beer drinkers alike. At least that’s the idea behind it, but since we are the only place to ever pour this, I guess we’ll find out Thursday.”

I’d suggest you get there early!