A little over a year ago, one of Hawaii’s few breweries was sold out of bankruptcy to a relatively unknown buyer. Long time Honolulu oncologist, Dr. Paul DeMare, beat out a slew of other bidders to purchase Hawaii Nui and Mehana Brewing Company based in Hilo. Many wondered, why a life long doctor, would purchase … Continue reading
Where did you grow up? I grew up in the Pacific NW, specifically Spokane and Portland. In fall 1996 I was managing an independent restaurant chain when Cameron Healy asked if I’d move from Portland to join Kona Brewing Company. They were looking to help grow craft beer awareness in the Islands as well as … Continue reading
Billy Smith recently took over as the brewmaster at Kona Brewing Company and I thought I’d catch up with him to see what his plans were for the Big Island brewery. 1. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Indiana, and then I moved to Colorado where I started my professional brewing carrier … Continue reading
When I decided to start this blog the first person I knew I needed to meet was Doug Lamerson. He has been actively involved in the beer community in Hawaii for over 30 years, though he isn’t in the industry. His regular email blasts of beer news and happenings are received by everyone in the … Continue reading
To say that Andy Baker has seen and done it all in the beer industry in Hawaii wouldn’t be a stretch. Sales for a large distributor, check. Marketing, check. Brewery owner, check. Craft beer evangelist, check. He loves everything about beer and has been incredibly influential in the growth of craft beer in the state. The … Continue reading
The Hawaiian brewing community runs deeper than you think. Hawaii has world class breweries creating incredible beers, but our roots also run deeper than that. Like so many of us born and raised in Hawaii, Fal Allen eventually migrated to the mainland and ended up in the Pacific Northwest. There he discovered real craft beer … Continue reading
Every beer lover (local and visiting) has to eventually make a trip the Kona Brewery and Pub on the Big Island. Aside from the picturesque bar with a wide array of beers you can only find in the Kona pub, you’ll also want to take a tour of the brewery around back. There you may … Continue reading
