Kona Brewing Co. | Kailua-Kona, HI
Beer Trip: Kona Brewing Co. in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Kona Brewing is an absolute oasis!
Any fan of craft beer knows Kona Brewing Co., so when we booked a trip to the Big Island, we made visiting one of our top things to do. Offering an awesome outdoor seating space, a great tour, and recognizable brews straight from the source, this was an afternoon we won’t soon forget.
Chris enjoying a taster at the Thirsty Gecko
Morgan enjoying a brew on the patio
The Brewery
Kona Brewing is located just a few minutes from downtown and has its own nice-sized parking lot (which is convenient because one does not have to pay to park in contrast to most of the nearby area). You certainly can’t miss the place as you pull up, as they have two large grain tanks towering over the area with their logo plastered right in between them. The outdoor space is one of the cooler ones we’ve experienced, as it is surrounded by a bamboo fence, trees, and shrubs, making you feel like you’re at a tiki bar in the middle of the jungle. There are tons of tables and chairs spread about, each with its own umbrella for shade. With the weather being consistent year-round, almost the entire place is outdoors - but they do have a small indoor space with a few tables and a 12-person wrap-around bar.
The “Growler Shack” and tour check-in hut
Ready to take the Liquid Aloha bus on our tour!
Since visiting Kona Brewing was one of our top activities for the trip, we signed up for the brewery tour. They picked our group up via bus and drove us down the road to the brewery, where we learned their history, the brewing process, and unique things about their facility. One thing that really stood out compared to other brewing tours we’ve been on is their dedication to being eco-friendly. They recycle their excess water during the brewing process to be treated and used again for cleaning. Our guide mentioned that most breweries use 7 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of beer, while Kona has it down to somewhere between 3 - 4 gallons. Another cool feature is where they get their power. In true Hawaiian fashion, they utilize solar panels (1,211 of them, to be exact) for some power, but the truly impressive thing was that they capture methane gas from miscellaneous byproducts and trash, which powers onsite generators. No good tour would be complete without sampling some beer, and they have you covered with their flagship Big Wave to start, and 4 more tasters at the end. You get to enjoy these samples in a private tasting room, The Thirsty Gecko, away from the rest of the day’s patrons.
Fun keychain souvenirs with every tour
Our guide was super knowledgeable!
The large outdoor patio
Smaller, indoor bar area
Learning the history of Kona Brewing
Views of the brewing facility
Checking out pallets ready for distribution
The Beer
The one category we were slightly disappointed with at Kona Brewing was their beer selection. Although they do have 14 different beers on tap, only two of those are exclusive to the brewery itself, and the rest we had already tried before on the mainland. Their beer is solid - we were just hoping to have tried some unique offerings while visiting the primary source. It is worth noting, however, that according to our tour guide, all beer produced at Kona Brewing in Hawaii isn’t pasteurized, vs. the rest of Kona Brewing beer on the mainland. Supposedly, this offers a slightly different taste, and, of course, the Hawaiian brew is better. Obviously you can’t go wrong with any of their brews like the Big Wave, Longboard Island Lager, Castaway, or Hanalei Island IPAs being staples. Kona prides itself in its “5th ingredient,” which is “Liquid Aloha” in every brew.
Our first taster of the day
Fun sampling in the Thirsty Gecko
Each brew contains “Liquid Aloha!”
Food, Merch, & More
The chicken nachos were delicious
Kona Brewing has a full kitchen with a variety of things like salads, pizzas, tacos, fish, and ribs. You can also get a cocktail or wine if beer isn’t your vibe, along with a standard selection of drinks for kids or others who don’t drink alcohol. During our afternoon visit, we opted for some happy hour chicken nachos that paired nicely with our post-tour buzz.
As you could imagine, they have just about everything you could think of for merchandise, all housed within two little huts near the entrance. One hut has tons of shirts, hats, signage, towels, mugs, and frisbees, while the other is geared towards to-go beer and allows you to mix and match a 6-pack. There is also another merchandise stand with Thirsty Gecko and Liquid Aloha exclusives in the brewery building on the tour. Unfortunately for us, the one item we wanted was a Big Wave tap handle for the house - but they no longer sell them.
Some of the merch section
The primary merch hut
The exclusive merch area on the tour
More tour-exclusive merch
Kona Brewing Co. is, by far, the most popular brewery destination - not just on the Big Island but in all of Hawaii. Based on our experience, it is easy to see why. With its classic brews, one-of-a-kind patio, and unforgettable tour, this place should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Cheers!
Checking out the to-go beer selection
The Thirsty Gecko!
