The 5 Best Local Beers in Hawaiʻi in 2024
Cheers to the winners in our 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Hawaiʻi has produced beer since the mid 19th century, but it wasn’t until the early ’90s that craft breweries began popping up. By the 2010s Hawaiʻi’s craft beer movement was in full swing. Although the Kakaʻako neighborhood on Oʻahu is the local craft beer mecca, the five best local beers —voted by HAWAIʻI Magazine’s readerss—are spread statewide.
1. Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi
Photo: Courtesy of Kona Brewing Hawaiʻi
Kona Brewing opened in 1994 as Hawaiʻi’s first craft brewery and has since become a nationally recognized brand. After brewing on the mainland for years, Kona Brewing Co. recently opened a sustainable, state-of-the art brewery and canning facility steps away from its original location on Hawaiʻi Island, enabling them to produce beer once again on island. If you’re on Oʻahu visit the Hawaiʻi Kai location in Koko Marina Center. Cool off with a refreshing, low-ABV Kona Light Blonde Ale. konabrewinghawaii.com
2. Maui Brewing Co.
Photo: Courtesy of Maui Brewing Co.
Maui Brewing Co. prides itself on keeping a low carbon footprint. From utilizing solar energy to sending spent grain to farmers its operations and packaging are sustainable and eco-friendly. Try the newest release: Da Hawaiʻi Life Lite Lager, a crushable low-cal beer produced in partnership with Epic Swim Maui, a world-premier event happening on Maui this month to promote ocean health awareness. mauibrewingco.com
3. Kauaʻi Beer Co.
Photo: Courtesy of Kauaʻi Beer Co.
Open since 2013 in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi Beer Co. is the quintessential neighborhood microbrewery, serving artisan batches of quality craft beer and matching menu of smash burgers, tacos and shareable apps. (The Bavarian pretzel is a must.) The German-style schwarzbier Black Limousine was its first beer; the second, and arguably the most poopular, is the Līhuʻe Lager, a malty, German-style pale lager with tropical flavors. Also, it’s dog-friendly! kauaibeer.com
Read More: Līhuʻe’s Kauaʻi Beer Embodies Brewing with Aloha
4. Aloha Beer Co.
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From its inception, Aloha Beer Co. has been known for clean, well-balanced beers made in traditional styles. Visit the flagship location in Kakaʻako for tastings and tours of the brewery or to relax in the dog-friendly beer garden, or visit their location in Waikīkī on the main strip near Waikīkī Beach Walk. Try the Fruit Lupes IPA, a classic Aloha Beer Co. brew bursting with tropical fruit flavor and aroma. alohabeer.com
5. Big Island Brewhaus
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Brewer Thomas Kerns, the original brewer at Maui Brewing Co., opened Big Island Brewhaus with his wife in 2011 to pursue their dream of creating a place in Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island for the community to gather over good beer, food and music. Beers range in a variety of worldwide styles from lagers and pilsners to crème ales and Belgians and everything else in between. Try the White Mountain Porter, a sultry toasted-coconut-and-Hāmākua-Estate-Coffee-infused porter with notes of milk chocolate and dark malt. bigislandbrewhaus.com
See all of the winners of our 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards in our latest issue, which you can buy here. Better yet, subscribe and get HAWAIʻI Magazine delivered to right to your mailbox.
