Honolulu Weekly

Most people agree that the microbrewery revolution is over and that its death probably happened shortly after they tried to televise it. (Anybody remember those awful Pete’s Wicked Ale commercials?) Poor media planning aside, huge corporations guzzled down most of the microbreweries long ago, or at the very least monopolized distribution to get in on the action, making the purchase of so-called independents a futile effort in small-brand loyalty.

Some brewers, however, had the foresight to branch out beyond the manufacture of hops and barley and formed restaurants that served as accoutrements to their alcoholic creations. While that’s not an automatic path to success, when done right it allows for two great tastes that go great together–beer and food. And really, what else is there? Don’t answer that. But if there was a way Kona Brewing Company could provide sex along with those two mentioned previously, many of us would never leave their property.

Knowing that a company might not survive on beer alone, Kona Brewing Company started their first restaurant/pub combination on the Big Island in 1998, just shy of three years after bottling their first concoction. It took another five years to bring a second store to the Koko Marina Shopping Center in Hawaii Kai, but it was worth it.

Despite the brewery history, the name, and the beer vat decor, the alcohol factor is downplayed. The O’ahu location only devotes a small space to the bar, instead concentrating most of its 7,000 square feet to tables both inside and surrounding the outside of the establishment. The 275-person seating capacity can get jammed with locals, people passing time before a movie at the nearby theater and tourists on their way back to town after a jaunt to Hanauma Bay.

This is where a review becomes difficult, since it’s hard to decide whether to write about the beer, such as Kona’s splendidly smooth Hula Hefeweizen, or the food, like the Big Wave Shrimp Melt, filled with chunks of garlic so big they might as well call them cloves. With the extensive collection of brew and menu items, both are worth sampling. If you can’t decide, there are plenty of sampler platters, both of the liquid kind and others with more substance.

Though the Koko Marina Shopping center location could hardly be called a nightlife hot spot, particularly as they close at 11pm, there is plenty of entertainment available. Wednesday through Sunday night the brewpub features live music, most following a Hawaiian theme, but running the gamut from traditional to contemporary. But even if you arrive earlier in the day, the nine signature beers and additional seasonal offerings provide more than enough entertainment.

Kona Brewing Company

7192 Kalaniana’ole Highway, 394-5662
Getting In: All ages welcome, but bring ID if you want the beer
Dress Code: Super casual.
Soundtrack: Pop muzak during the day, live entertainment Wed. - Sun.
Sightings: That family that was driving waaaay to slow on H-1.
Signature Drink: With a beer to fit every taste, you make your own signature drink.