The Year in Beer: Who Opened, Who Closed and Best Beers of 2024
Moves and expansions outnumbered closures in Hawai‘i, plus our picks for outstanding beers from every brewery.
Photo: Alexander Gates
It feels like 2024 is coming to close just as quickly as it started. While the beer scene in the rest of the country has stagnated, with established breweries closing their doors, the scene in Hawai‘i is growing: New breweries and taprooms will appear on all the major islands. In fact, 2025 may see more openings than any year in recent memory, including Hammerhead Bay Brewing in Kāne‘ohe, Koa Brewing Co. on Maui and Lē‘ahi Brewing Co. on Honolulu’s waterfront. We may only have a few breweries per capita, but the flip side of that is there is room for new vision.
2024: Hellos, Goodbyes and Everything Else
A year after its facility was destroyed in the Maui wildfires, Koholā Brewery opened its new taproom at the Shops at Wailea in August. Thanks to a robust partnership with Kona Brewing Hawai‘i, Koholā’s flagship beers have returned to beer shelves statewide. Its draft selections are also pouring on taps again, helping reestablish the brand.
Mucho Aloha Brewhouse in Kōloa is the newest brewery on Kaua‘i. Its restaurant and taproom is already going strong, with beers making their way to bars and festivals. On O‘ahu, Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room expanded with a second location in Kapolei, with a full menu of food to pair with an excellent selection of draft and packaged beer from around the world for West O‘ahu’s growing population.
SEE ALSO: Village Beer Just Opened a Bigger Bottle Shop and Eatery in Kapolei
Its block slated for demolition and redevelopment, Beer Lab Hawai‘i closed its original University brewery and taproom; unexpectedly, it also closed its larger Waipio facility in February. Thankfully, the local chain transitioned all production to its Beretania beer garden and opened a new lounge and bar at Puck’s Alley off University Avenue.
In Kailua, Grace in Growlers closed in March after many beer-driven charitable outreach projects since opening in 2016. Honolulu Beerworks closed its original brewpub and restaurant on Cooke Street and will open a larger facility, including a taproom, in Kapālama in 2025. Beerworks’ canned and kegged beer is still on store shelves and available for takeout at the brewery. Kalihi Beer, meanwhile, is moving to a new location in early 2025.
Big changes came for two established O‘ahu brands: Aloha Beer Co. closed its Downtown and Kalākaua locations and took over Waikīkī Brewing’s Kaka‘ako facility, a move that allows for more brewing of canned beer, including contract brewing for other local breweries. Waikīkī Brewing moved production back to its OG Waikīkī location and took over Aloha Beer’s Kalākaua beer garden, with a new food menu. This writer is thankful these changes are already benefiting both breweries.
Every beer festival returned to full form this year, including Kona Brewers Festival, Maui Brewers Festival, Hilo Brewfest and Kaua‘i Brewers Festival, plus winter and summer events for the Hawai‘i Beer Fest at the Bishop Museum on O‘ahu.
SEE ALSO: Aloha Beer and Waikīkī Brewing Trade Places, Honolulu Beerworks Is Moving and More Local Beer News
My Favorite Beers of 2024
I would personally like to say mahalo to the Frolic Hawai‘i team for letting me share my favorite beers of the year. Those who know me know it means a lot not just to share this personal passion, but also to help celebrate and advocate for local beer and the people who make it.
If this is your first time reading my annual rundown, the process is highly scientific: I pick the beers I loved drinking. I chose one new 2024 release from every brewery statewide. Each brewery has its own signatures and strengths. I encourage you to visit them all and hear their stories.
O‘ahu
Aloha Beer Co.: Aww Rye! Unfiltered Rye IPA ABV 6.2%—Rye gives beer a spicy earthiness. This excellently balanced that with the pronounced hop profile of an IPA.
Beer Lab Hawai‘i: Cane Fire Smoked Red Ale ABV 7.3%—This collaboration with Wild Ride Brewing in Redmond, Oregon, showcases the smoked meat flavors balanced with the sweetness from the grain. It was savory and refreshing at the same time.
SEE ALSO: Beer Lab Opens a Fun Bar and Lounge with Food at Puck’s Alley
Hana Koa Brewing Co.: Space Dinosaur Hazy IPA ABV 7.5%—A triple collaboration commemorating the brewery’s fifth anniversary, Hana Koa and the teams from Inu Island Ales and Howzit Brewing crafted arguably the best beer of the year. It’s bright and citrusy/tropical, with a soft mouthfeel.
Honolulu Beerworks: NE Trades West Coast IPA ABV 6%—A collaboration with Tribus Beer Co in Milford, Connecticut, this brilliantly clear IPA had pronounced bitterness and flavors of stone fruits.
Howzit Brewing: TL;DR Cold IPA ABV 6.3%—The Cold IPA trend is exemplified in this beer, a collaboration with Inu Island Ales, with full flavors of bitter citrus and a delightful dryness that keeps you wanting more.
Inu Island Ales: Pistachio Latte Pastry Stout 11.8%—A giant strong and sweet stout, this showcased Bolivian Dark Roast coffee from Tradition Coffee Roasters in Kailua. The Madagascar vanilla beans and namesake pistachios brightly shined through for a delectable dessert in a glass.
Kalihi Beer: Mauka to Makai IPL ABV 4.9%—Brewed especially for Kalapawai Café & Deli locations, this crisp and refreshing lager is loaded with bright, grapefruity hops, the perfect accompaniment to beach foods.
Lanikai Brewing Co.: Pā‘ina Festbier ABV 6.1%—A collaboration with Punalu‘u Bake Shop, this light and bready German style lager is made with Punalu‘u’s famous Taro Sweet Bread, giving a local spin to a famous style.
Lōkahi Brewing Co.: Calamansi Crush ABV 5.6%—Lōkahi pivoted to producing mainly sour and fruited beers; this kettle sour with orange, lemon and calamansi imparts bright flavors of each to pucker the palate.
Waikīkī Brewing Co.: Latitude 41 Italian Pilsner ABV 5%—With a new brewer returning its beer to great form, 2024 saw a number of standouts across Waikīkī’s rainbow of styles. I had a soft spot for this one, a combination of Italian pilsner characters like a crisp and dry body, plus the wine wine grape flavors of New Zealand hops. The name is a reference to the parallel that runs through both places.
Hawai‘i Island
Kona Brewing Hawai‘i: Boots! … I Did It Again! Black IPA ABV 7.3%—For the annual Pink Boots Society Brew Day supporting scholarships for women and LGBTQA+ in the beer industry this year, Kona Brewing took the given hop blend and created something different: a black IPA with the signature roasty flavors of the malt and intense pine hop flavors.
Ola Brew Co.: Dark Cacao Altbier ABV 4.5%—One of Ola’s limited can releases, this rare German ale style of rich malt balanced well with the bitter and earthy dark cacao beans while still being light and easy to drink.
Wailuku Brew Works: Big Kahuna Belgian Strong Dark Ale ABV 10.9%—Hilo’s newest brewery has already made a name for itself with excellent offerings at festivals statewide. This giant beer is sweet and slick with candy sugar and banana/clove esters popular in Belgium.
Maui
Koholā Brewery: Laulima Session IPA ABV 5.3%—For a brewery without a brewing facility, Koholā made a mark this year. It celebrated the opening of its new taproom by collaborating with Kona Brewing Hawai‘i to make a commemorative beer. This super light session IPA was made with locally sourced dragonfruit for a light purple hue and tropical flavor.
SEE ALSO: Welcome Back, Koholā! A Brewery Destroyed in Last Year’s Fire Reopens
Mahalo Aleworks: Me & You American IPA ABV 6.4%—A collaboration with Hana Koa Brewing, this light West Coast IPA has tropical notes and is packed with newer Elani and classic Idaho 7 hops.
Maui Brewing Co.: Canoe Club California Common ABV 4.5%—With the (hopefully temporary) loss of the famous Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, MBC brewed Canoe Club as an homage to the Anchor Steam beer that was a gateway for many beer fans into the world of craft.
Kaua‘i
Kaua‘i Beer Co.: Austrian Chicken Vienna Lager ABV 6.4%—A bright and refreshing copper lager with hints of rich caramel, this is a great pairing for KBC’s food and the hot Līhu‘e sunshine.
Kaua‘i Island Brewing Co.: Helles Hath No Fury ABV 4.4%—With a second taproom and expansion of its original facility in Port Allen, it’s easy to find KIB beers—but only on Kaua‘i. A bright and clean Helles is a delicious complement on a cruise break or after fishing.
Nāpali Brewing Co.: Hamajang IPA Hazy IPA ABV 5.8%—Celebrating its first year, and with a new famous brewer taking the helm, Nāpali Brewing is already making waves. This hazy IPA is a solid offering that I got to enjoy at Kaua‘i Brewers Festival.
Mucho Aloha Brewhouse: Chili Peppah Watah Japanese Rice Lager ABV 4.1%—Another one I got to try for the first time this year, this was a great combination of an ultra light and slightly sweet rice lager with a noticeable kick of chile peppers, a great pairing for salty and spicy foods.
I had many great beers from the following breweries, though not any new ones. Cheers to Big Island Brewhaus, Hilo Brewing Co. and Kohanaiki Brewery!
What were your favorites? Whatever you chose, thank you for reading and supporting local beer in Hawai‘i.
