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Kona Brewing Company

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Kona Brewing Hawai'i
Longboard Island Lager, Kona Brewing's flagship beer
LocationKailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
United States
Opened1994; 30 years ago (1994)
Annual production volume220,000 US beer barrels (260,000 hL) in 2012 [1]
Owned byPV Brewing

Kona Brewing Hawaii is a brewery and pub headquartered in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island with a sister location in Hawai‘i Kai on O‘ahu. Formerly owned by Craft Brew Alliance, Kona is now owned by PV Brewing Partners since September 2020. The state-of-the-art brewery on Hawai‘i Island produces approximately 10 styles of beer that are brewed on a regular basis and served only to the local Hawai‘i market at Kona Brewing Hawaii’s locally-operated pubs in Kailua-Kona and Hawai‘i Kai, along with restaurants all over the islands.

Company history

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Kona Brewing Company is the state’s longest-running craft brewery. Since its founding in 1994 by father-and-son duo Cameron and Spoon Healy, Kona Brewing Company has grown into a nationally recognized beer brand. In 2020, Kona Brewing Hawaii was established as an independent brewery, separate from the mainland's Anheuser-Busch operation, with the mission to brew fresh, local craft beers exclusively for Hawaii.

Located down the road from the original Kona brewery and brewpub, the new brewery has an annual capacity of 100,000 barrels and includes a canning line. This 30,000-square foot brewery is one of the most sustainable breweries in the world, generating and storing solar energy on site, recovering CO₂ from its own fermentation process, and recovering and purifying process water for brewery cleaning and irrigation.

Kona Brewing Hawaii has made significant strides to provide for the local community through its Makana Giving program. This community initiative provides support for local nonprofits that align with Kona Brewing Hawaii’s pillars to protect our environment and enrich the quality of life for all. Previous support has gone to the Eddie Aikau Foundation, Waipā Foundation and Surfrider Hawai‘i chapters.

Year-round beer offerings

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Year-round beers [2]

  • Longboard Island Lager[3]
  • Big Wave Golden Ale[4]
  • Castaway IPA[5]
  • Fire Rock Pale Ale[6]
  • Kona Light Blonde Ale[7]
  • Gold Cliff IPA[8]
  • Hanalei Island IPA[9]


Island-only beers[10]

  • Island Colada Wheat Ale[11]
  • Mai Time Wheat Ale[12]
  • Hibiscus Brut IPA[13]

Breweries and sourcing

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In 2012, Kona Brewing Company produced 220,000 US beer barrels (260,000 hL) of beer from its Kona brewery and other production facilities on the mainland.[1] Kona Brewing Company runs its flagship brewery in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island. Kona Brewing Company brands were also produced at Widmer Brothers Brewery in Portland, Oregon, and Redhook Ale Brewery in both Woodinville, Washington, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the sister subsidiaries of Craft Brew Alliance, Inc. Ownership by Craft Brew Alliance granted the company access to the Anheuser-Busch distribution network, which, according to Hawaii Business Magazine, "has the most technologically sophisticated distributor system in the country, with computer terminals in thousands of independently owned distributors and its own network of wholly owned distribution branches."[14]

Recipes and beer specifications are dictated by Kona Brewing Company's brewmaster, who oversees all production at each Kona Brewing Company's partner breweries. The beer brewed at Kona Brewing Company's partner breweries utilizes Kona's hops, malt, and proprietary yeast. In order to create a consistent experience across the board, the water mineral levels at each brewery are adjusted to replicate the water used in Hawaii. First the water is treated for impurities and then minerals are added to mimic the fresh water available in Hawaii.[15] Water is an important aspect of all Kona Brewing Company's beers. A sample of every batch of beer is sent to the Kona, Hawaii brewery and corporate offices for sensory evaluation.

Hawaii roots

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Kona Brewing Company has three restaurants in Hawaii with 250 employees working on the islands in the brewery, restaurants and in the corporate offices.

  • Rift Zone Indigenous Red Ale is brewed using yeast cultivated and found only on the volcano rifts from the Big Island.
  • Pipeline Porter is brewed with 100% Kona coffee from their neighbor on the Big Island, Cornwell Estate
  • The ginger in their Big Island Ginger is cultivated in Kona.
  • The lemongrass in the Lemongrass Ginger Luau is grown on-site and at employees' houses.
  • Cacao nibs for specialty beers are sourced from Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory.

Key people

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  • Nathalie Carisey, president[16]

Growth and distribution

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In 2009, Kona Brewing Company was ranked #14 in sales of all craft brewers in the US (approximately 1,450) according to the Brewers Association.[17][18] Kona's beers are available in the United States in 25 states and the District of Columbia.

Longboard Island Lager, Big Wave Golden Ale, and Fire Rock Pale Ale are available all year. Wailua Ale and Pipeline Porter are limited releases of the Aloha Series, available for six months each in bars and grocery stores and specialty beer shops. Wailua Wheat Ale is available March through August and Pipeline Porter is available September through February. The company launched its third Aloha Series beer Koko Brown Ale to the West Coast in February 2011.

Caps, labels and advertising

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The collectible caps of Kona beers all have Hawaiian words partnered with their English definitions. There are now 50 words in the collection.

All labels depict actual beaches and island scenes in Hawaii, such as Longboard Island Lager showing Honolulu's Waikiki Beach on Oahu. The crater in the background is Diamond Head. The label shows "surfers backed by Hawaii's volcanic mountains ride blue, blue waves toward a broad and sandy beach. The logo itself echoes a tribal tattoo, adding to the local vibe."[19] In the late 2010s, the company produced television commercials through its "Bruddahs" campaign with actors Dave Bell and Brutus La Benz, who play friends making observations about "mainlanders" while discussing Kona beers.[20][21][22]

Sustainability and community support

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Kona Brewing Company supports numerous community events throughout the year, including surf and surf-inspired events and causes that celebrate Hawaiian people, land and water. These include sponsoring professional surfers Jeff Silva and CJ Kanuha. Kona supports Sierra Club's Blue Water Campaign[23] and a number of chapters of Surfrider Foundation, including the Pacific NW and Hawaii's Surfrider Kona Kai Ea Chapter.

Kona brings the Sno-Kona Pond Skim to Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon, where each spring costumed skiers and snowboarders skim across an icy pond. The athletes compete for a number of prizes, among them a trip to Hawaii.[24] Kona Brewing is also a sponsor of Portland's Backyard Bang,[25] a snowboarding rail jam event in the streets of Portland's Pearl District, and the Art Institute of Portland. Kona also sponsored the 15-city North American tour for Lost Prophets – Search for the Collective in 2009.

As of January 2008, Kona has had a sustainability coordinator.[26] Also, according to the Big Island Visitor's Bureau sustainable tourism practices section, "Kona's restaurant was constructed with recycled materials and adorned with native woods; local produce, fresh-caught fish and sustainably-raised beef on menu. Heat reclamation systems in the brewery greatly reduce energy demand; plastic, paper, metal, glass and cardboard are recycled, takeout containers are made of plant-based materials and automatic faucets and toilets reduce water usage."[27]

"Hawaiian" brewing controversy

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In March 2017, Kona Brewing Company faced a class-action lawsuit on the claim of whether its beer was actually brewed in Hawaii or not.[28] In September 2020 the case was settled and appeals resolved. Purchasers of Kona Beer between February 28, 2013, and June 14, 2019, were compensated up to $20 each (with receipts) or $10 each (without receipts).[29] Only their beer served on tap in their Hawaiian locations are actually brewed in Hawaii, all other beer produced by Kona are produced at Craft Brew Alliance facilities in New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington. As a result of the settlement, all Kona beer has to include a label as to where it was produced.[30]

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  • View of the Kona Brewing restaurant in Hawaii Kai
    View of the Kona Brewing restaurant in Hawaii Kai
  • Marina-side view of the Kona Brewing restaurant in Hawaii Kai
    Marina-side view of the Kona Brewing restaurant in Hawaii Kai

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Kona Brewing hits Ohio shelves, bringing taste of Hawaii to Midwest".
  2. ^ "Kona Brewing Co. - Kona Brewing Co". Kona Brewing Co. 27 Aug 2020.
  3. ^ "Longboard Island Lager | Kona Brewing Co". BeerAdvocate. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  4. ^ "Our Beers". Kona Brewing Co. 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  5. ^ "Castaway IPA | Kona Brewing Co". BeerAdvocate. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  6. ^ "Fire Rock Pale Ale | Kona Brewing Co". BeerAdvocate. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  7. ^ "Our Beers". Kona Brewing Co. 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  8. ^ "Kona Brewing Company to Release Gold Cliff IPA". Brewbound. 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  9. ^ "Hanalei Island IPA lands in the Golden State". Kona Brewing Co. 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  10. ^ "Kona Brewing Co. - Kona Brewing Co". Kona Brewing Co. 27 Aug 2020.
  11. ^ "Kona Island Colada Cream Ale". www.beermerchants.com. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  12. ^ "Our Beers". Kona Brewing Co. 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  13. ^ "Hibiscus Brut IPA | Kona Brewing Co". BeerAdvocate. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  14. ^ ""Brewing National Success," Hawaii Business Magazine, November 2007". Archived from the original on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  15. ^ "Kona Brewing Brings the Taste of Hawaii to Minnesota - Minnesota Beer Activists". mnbeeractivists.com. 22 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Midweek.com Mattson Davis Profile". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
  17. ^ Brewers Association 2009 North American brewery rankings[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ Kona is in the top 50 for 2009, Pacific Business News, April 14, 2009
  19. ^ du Terenne, Veronique (March 25, 2010). "Beer label art matches the quirky character of the microbrews". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  20. ^ "Kona Brewing's 'Bruddahs' Mystified By Screen Obsessions". www.mediapost.com.
  21. ^ Jason Genegabus (June 1, 2016). "Kona Brewing brings 'Bruddahs' back for new ad campaign". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  22. ^ "Kona Brewing's 'Bruddahs' Make First National TV Campaign". Big Island Now - Kona Brewing’s ‘Bruddahs’ Make First National TV Campaign.
  23. ^ "Brew, Blue Water - quite a splash". the.honoluluadvertiser.com. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  24. ^ "Travel Oregon, Pond Skim". Archived from the original on 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  25. ^ "Salomon Backyard Bang Rail Jam This Saturday". Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  26. ^ "Brewing with a eco-friendly conscience". archives.starbulletin.com. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 2008-06-29.
  27. ^ "Big Island Visitor Bureau". Archived from the original on 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  28. ^ "Kona Brewing Co. Sued for Not Actually Brewing Its Beer in Hawaii". 2 March 2017.
  29. ^ "Kona Beer Hawaiian Origin Class Action Settlement". Top Class Actions. 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  30. ^ Bernot, Kate. "If you thought Kona beer was brewed in Hawaii, you're probably eligible for a refund". thetakeout.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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