If you’re looking for the best brewery Waikiki offers, you’ll likely head straight to Waikiki Brewing Company. This icon stands proudly at the corner of Kalakaua Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard. They serve up an awesome menu of beer, cocktails, and food – definitely don’t miss it when you’re in town.
But that’s not the only place you can sip and experience the unique flavors of Waikiki Brewing.
Waikiki Brewing in Kakaako
After seeing so much success at its flagship brewery, the Waikiki Brewing Company has expanded its operation to a new, larger brewing facility and brewpub in Kakaako. It’s one of dozens of new businesses that are remaking Kakaako from an industrial area into a residential and commercial urban oasis.
Waikiki Brewing’s original location remains a popular destination for visitor and resident brew enthusiasts alike, and the Kakaako location follows a winning formula on a larger scale.
Prioritizing Local Products & Sustainability
Part of that larger scale means more byproduct, or “mash,” from the brewing process. That is the spent grain left behind as wheat, barley, and hops become beer.
Waikiki Brewing’s spent grain isn’t simply tossed away as garbage. Rather, it is re-purposed to Oahu ranchers as feed for livestock.
Of course, ingredients like hops, barley, and wheat have to be brought in (in Waikiki Brewing’s case, from the Pacific Northwest), but locally sourced ingredients are key to the unique characteristics of the brewery’s products. Chocolate, lemon grass, honey, coffee: Waikiki Brewing uses a variety of Hawaii-grown products in the brews they make.
As part of that effort, Waikiki Brewing uses aluminum cans manufactured on Oahu, and its six-pack holders are made from 98% recycled content. And those holders won’t strangle any sea life.
The brewery even uses oak barrels from Ko Hana Rum (also an Oahu-made product) during the aging process, adding yet another facet to the flavor profile of its nationally acclaimed brews.
Beyond Beer
And although the brews alone are worth a visit, Waikiki Brewing’s Kakaako location also offers a sumptuous food menu, courtesy of a large kiawe (mesquite) smoker out back that makes down-home barbeque that pairs perfectly with the brews on offer. And the Sunday brunch there is quietly becoming a Kakaako institution for residents that live or work in the area.
Visitors can select a mix-and-match six pack or growlers to go, or beer flights that explore the range of flavors Waikiki Brewing offers, from the light and airy Aloha Spirit Blonde Ale to its award-winning Black Strap Porter. There are more than 14 varieties that the brewery produces, with at least nine of them available on tap at the Kakaako location at any time. The selection varies seasonally, based on the availability of the locally-grown ingredients used in the brewing process.
Other Waikiki Brewing Locations
Looking to get a taste of a Waikiki brewery while visiting Maui? Head to its Wailea location. Waikiki Brewing has a great restaurant inside the Shops at Wailea.
You can also find the brewery’s selection of beer in stores throughout Hawaii.
A Classic Waikiki Brewery
Of course, you can’t beat a classic Waikiki brewery experience. That’s why we’re always quick to recommend the original location to any beer enthusiast or casual drinker. Or, even visitors who are simply looking for good bar food in a fun environment!
Want even more great recommendations for restaurants and breweries in Waikiki and beyond? Work with a Hawaii Aloha Travel advisor as you plan your vacation. We’re a team of local experts eager to recommend the islands’ hidden gems, fan favorites, and newest hotspots!
