How To Spend American Craft Beer Week in Hawaii

Live the postcard!

American Craft Beer Week is coming up May 16-22.  Why not spend it in Hawai’i?   Why not plan your trip to see both Maui and the Big Island of Hawai’i?

Get an early start to ACBW on the island of Maui. Hawai’i Nui Brewing and Maui Brewing Company will be sponsoring the Maui Brewers Festival on Saturday May 14.   The Maui Brewers Festival is the perfect opportunity to taste fine craft brews, sample local food, and rub elbows with fellow beer geeks.

Why are we teaming up?  Hawai’i Nui Brewing and Maui Brewing Company are the only two local companies to brew and package craft beer right in Hawai’i.

On the Aloha Friday of American Craft Beer Week itself, May 20, Hawai’i Nui Brewing is hosting a tasting reception at the brewery in Hilo.  We’ll have all of our small-batch craft brews on tap and will also serve a variety of pupus to complement the beer styles.  Stop by at pau hana time.  Spend an evening under the stars, listen to some great music by a local artist, enjoy the freshest beer in town and talk story.  Tickets will be available for advance purchase at the brewery for $10, or $20 at the door.

Save these dates:

• Saturday May 14 on Maui
• Aloha Friday May 20 on the Big Island of Hawaii!

Visitors, make your travel arrangements now.

Find us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter for more news about how to spend American Craft Beer Week in Hawai’i.

Visitors to Maui can see the sun rise from atop Haleakala

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Visitors to the Big Island of Hawaii can see the sunset from amid the observatories on the summit of Mauna Kea

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Theres more to Hawaii than beer alone!

Can’t you see yourself in Hawai’i for American Craft Brewers Week?

Kona Brewers Festival 2011

It was our pleasure to participate in the Kona Brewers Festival 2011.

Mahalo to the organizers and volunteers who rallied quickly to avoid areas damaged by the tsunami generated by the Sendai earthquake. The Kona Brewers Festival 2011 was moved up mauka from our traditional gathering grounds at the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawai’i to the parking lot outside Kona Brewing Company. Thankfully for Kona BrewFest attendees, this new venue was only a short walk away.

Kumu Keala Ching and Halau Na Wai Iwi Ola opened the event with a ceremony of Hawaiian blessing.

Kumu Keala Ching opening the Kona Brewers Festival

Hawai’i Nui Brewing was strongly represented. Some of the team members were too hot and sweaty to be pictured here. LOL! Others on the team remained photogenic longer…

Hawaii Nui Brewings Madison, Dannie, Head Brewer Kaiao, and Leah -- all looking cooler than they felt at the Kona Brewers Festival 2011

The Daniel Thiebaut restaurant of Waimea offered a delicious preparation of Big Island grass-fed beef. Chef Thiebaut braised the beef brisket in Hawai’i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale. It was served atop a puree of potatoes and butternut squash, was garnished with a papaya chutney. Ono!

Chef Daniel Thibault and his team emphasized eating local. The popular Waimea restaurant presented Big Island grass-fed beef brisket braised in Hawaii Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale

Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse served Tahitian ceviche — tiger shrimp and local fish marinated in lime, cilantro, tomato, fresh herbs and coconut milk. Each flavorful serving was presented on top of a taro chip. Cool, refreshing, delicious!

Team Humpys offered an unforgettable ceviche at the Kona Brewers Festival

Café Pesto delivered a mouth-watering preparation of beef braised in Hawai’i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale. It was accompanied by local mushrooms simply cooked for an unforgettable taste.

Café Pesto offered a beautiful dish of local beef braised in Hawaii Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale

As a palate cleanser between the offerings of so many talented Hawai’i chefs, I passed often by the stand offering a selection of Big Island fruit and locally grown edible flowers.

Big Island fruit and edible flowers

Volunteers poured Hawai’i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale and Sunset Amber Ale, along with Mehana Mauna Kea Pale Ale and Volcano Red Ale. Our assigned spot was one of the few without a tent. Because the whole event was located this year in a parking lot on top of a black lava field on a very warm day in Paradise, our spot felt like an oven. As luck would have it, we were downwind of the smoker at the next stand. A special shout-out of thanks to the volunteers who were assigned to pour our beer. They deserve a medal of honor!

No shade in a hot parking lot at mid-day... What did these volunteers do to deserve to be assigned to our stand?

From time to time, we were able to wander around the BrewFest, but our volunteers had to stay put, roasting in the sun.

Andy Baker and Renée Cettie (background) following our fearless leader Keith Kinsey as he sidled into a neighboring stand, seeking a little shade.

The Kona Brewers Festival was a great opportunity to try beers from around the country. My hands-down favorite on that hot day hailed from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales.

Ninas favorite new flavor at the Kona Brewers Festival. Not the most artistic photo, but I wanted you to have the info to track this down for yourselves.

The Kona Brewers Festival is a time to reconnect with friends and remember those we’ve lost. Here we raised a toast to Hawai’i homebrewer Rocket Rod.

Remembering Rocket Rod and all the ones weve lost along the way

The King Kam Hotel was sorely missed, not only for its hospitality, but also for its ocean breezes. The hotel suffered considerable Tsunami damage, but the art collection was unharmed. See our Facebook page for photos of the damage to the grounds of the King Kam Hotel.

Sand, seawater and broken glass in the lobby of the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kailua-Kona. Thankfully the tsunami of March 12, 2011 did not damage the art collection.

Aloha, Nina Lytton

Hawai‘i Nui Brewing honored at United States Open Beer Championships

The #1 Brown Ale in America

Winners in the 2010 United States Open Beer Championships – the only brewery competition to include professional breweries and award-winning home brewers – were announced in Atlanta. More than 700 beers in 50 different categories were submitted.

We’re pleased to report that two of our beers, Mehana Mauna Kea Pale Ale and Hawai‘i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale, were honored with medals.

Hawai‘i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale won the US Open Beer Championship Gold medal in the American Brown Ale category. Introduced just a year ago, Hapa Brown Ale is the beer that surprised the world by winning a silver medal winner at the World Beer Cup earlier this year

Mehana Mauna Kea Pale Ale was awarded the Silver medal in the American Pale Ale category at the United States Open Beer Championships.

We are proud to see our fellow proponent of truly local Hawai‘i beer, Maui Brewing, show the mainland breweries how it’s done! Like us, Maui Brewing produces, packages and brings to market authentic Hawai‘i products. Maui Brewing, of local canning fame, was named Grand National Champion by winning two gold, five silver, and two bronze medals. Hana hou!

Mahalo and contratulations to our team at the Hawai‘i Nui Brewing ohana brewery: Keith Kinsey, John Walsh, Kaiao Archer and Chris Heit.

We always knew Mauna Kea Pale Ale would someday be appreciated a world-class brew!

Why brew a porter in Hawaii? Isn’t it too hot to drink porter in Kona?

In a recent blog post, Beer Obsessed asked, “Why do people brew porters in this climate?”

A root beer float, not

We can offer a few thoughts on this topic, in defense of our beloved Mehana Hawaiian Crow Porter.

The Big Island of Hawaii has one of the most diverse climates on earth and there is ample room for heavier beers such as porters.

Sure, it can and does get really, really hot at sea level in the lava fields around Kailua-Kona where most of the resorts are located.

If you’re in Kona or elsewhere at sea level on the dry side of the Big Island during the heat of the day, AND you’re determined to try a Hawaii-brewed porter, what you probably want is said porter served as an ice-cream float for dessert.

That said, you could also choose to go somewhere and consumer your porter wearing fleece. A rotisserie climate is not representative is not representative of the entire Big Island.

AlohaIsles.com has a good page on Big Island weather. They put it this way:

“There are 13 climate zones on Earth. The Big Island has all of them except the Arctic and Saharan. Pressure variations, rainfall, wind, elevation and topography combine to create distinct variations across the island. Some of the climates you may encounter in Hawaii are humid tropical zones, arid and semi-arid zones, temperate zones, and alpine zones.To fully appreciate this you must experience it. Within one day on the Big Island, you can travel through rainforests, snow covered mountain tops, deserts and beaches.”

At the brewery in Hilo, for example, there was a record cold temp last Saturday. Down to 64 degrees Farenheight. A 20 degree drop from what we’re used to. This is fleece weather and eminently porter-worthy.

Many local residents of Hawaii island choose to live in cooler microclimates. There’s so much choice here on the Big Island! Our fearless leader Keith lives in Kailua Kona at around 1,000 feet above sea level. That’s good, cool sleeping weather every night of the year. And of course some local residents prefer microclimates such as Volcano or Waimea that are cooler both day and night.

The cool climate of Waimea is immortalized in the Hawaiian mele, Ka Ua Kip’upu’u. The duo Nā Palapalai includes this mele on its Na Hoku Award-Nominated Album, Nanea. <– Click this link and listen to track # 13, Kau Ua Kipu’upu’u. Here’s the translation…

Beautiful is Waimea
In the chill, in the cold
Beautiful indeed is Waimea
In the chill, in the cold

Refrain:
In the kipu’upu’u rain of Waimea

Love for that place comes happily to me
Maunakea is seen
Beckon to me, majestic Maunakea
The home of Poli’ahu

Sung is my song for the Kipu’upu’u rain
In the chill, in the cold

I am listening to Nā Palapalai’s album, Nanea, as I write this post. It’s a great addition to my library of Hawaiian music.

In the Hawaiian language, the word ‘alalā — Hawaiian Crow — can also be used to refer to a style of chanting or singing. Hence, it only seems right to defend our porter with a song.

Aloha, Nina Lytton

What’s the best way to toast a World Cup Football win? Same way as to toast a tie!

World leaders agree to disagree on their beer

“President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron may agree on weighty issues like Iran and Afghanistan but their “special relationship” stops when it comes to soccer,” according to the Reuters News Service.

“Obama and Cameron had just finished a call that covered foreign policy issues and the BP Plc oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The president ‘affirmed his deep commitment to the special and historic relationship between our two countries,’ the White House said.

Then beer — and a little bit of friendly ribbing — entered the chat.

‘The president noted that the historical record of previous World Cup matches between the United States and England favors the United States and the president wagered the best lager against the best beer in America on an American win over England,’ the White House said.”

Now that the result is a tie, what’s the appropriate brew to use for a toast?

We humbly submit that there are three clear choices for the official US toast — all three brewed and bottled here in Hawai’i.

• For you beer guys and gals, we offer Mehana Brewing Humpback Blue Beer.
• For the lager lovers among us, we suggest Mehana Brewing Hawai’i Lager.
• For those who inclined to celebrate a battle of football equals, we propose Hawai’i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale: Inspired by the traditional British method of combining brews; Winner of the World Beer Cup 2010 Silver Medal for American Brown Ale.

What’s your verdict?

Big Island beer judged world class, Hawai’i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale awarded Silver Medal at World Beer Cup®

April 10, 2010 was a big night for the Big Island of Hawai’i.

Why? All eyes in Hawaii were riveted on the finals of the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, a touchstone of Hawaiian culture.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is dedicated to the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education. Over its nearly 50 year history, the Merrie Monarch Festival has led to a renaissance of the Hawaiian culture that is being passed on from generation to generation.

The Merrie Monarch Festival attracts worldwide attention the week after Easter every year. Those who weren’t lucky enough to be in Hilo with a ticket in hand for the finals on April 10 were glued to the TV and the Internet. KITV streamed the Festival live to viewers in on the mainland, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, India, the Middle East, Indonesia, Australia and Japan.

But the Merrie Monarch Festival wasn’t the only reason to feel proud of Hawaii on April 10, 2010.

On April 10, most of Hawai'i was watching world-class hula live on KITV from the Merrie Monarch Festival

Far away from the Hawaiian Islands, another culture celebrated its best and brightest on April 10, 2010. Our company president, Keith Kinsey, travelled to the Windy City of Chicago to participate in the Craft Brewers Conference.

A craft brewery is small, independent and traditional. More than 75% of the craft breweries are, like ours, still owned or controlled by an actual craft brewer, a proud and unusual breed.

Craft beer had been forgotten in the last century as giant companies gained market share for supermarket beer. The beer industry became all about turning out lowest-common- denominator product at the lowest possible cost, and marketing it with ads about horses, mountains and lemon slices to folks who sat on the couch watching sports.

In the last 40 years, craft beer has experienced a cultural renaissance. Traditional approaches have been revived. Time honored recipes and styles have been rediscovered. And people around the world are learning to appreciate authentic hand-crafted ales and lagers and to pair them with local food to create unique dining experiences.

The Brewers Association is one of the leading forces behind this global renaissance. From humble beginnings in the 1940s, the Brewers Association grew through the involvement of home brewers, passionate men and women who kept brewing culture and authentic diverse flavors alive despite the dominance of globally branded beer. The Association’s Conference, the Craft Brewers Conference, is an important force for education and perpetuation of the art and science of craft brewing.

And that’s not all. Every two years, all eyes in the craft brewing world are on the World Beer Cup®, a bi-annual international beer competition sponsored by the Brewers Association.

The World Beer Cup is the world’s largest professional brewing competition. The 2010 World Beer Cup was held at the Craft Brewers Conference in Chicago the week after Easter – the same week as the 48th Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. Like the Merrie Monarch Festival, the World Beer Cup is a touchstone. It’s da kine event for aficionados around the world!

Also on April 10, Hawai'i took a bow on the world stage in another way besides hula. Keith Kinsey of Hawaii Nu'i Brewing accepting a Silver Medal in the American Brown Ale category from Craft Brewers Association and World Beer Cup® founder, Charlie Papazian.

The World Beer Cup aims to identify the best of the best in the various styles of craft beer. In 2010, 3,330 beers from 642 breweries in located 44 countries were grouped into 90 style categories. Entrants were judged by an international assemblage of 183 judges from 26 countries. The World Beer Cup is just that, a world-class event focused on the brightest stars in craft brewing around the globe.

Hawai’i Nui Brewing president Keith Kinsey had a hunch that our Hapa Brown Ale deserved a place on the world stage. So the brew was entered alongside with 39 other contestants in the American Brown Ale category.

Bold, rich and inviting, Hapa Brown Ale is a new product, introduced in July 2009. “In creating Hapa Brown Ale, the team at Hawai’i Nui Brewing wanted to offer island style ease inspired by time-honored tradition of blending beers in the classic British manner,” according to Beer Kumu Andy Baker of Hawai’i Nui Brewing.

The resulting beer — Hapa Brown Ale, brewed and bottled on the Big Island of Hawai’i — has just been judged world class.

We are pleased to announce that Hawai’i Nui Brewing Hapa Brown Ale has been honored as a Silver Medalist in the 2010 World Beer Cup’s American Brown Ale Category (category #86).

“There is no higher honor than the World Beer Cup,” said Keith Kinsey. “It’s like the Queen Lili’ukolani Outrigger Canoe Regatta of the craft beer world.”

“It is an honor to bring home an award to Hawai’i from the World Beer Cup,” said brewer John Walsh. “We’ve spent a lot of time and energy getting this beer to where we wanted it to be, it’s a great feeling to be recognized at a competition of this level.”

Chris Heit, Kaiao Archer and John Walsh with Keith Kinsey

15th Annual Kona Brewers Festival — 2010

Kaiao Archer of Hawai'i Nui Brewing

The Kona Brewers Festival is an event we look forward to all year.

What better than to sample fine ales and lagers with friends on a beautiful day by the Pacific ocean in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawai’i? More than 1,400 people had the same idea!

At the Hawai’i Nui Brewing stand, we offered Sunset Amber Ale and Kaua’i Golden Ale. At the Mehana Brewing stand, we offered Humpback Blue Beer and Mauna Kea Pale Ale.

Our brew crew made the trip over from Hilo and camped at the King Kamehamea Hotel, the better to enjoy the Brewers Festival and its warm-up events, such as the the Brewers Pa’ina.

Homebrewers did Hilo proud in the Homebrew Contest, an annual event at the Kona Brewers Festival.  Congratulations to Hawai’i Nui Brewing Company Intern Garrett Ornellas on his bronze medal in the Hybrid Beer category.

The Kona Brewers Festival 2010 raised funds for the Kealakehe Project Grad, Kona Pacific Public Charter School, People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawai’i, and the Society for Kona’s Education and Art. Hats off to the Brew Fest organizers for a job well done. Mahalo!

Kumu Hula Keala Ching led the opening blessing ceremony

The crowd swarmed into the grounds of the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kailua-Kona

Local area restaurants dished up ono grinds

Mahalo to the local volunteers for welcoming visitors to the Mehana Brewing and Hawai'i Nui Brewing stands

Touche! Local beer comedians the Two Beer Queers got a rise out of Keith Kinsey

Performers at the Trashy Fashion Show raised awareness for sustainability

The trashy fashions attracted a lot of attention at the Kona Brewers Festival, on and off the stage

Dirndlgwand! Lederhosen! Always in fashion at beer festivals.

Reknowned slack-key artist Makana was the headline performer at the Kona Brewers Festival

Keith Kinsey, John Walsh and Mark Mahuna of Hawai'i Nui Brewing talking story. John is carrying a commemorative sign for Primo Statehood Ale, brewed for Pabst in our Hilo plant this past summer in honor of Hawai'i's 50th anniversary of statehood.

Attending the Kona Brewers Festival? No trip is complete without a visit to local microbreweries!

Hawai’i Nui means Great Hawai’i. From the Garden Island of Kaua’i to the Big Island of Hawai’i, the islands are a spectacular destination. This is the ninth post in a series of opinion pieces on the question, “What makes Hilo worth a special trip?”

Reason #9: No visit to the Kona Brewers Festival is complete without a trip to both Big Island Breweries.

The Big Island of Hawai’i is known by microbrewing connoisseurs around the world as a great place to sample locally brewed craft beer. The Island has not one but two local breweries, and a long-running brewers festival in Kailua-Kona.

In fact, the 15th annual Kona Brewers Festival is coming up March 13, 2010 in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. Local residents look forward to this festival as a place to reconnect with friends as they sample microbrewed beers from around the corner and around the world.

Truer words were never spoken

Savvy visitors focus a trip to the Big Island to coincide with the Kona Brewers Festival — and we encourage you to plan your trip before the event is sold out. Microbrew enthusiasts will want to plan visits to both the Big Island’s breweries.

Hawai’i Nui Brewing, located in funk-a-licious Hilo, brews the 50th state’s only locally bottled craft beer. Of the countless good reasons to visit the Big Island’s capital city, we like to think our tasting room is one of them.

Local fans have sometimes "improved" the road signs leading to Hilo to point out the location of our brewery and tasting room

We invite you to sample our island-style ales and lagers. They are brewed and bottled locally and available only in Hawai’i.

Our tasting room is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 to 5:30. We’re located at 275 East Kawili Street in Hilo. We look forward to welcoming you.

Aloha! Nina Lytton

What’s Hawaii’s most scenic drive? Mauna Kea Saddle Road on Big Island of Hawai’i

Hawai’i Nui means Great Hawai’i. The Hawaiian Islands are a great place to visit, from the Garden Island of Kaua’i to the Big Island of Hawai’i. This is the eighth post in a series of opinion pieces on the question, “What makes Hilo worth a special trip?”

Reason #8. Experience the most spectacular drive in Hawai’i, the journey from Hilo to Kailua-Kona over the Saddle Road.

It’s so important to enjoy life’s journey. In Hawai’i, we celebrate holo holo time, or journeys of exploration. Here is some inside scoop on what we consider one of the most adventurous journeys you can take.

While on the Big Island of Hawai’i, don’t miss the opportunity to take one of the most scenic drives in the world, the round trip from Kona to Hilo. In the morning, take the makai route, next to the ocean. In the evening, take the mauka route, over the Saddle Road, to see the sun set.

Time was, the Saddle Road was one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the country. It has been improved significantly over the last few years. It’s not going to shake your car to pieces, like in the old days.

That said, it’s a narrow, winding road that stretches over the world’s tallest mountain, Mauna Kea. Measured from its base on the ocean floor, Mauna Kea is taller even than Everest.

Driving over the Saddle Road is an adventure that visitors to Hawaii should not miss. If you are visiting the Big Island and plan to drive the Saddle road, it is worthwhile to download the Heritage Sites & Points of Interest Brochure. (The link is at the top right of the page, just under the nav bar.)

Even for local residents, the Saddle Road is still a thrill. At Hawai’i Nui Brewing, we drive over the Saddle Road almost every time we travel between the brewery in Hilo and the Kona side of the Big Island, where we like to swim.

The mountain looks a little different every time because of the weather or the time of day. And every time I make that drive, there’s always a moment when the sheer beauty of the landscape gives me the chicken skin.

Beginning the descent down Mauna Kea, you can sometimes see the sun setting through a fog.

As you descend the mountain, the view of the sunset changes with your viewing angle and the atmospheric conditions.

Closer to sea level, you might see a spectacular double sunset effect like this one

Our President, Keith Kinsey, who makes the drive from Kailua-Kona to Hilo almost every day, prefers to go both ways via the Saddle. Sometimes pulls the truck over to take some photos…such as the shot of clouds, below.

Enjoy your visit to the Big Island of Hawai’i. We hope you will make time to visit our fair city.

We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you at our brewery and tasting room in Hilo.

Aloha,

Nina Lytton, Ambassador of Online Aloha

Spectacular cloud formation seen from the Saddle Road on the Big Island of Hawai'i

Enjoy the journey to Hilo, Hawai’i

Hawai’i Nui means Great Hawai’i. The Hawaiian Islands are a great place to visit, from the Garden Island of Kaua’i to the Big Island of Hawai’i. This is the seventh post in a series of opinion pieces on the question, “What makes Hilo worth a special trip?”

Reason #7. Life has no finer journey than that to Hilo, Hawai’i

It’s so important to enjoy life’s journey.

In Hawai’i, we celebrate holo holo time, or journeys of exploration. Here is some inside scoop on what we consider to be one of the most enjoyable, interesting and varied journeys you can take.

While on the Big Island of Hawai’i, don’t miss the opportunity to drive from from Kona to Hilo and back. If you choose to do the whole trip in one day, you’ll be amazed by the variety of climate zones you’ll encounter. But of course the journey is even better with a stopover in Hilo, say to take advantage of an Aloha Sunday at the East Hawaii Cultural Center, a trip to Imiloa or the Lyman museum, and a visit to other Hilo attractions such as the brewery and tasting room where you can sample our brews.

The Kona to Hilo round trip is one we know pretty well. Our president, Keith Kinsey, drives this road almost every day.

This post discusses the journey from Kailua-Kona to Hilo. The next post covers the return.

If you’re starting from Kailua-Kona in the morning, we suggest you take the makai route to Hilo, as opposed to the mauka route. (Makai means toward the sea. Mauka means toward the mountain.) We recommend the makai route in the morning so you can reserve the mauka route, the Saddle Road over Mauna Kea, to view the Hawaiian sunset.

In the morning, drive north up the Kohala Coast on Queen Kaahumanu Highway, or Highway 19 . (Locals call this the “Lower Road” to Waimea, as opposed to the Mamalahoa Highway, or the “Upper Road.”) You will be traveling through black lava fields — a distinctively Big Island look.

Go North on Queen K./Highway 19 to Kawaihae. Kawaihae is well worth a stop. Here is a link to the Pacific Roots Project web site that provides a wonderful overview of Kawaihae — the setting, the sea, the land, the native history, and more.

Kids playing at Kawaihae Harbor, image courtesy of Richard Cohen

Capturing an image of a cinder cone, just mauka of Kawaihae on the Big Island of Hawai'i

At Kawaihae, you have a decision point. If you will be taking an overnight in Hilo, you will have time to explore North Kohala.

On a clear day, you can see Maui from North Kohala

Looking inland from Upolu Point on North Kohala, you can see the observatories on Mauna Kea

If you want to holo holo to Hilo and back to Kona in one day, bear right at Kawaihae. Follow Highway 19 to the right toward Waimea. Continue through Waimea and you will eventually begin to see the Hamakua coast on your left.

When you reach Honoka’a, you will have an opportunity to descend to the Old Mamalahoa Highway, a road reminiscent of the Road to Hana on Maui.

The windward coast of North Hawai’i is magnficent country. The cliffs that fall steeply into the ocean were formed out of eroded flanks of the now extinct volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Kohala. Between the cliffs you’ll see lush, stream-carved valleys, some with waterfalls.

There are many picturesque stopping places along this route from Kailua-Kona to Hilo. We hope this sampling of photos inspires you to make the trip.

Enjoy your visit to the Big Island of Hawai’i. We hope you will make time to visit our fair city.

We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you at our brewery and tasting room in Hilo.

Aloha,

Nina Lytton, Ambassador of Online Aloha

Why visit Hilo? To shop, of course

Hawai’i Nui means Great Hawai’i. The Hawaiian Islands are a great place to visit, from the Garden Island of Kaua’i to the Big Island of Hawai’i. This is the sixth post in a series of opinion pieces on the question, “What makes Hilo worth a special trip?”

Reason #6. Hilo is home to Hawaii’s most authentic shopping experiences.

Shopping is top of mind for almost everyone in December.   Hilo is where Big Island residents go when they want to make their money go the furthest, and where visitors go when they want to shop the authentic Hawai’i.

Shopping in Hilo is worth the trip any time of the year.  We have a wide range of shopping venues, from national chains to mom-and-pop stores.  If you can’t get it in Hilo, you probably don’t need it.

For a truly unique shopping experience, park along King Kamehameha Avenue near the Farmers’ Market.  Some of my favorite stores for holiday gift-giving include:

• Basically Books — this family-owned independent bookstore boasts a terrific selection for gift giving, souvenirs, and reference for residents
• Abundant Life Natural Foods & Cafe — wonderful groceries and and assortment of “chewy-crunchy” books and gifts
• Dragon Mama — The natural fiber shop features beautiful futons, tatamis, Japanese textiles and bedding
• Sig Zane — Couture, Big Island Style.  Fabric designs are inspired by native plants, and styles are authentically local.  This is the place for real Alohawear, the kind that you can wear with pride anywhere in the world.

Enjoy your visit to the Big Island of Hawai’i. We hope you will make time to visit our fair city.

We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you at our tasting room and gift shop at 275 East Kawili Street in Hilo (map).  There’s a wide assortment of T-shirts, glassware and gift items for the beer connaisseur in your life.  Bring home a growler of our Southern Cross Winter Ale for the holidays.

Aloha, Nina Lytton

With my hanai nephew at a formal ocasion on the Very Big Island of England, proving that Alohawear from Sig Zane in Hilo goes anywhere in the world!

Hawaii’s authentic local microbrewery releases first seasonal ale, Southern Cross Imperial Red Ale

The season is changing here in Hawai’i. There’s a snow advisory for the high elevations of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

In keeping with the time of year, we’re just a week away from releasing our first seasonal brew, Southern Cross. It’s radical! Assertive. An intense red color, complex aroma and daring character make Hawai’i Nui Brewing Southern Cross Imperial Red Ale a must-try for the winter season.

As with our other beers, Southern Cross is named for something special here in Hawai’i. Since the southern sky lacks an easily visible pole star, the vertical axis of the Southern Cross is commonly used to mark south. The photo below, taken on the road to Hilo by Barney McGrath, was chosen as astronomy picture of the day.

Southern Cross seen above Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawai'i

On Oct. 31, Hawai’i Nui Brewing Company Brewers John Walsh and Kaiao Archer brewed the first commercial batch Southern Cross.

Southern Cross, our first seasonal winter ale, is a Belgian-style Imperial Red Ale brewed with ample amounts of high Alpha Acid American hops.

Boasting 8.5% ABV, the beer was brewed on a Belgian Yeast, giving it a complex and inviting aroma and body.

Brewer John Walsh puts it this way: “It’s the biggest beer we’ve brewed yet!”

Kaiao Archer added, “This is one of the few locally brewed Belgians in Hawai’i. When I think of, and drink, this beer, words that come to mind include assertive, robust, complex, intense…daring even!”

According to beer kumu Andy Baker, “Southern Cross is rich and warming. It has a distinctive flavor from the Belgian yeast, traditionally described as a ‘liquid candy’ flavor.”

Andy suggests trying Southern Cross at pau-hana time or as an after dinner drink. “It is a natural pairing for heartier winter food such as pork, duck, or game.”

The winter brew will be available in the tasting room in Hilo starting mid November, and on draught at Island establishments later this month.

Meanwhile, here is a selection of photos taken by Hawai’i Nui Brewer, John Walsh:

About to weigh out the hops --- more than 11 lbs of Simcoe per 15 BBLS!

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The first batch of Southern Cross Imperial Red Ale comes to a full boil.

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More than 1,200 pounds of grain were used in a single batch of this fortifying Winter Ale.

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The first Batch of Southern Cross Imperial Red Ale is transferred to the fermenter.

Es Gibt Kein Bier auf Hawaii? Update on the Oktoberfest song project

The month of October is just about over and done, and with it, the German Oktoberfest drinking song, Es Gibt Kein Bier auf Hawaii, “There is no beer in Hawaii.”

We don’t expect to be hearing this musical travesty again until February’s Karneval, the German-speaking world’s Mardi Gras celebration, when once again German speakers will prove they are more than a century out of date when it comes to Hawai’i beer. ( The original Primo was brewed in 1898.)

Earlier this month, we put out a call for participation for an effort to re-write the song and get a new video made before Oktoberfest next year.

Keola Donaghy has graciously taken up the challenge to write a new drinking song. We are honored by the participation of a distinguished scholar. You can follow him on Twitter @KeolaDonaghy.

Donaghy is an Assistant Professor of Hawaiian Studies at Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.

He is very active in the Hawaiian music community. Professor Donaghy is a voting member and a member of the Board of Governors for the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts (“Na Hoku Hanohano Awards”. He is also a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (“Grammy Awards”). He is webmaster of Nahenahe.net, a Hawaiian music news site.

Professor Donaghy has about 50 mele (Hawaiian language compositions) to his credit. About 20 of them have been recorded by artists such as Keali‘i Reichel, Kenneth Makuakāne, Kainani Kahaunaele, and the De Lima ‘Ohana.

Here are the lyrics he has drafted on his blog, CultureHacks:

Verse:
He Guiness ko ka ‘Ailiki [The Irish have Guiness]
No Holani ka Heineken [And Heineken is from Holland]
He pua Tahiti ka Hinano [Hinano is a Tahitian flower]
He aha ko Hawai’i nei? [What does Hawai’i have to offer?]

Chorus
He mau pia no ko Hawai‘i [Hawai‘i indeed has beers]
He mau pia hu’ihu’i a ‘ono! [There are cold and delicious beers!]
He aha ko Kelemania? [What does Germany have?]
Ko’eko’e ka ‘aina, ko’eko’e ka pia [The land is cold and the beer is tasteless]

Verse 2
E ko Hawai‘i nui akea [To all across great Hawai‘i]
Malo‘o i ka mehana la [Parched in the heat of the day]
E kena i ka wai hu’ihu’i [Quench your thirst in the cool]
‘amepela no Hawai‘i nei. [amber waters, from Hawai‘i]

In response to a question about the rather pointed lyrics, Professor Donaghy explained the direction he’s taking from a cultural standpoint:

“In many Polynesian cultures, if not all, there is a tradition of using song to express love for and pride in your land. In some, there is a good-natured (usually) teasing of other places as well. If your home is disrespected in someone else’s song, you reply in kind, you don’t say “come and visit and we’ll show you how beautiful our home is”. It’s a war of words, sometimes done tongue in cheek but still with pride. I’ve tried to capture some of that. It’s still a work in progress, so nobody try to record it yet.”

We think this is very cool!

The music that Professor Donaghy has in mind is very similar to the melody and chord changes of Es Gibt Kein Bier Auf Hawaii. It’s in 3/4 time as well. “It’s almost a Hawaiian parody of Es Gibt Kein Bier Auf Hawaii,” he says.

A similar tune and time signature will make it easier for German speakers to get the message.

Before we start looking for artists to record the song, I’d like to propose two steps:

• Public comments on the lyrics for Professor Donaghy’s consideration…say by the end of November?
• Translation of the final lyrics into German (so we end up with verses in Hawaiian, English and German)

Aloha, Nina Lytton

Mahalo, Keola Donaghy

Es Gibt Kein Bier Auf Hawaii? Oktoberfest photo contest winners

 

@JameyBennett and @Lazarus2000 are the winners of the Hawai’i Nui Brewing Oktoberfest photo contest illustrating local beer. They packed the most information into one picture.

In this educational photo, Jamey is wearing a Hawai’i Nui Brewing Sunset Amber Ale T-Shirt while the duo hoist the locally canned beer, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that we do have authentic local beer in Hawai’i.

Authentic local Hawai'i beer comes in bottles or cans -- read the label

Proud to support Hawaii’s own Jamila Foundation fund-raiser

Like a lot of beer companies, we try our best to get out on the golf course to “conduct some business.” Yeah right! No really, we get a lot of new business done out here.

All kidding aside, Hawaii Nui recently sampled a selection of our Hawai’i Nui and Mehana brews at the Jamila Foundation fundraising golf tournament. Held at the breezy New Ewa Country Club in Ewa Beach, Oahu, the tournament provided an opportunity for 150 thirsty golfers to sample a variety of our beers.

The Jamila Foundation was formed by local noted golfer, Damien Jamila, to provide opportunities for at risk youth through the sport of golf. Damien Jamila had been introduced to the game as a child by his father, Andrew Jamila. Through golf he was able to learn the importance of dedication, integrity, perseverance and honor.

Aloha, Andy Baker

Why a seasonal brew? To celebrate the seasons!

John here, with my take on some questions posed via Twitter re the seasonal beer issue.

As I see it, seasonal beers are meant to enhance or complement certain seasons of the year. A seasonal beer is not geared toward being a member of the regular line-up.

In the lands where beer was born, the seasons are obvious, smack-da-head. In Hawai’i, we have seasons,too. They’re just more subtle.

We’ve been tinkering with a special winter holiday ale I call “Southern Cross”. I’m pretty happy with it and invite you to the tasting room for a sample.

Backstory: Interest in seasonal beers typically follows the season. When it’s cold, you want a drink that warms. Even in Hawai’i. Think of Hilo’s rainy season. Think of the snows of Mauna Kea. Think of a beverage that fortifies!

Conversely, when it’s sweltering, you want a long, cool drink. The dog days of summer call for something refreshing, such as a light wheat beer. (Can you imagine drinking a 9% ABV Imperial Red Ale during the hottest days of summer? No way!)

Bottom line: Seasonal beers, done right, compliment the emotions of the seasons.

In some cases, a seasonal beer will take off so big that it ends up getting added to the regular line up. I have seen this happen a few times. Maybe it will happen for us. But that’s not the point.

If you live in Hawai’i, you know we have seasons to celebrate. The thing to do now: come into the tasting room and try our “Southern Cross” winter ale.

Aloha, John Walsh, @jwalshHI

Of course Hawai'i has seasons to celebrate!

Hawai`i’s authentic local beer poured at Conservation Council for Hawai`i’s fundraiser and awards dinner

Susan Lee and Tom Schroeder, volunteers for the Conservation Council, staffing the bar

All of us at Hawai’i Nui Brewing are passionate about helping non-profit or- ganizations and com- munity groups, particularly the ones that work tirelessly to protect the Islands we call home.

It was especially gratifying when a friend of Hawai’i Nui Brewing, Doug Lamerson, approached us about helping with the annual Conservation Council for Hawai’i fundraiser and awards dinner.

Held at the Atherton Halau Bishop Museum in Honolulu, the event attracted over 100 members of the organization “dedicated to protecting native Hawaiian plants, animals and ecosystems for future generations.”

Doug is not only an officer of the Conservation Council for Hawaii but also, in between his duties at the East-West Center, is a dedicated beer enthusiast. With an in-depth knowledge of the Hawai’i Nui and Mehana companies and respective beer line-ups, he had been a great sounding board during the blending of the two operations into the Hilo facility.

For the evening festivities, Doug chose to serve Hawai’i Nui Brewing Sunset Amber Ale and Mehana Brewing Hawai’i Lager. Both beers paired nicely with the featured curry bar.

For more information on this organization, check out their website at www.conservehi.org

Aloha, Andy Baker

Matt Little of the National Wildlife Federation gives a national/regional report to the audience

Noted Honolulu Broadcast Journalist, Denby Fawcett, samples the Mehana Hawai'i Lager

Turtle Bay Seafood Festival a Must-Do Oahu Event

This year, Hawai’i Nui Brewing was honored to be a part of the Fifth Annual Seafood Festival at the Turtle Bay Resort on the north shore of Oahu.

Held on the lawn overlooking Kuilima Point, the festival was a two night affair that took good advantage of the Turtle Bay Resort’s truly spectacular location.

No, it's not a postcard, it's the Turtle Bay Resort before the Seafood Festival guests streamed in

The Friday evening’s festivities featured a variety of shrimp dishes from the different shrimp trucks that make the north shore of Oahu home. The dish from Giovanni’s Shrimp truck was moderately spicy and paired well with the Mehana Mauna Kea Pale Ale. Hawai’i Nui Brewing Kaua’i Golden Ale was the other featured beer. Kaua’i Gold was the perfectly refreshing beer for what turned out to be a warm evening for more than 700 attendees.

The second evening of the Turtle Bay Seafood Festival featured a variety of seafood dishes prepared by the culinary staff of the Turtle Bay Resort. The dishes on the second night had a greater variety of depth and flavors: Ono! Both Mehana Mauna Kea Pale Ale and Hawai’i Nui Brewing Kaua’i Golden Ale were very well received by the crowd.

The Turtle Bay Seafood Festival has jumped up to the top of the list in the Baker household for “Must do events on Oahu.” Don’t miss this event in 2010.

Aloha, Andy Baker

Why do Germans sing West Virginia’s praises and dis Hawai’i every year at Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest fair and one of the best festivals in Germany. Every year, over 6 million visitors from all over the world come to Munich to drink beer, eat sausage and join together in song.

During the sixteen-day festival, Bavarian Oompah bands fill the air with folk music, traditional German drinking songs and a mismatched collection of popular songs from all over the world.

Sure, there are a lot of traditional favorites, like Ein Prosit and Lili Marleen.

But the Oktoberfest crowds are no longer content to sing O München, Mein München. They’ve branched out!

Here is a rousing chorus of Country Road, Take Me Home.

Yowza!

The German Oktoberfest crowds don’t stop with praising West Virginia.

They go on to sing about the 50th State, in a way that is not so flattering. This song is called Es Gibt Kein Bier auf Hawaii, which means “there is no beer in Hawaii.”

Yes, they’re talkin’ smack about Hawai’i beer.

It wasn’t true when it got started in the 1950s. The original Primo beer began brewing in 1898, remember?

Yet they’re still at it! Still singing Es Gibt Kein Bier auf Hawaii…

Here are the words to the chorus:

Es gibt kein Bier auf Hawaii, es gibt kein Bier;
drum fahr’ ich nicht nach Hawaii, drum bleib’ ich hier.
Es ist so heiß auf Hawaii, kein kühler Fleck,
und nur vom Hula Hula geht der Durst nicht weg.

What exactly are the German Oktoberfest revelers singing with such forceful conviction (and such poor spelling)?

Roughly translated, it’s a big lie!

There’s no beer in Hawai’i, you’ll find no beer,
so I won’t go to Hawai’i, I’ll rather stay here.
It is so hot in Hawaii, no cool place to stay,
and just doing the hula won’t make the thirst go away.

Anyone who’s traveled to the German speaking world — Germany, Austria and Switzerland — during any of the beer festivals or winter carnivals has heard this song sung in the beer tents. What’s more, folks over there are totally convinced it’s true.

Just because Hawai’i is a small state doesn’t mean we have to take things lying down. PBS Hawai’i, for example, is standing up for the Hawaiian language. “Our management team at PBS Hawaii made an easy call today,” blogged president and CEO Leslie Wilcox. “We decided to tell the producers of a national series that we won’t air a particular episode unless they re-do their narration, to pronounce key Hawaiian words correctly.”

We ask the friends of Hawai’i brewing to help us stand up for local Hawai’i beer.

Hawai’i Nui Brewing is sponsoring a video project for Oktoberfest 2010. Let’s rewrite that song! Let’s remake that video!

Here is a link to the call for participation. Follow @HawaiiNuiBrew on Twitter for updates.

This is an example of what’s popular in 2009. Let’s make something mo betta!

Aloha!

200th Brew in Hilo: Hawai’i Nui Brewing Kaua’i Golden Ale

Last week, we brewed our 200th batch of beer since we combined forces with Mehana Brewing Company in January.

Although 200 is not necessarily a special number or one that has any significance in the brewing world, it was a good excuse to sit back and think about things.

Mashing in our 200th brew in Hilo, Hawai'i: Hawai'i Nui Brewing Kaua'i Golden Ale

I still vividly remember the first brew that I ever did here, on Jan. 3: it was a 30 BBL batch of Mehana Humpback Blue Beer. For the previous week before the brew, I had been training.  The team and I were fairly sure we could pull it off.

Before we installed our mill from Kaua’i and the grist case, every single bag of grain had to be individually milled – one at a time! This was a painstaking process and often resulted in the mill becoming jammed during mash in. I think it jammed up at least six times during the morning of the first brew. Many of those first mornings were filled with the sound of belts squealing the mill coming to a grinding halt. However, we pushed on. We learned some new things and kept proven methods in place.

The 200th brew came under some less than perfect circumstances. We were having some issues with the main pump on our brew house the previous day. After a visit from Hilo Mechanical the following morning, we had a new pump in place and it was time to mash in. Normally, we get started around 4 a.m., but it was already noon. It was going to be a long day.

At this point, I had no idea we were approaching our 200th brew, my mind was in a million different places and going in several other directions. After a few uncertain moments, the brews were well underway and things went back to relative normalcy.

As the 200th brew — Hawai’i Nui Brewing Kaua’i Golden Ale — was being transferred into the fermenter, I was joined by wife Jessica. She came to keep me company as I entered the 18th hour of the day. She also snapped the pics for this post.

So, is 200 any different than the first brew? I think the answer is Yes and No. It’s no different in that we treat each brew the same in terms of preparation, attention, etc. I suppose it is different in the fact that it was a small milestone in Hawai’i Nui Brewing’s history.

Thanks again to all who continue to enjoy our freshly brewed beers.

Aloha, John