Looking for authentic local beer in Hawai’i? Visit our brewery and tasting room

We cordially invite you to visit our brewery and tasting room in Hilo, the little city that keeps it real on the Big Island of Hawai’i.

Here are some highlights of what you’ll find when you go on holo holo to see us.

Hilo is nestled between beautiful Hilo Bay and majestic Mauna Kea, home to the Hawaiian Snow Goddess Poli’ahu and to leading astronomical observatories. Measured from its roots on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world, taller even than Mt. Everest.

From the other side of the island, Hilo is a beautiful drive over or around majestic Mauna Kea

The brewery and tasting room are located at 275 East Kawili Street in Hilo. The tasting room is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Brewery tours are available by prior arrangement. Call the tasting room at 808-934-8211 to inquire.

Here is a link to our location on Google Maps. If you’re using a GPS, enter the address as just plain “Kawili Street”, not East Kawili Street. There is a map on the bottom of the Mehana six-pack carriers. But if you get lost, no worries. Just call us at 808-934-8211.

Once you’re on East Kawili Street, look for the historic local landmark, the Mehana sign. Mehana means “warmth of the sun” in Hawaiian.

Mehana Brewing, now in the Hawai’i Nui Brewing Ohana, was founded by the Shindo Family, who have been brewing carbonated beverages in Hilo, Hawai’i for four generations. Hawai’i Nui Brewing combined forces with Mehana Brewing in January 2009. Together, the combined team has increased the production capacity of this facility by a factor of eight. Someday, we’ll get around to getting another sign. Meanwhile, we say, “No late. On Hawaiian time.”

Turn in at the vintage Mehana sign. Park in the yard on the right. Or on the street. Just watch out for the bus stop.

Once you get here, park in the yard on the right. Or on the street. Just not in the bus stop.

Come on into the tasting room and make yourself at home. You’re welcome to try a selection of the Hawai’i Nui and Mehana brews to see what you like best.

Jane pouring beer in the tasting room

We also have a variety of T-shirts in classic and contemporary styles. Plus beer glasses, hats, coasters, labels and more.

We recently redesigned the gift shop to make room for new styles. There's something for every taste.

Our freshly brewed ales and lagers are available at the brewery in bottles or in 64-ounce refillable growlers. Many local residents choose growlers as a sustainable packaging decision.

Paige demonstrating a refillable growler

Mondays are particularly busy at the brewery and tasting room. Because Hawai’i is crazy about football and so are we, we run a Monday Night Football special 52 weeks of the year. You can refill your growler all day Monday for only $8 for most ales and lagers, and $9 for Hapa Brown Ale and Hawaiian Crow Porter.   Sorry, the discount does not apply  to the seasonal Southern Cross Red Ale and the new Tsunami IPA.  Quantities are limited on these brews!

Once you’ve made your choices, we welcome you grab a view of the active production brewery.  For safety reasons, we can offer you a tour inside the brewery only by prior arrangement.

Mark will not run you over....on purpose, anyway!

Sometimes things are pretty hectic inside the brewery. After all, something’s always brewing. Or bottling!

We're really brewing!

We are the only brewery in the state of Hawai’i that brews and bottles its beer 100% locally. When you see our ales and lagers in the store, you know they are fresh because they say Product of Hawai’i right on the label. If it doesn’t say something like that, it’s not made on the islands.

Our newest product, Hapa Brown Ale, rolls off the bottling line

All in all, we make ten different kids of beer in Hilo.

Our ales and lagers are sold on draught and in bottles across all of the Hawaiian Islands. There is a beer locator on our web site to help you find our fresh locally brewed ales and lagers. Our Beer Kumu (expert teacher) Andy Baker leads the sales efforts. You can find Andy at virtually every festival and event involving beer-and-food pairings.

Beer Kumu Andy Baker at the Maui Brewers Festival with the foremost Hawaii beer industry pundits, Russel Kealoha and Bully O'Sullivan of the podcast, TwoBeerQueers.com

All this activity can get pretty complicated. Our business is growing, and there is quite a bit of coordination involved in the production schedules.

Kitchen cabinet in session: John, Keith, Chris and, seen from the back, Beer Kumu and Sales Rainmaker Andy

In between brews, there is a lot of cleaning to keep the brewery sparkling.

John likes to keep the brewery looking like this

The tropical weather in Hawai’i acts quickly on the copper tanks, so it is a bit of an endless loop.

John ponders the eternal struggle of men vs. nature to keep those tanks as clean outside as they are inside.

Sometimes we’re just having fun. Take this next picture for example!

OK, who shot me 10x from the rear?

All in all, we have a pretty good time!

Wendy and Fearless Leader Keith

We hope you will join us for a visit at 275 East Kawili Street in Hilo, Hawai’i. Once again, we’re open from 8:30-5:30 Monday to Saturday. Our friendly staff will be proud to make you feel welcome.

E komo mai!