Ultimate Oahu Beer Guide from a Craft Beer Enthusiast
You wouldn’t necessarily consider Hawaii or Oahu to be a great craft beer destination. But, there are 11 breweries on the island of Oahu! Most Oahu breweries are in Honolulu, so check out the Honolulu breweries and beyond! Craft beer is something I enjoy in my previous home base of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, and now where I live in Fort Worth, Texas. It’s ALWAYS integrated into my travels whether domestically or internationally. Even places you might not consider great craft beer destinations such as Italy or Croatia!
After visiting the island three times, on my most recent trip we were able to visit ten of the eleven breweries in search of the best Oahu beer! Read on to determine which has the best food and beer and what craft brewery you should visit so you know where to drink in Oahu on this tropical island oasis of craft beer.
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Oahu Breweries
The craft beer scene on Oahu is thriving, with a wide variety of breweries offering everything from traditional styles to experimental brews.
No matter what your taste in beer, you’re sure to find something to enjoy on Oahu. So raise a glass and cheers to the craft beer scene on this beautiful island!
Let’s dive into the details on all of the breweries on Oahu where you can enjoy craft beer on the island.
Waikiki Brewing Company
The first of the breweries in Oahu is within the most popular area for tourists in Honolulu. Waikiki Brewing Company is in close proximity to the Waikiki Beach area. Depending on where you’re staying you can easily get here on foot. Although there is a small lot for parking alongside the location and ample public paid parking nearby as well.
There are several different locations: Waikiki, Kaka’ako, and South Side. Each offers its own food menu as well as beer on tap. We ordered the loaded pulled pork fries and they were HUGE! So, we decided to split a burger after that. We chose the shaved prime rib cheeseburger with onion rings. I can still remember how juicy it was! The addition of both au jus and horseradish cream dipping sauces was delicious.
As always, when I visit a new brewery I get a flight if they offer it and try some short pours. At Waikiki Brewing Company I enjoyed Tradewinds Pina Colada Ale, Black Strap Molasses Porter, Aloha Spirit Blonde Ale, 808 Pale Ale, and an English Brown Ale. Many of their beers are more traditional styles. My favorites were the Porter and Pale Ale.
Kalihi Beer
This brewery had more of a traditional brewery vibe. The Kalihi Beer taproom was located in an industrial building amongst the actual beer brewing fermentation tanks with places to lean with a brew and live music.
The tap list wasn’t as extensive, but a little more varied. I really love sour beer so I was pumped they had that available. I tried a green mango sour, a pastry stout called bread pudding, and a porter. My favorite was the bread pudding. I loved the delicious caramelly cinnamon flavor. Yum!
Aloha Beer Company
Aloha Beer Company was one of my top favs on the island of Oahu for many reasons! They have a great vibe, cheap and easy parking, and their food and beer was amazing! The Aloha Beer menu is available online.
They have several locations (one right in the Waikiki beach area if you’re staying there and don’t have a car!) Aloha Beer Waikiki is a convenient location if you’re staying in the famous tourist area. We visited the location on Queen Street (the reference to the parking is talking about the Kaka’ako location. This brewpub and beer garden was definitely a highlight!
The poke nachos and brunch fare (brunch skillet) were delightful! But, of course, we had to try the brews alongside the fantastic food. The flights were enjoyed. (Of course, I mean you’re not surprised, right?)
In our flights, I sampled the following brews: Hi-Bitchcus Ale (pale ale), Froot Lupes (hazy IPA with a fruity flavor), Hiker’s Dream (IPA), Red Zeppelin (Red IPA), Black Pilsner, Queen St. Pils (German style Pilsner). The Froot Lupes was my favorite (a close second was the Hi-Bitchcus Ale (pale ale).
Hawaii Beer Lab
Beer Lab Hawaii has four different locations throughout the island of Oahu. While on Oahu, we visited the University location. A cozy spot with some TVs to watch sports and enjoy a few great beers.
The other locations have better aesthetics, so if that’s your thing check out one of the other four locations.
I tried a few different styles of beer here their black IPA. (Love black IPAs and they’re becoming harder to find!) The porter, a lemon fruited sour, an acai sour, and a few pale ales. I really loved the flight they came in.
Hana Koa
Hana Koa Brewing Company is a must stop destination on Oahu for craft beer lovers! They offer a wide variety of different beers in an amazing atmosphere.
Pop in for a pint and get cozy at the bar, in the dining area or the industrial lounge area. You can even make a reservation in advance for a meal and some beer!
In addition to great beer, they offer food, cocktails, and fun mocktail drinks. Hana Koa is a brewery destination for everyone!
Lokahi
Lokahi Brewing Company has a smaller space but packs a great punch with some amazing beers! A few of my favorites I tried were the floor is guava and blackberry lemonade.
Be mindful of the weather, it got somewhat warm and stuffy in this space (but that wouldn’t deter me from returning in the future!)
*Tip: if you park out front on the street, be sure to look for bicyclists in the bike lane between the street parking and making your way to the sidewalk in front of the brewery.
Lanikai Brewing Company
Lanikai Brewing is located on the Eastern Side of Oahu in Kailua, Hawaii. A second location will be opening soon in Haleiwa, Hawaii.
The taproom is a cozy little spot chock-full of island vibes. They offer not only their own brews but other beer and cocktails and some light bites as well. Mostly Woodfire pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. Making this stop a perfect place to grab a bite after some time at the beach or on a drive exploring Oahu.
Kona Brewing
Kona Brewing is on the outskirts (eastern Oahu area) near a harbor/boat area. When it got dark, they lit up tiki torches near the patio which was a great touch to really give us the Hawaiian vibe as we sipped on our brews.
The location has more of a brewpub/restaurant feel. We enjoyed flights of beer and had a few desserts to share. If the weather is nice, definitely grab a table on the patio!
Maui Brewing
Maui Brewing Company is located in the Outrigger Hotel on the main Waikiki area in Honolulu on Kalakaua Ave. From the street, you enter into a merch store where you can follow the stairs up to a large indoor and outdoor space offering an extensive food menu and many different Maui Brewing beers on tap.
They also have a full bar and a delicious craft root beer if beer really isn’t your thing! Overall, everything we had (food and brews) were all incredibly tasty.
*Tip* if you’re eating, be wary of the advantageous birds that will try to swoop in for that fry you may have dropped! The farther out you sit on the patio this can be an issue!
Honolulu BeerWorks
The Honolulu BeerWorks taproom is located in the colorful neighborhood of Kaka’ako. This is an area where you will find many breweries, vibrant murals, and street art. It’s a really fun area of Honolulu.
The bright and cheerful blue exterior of the brewery will draw you right in. Many of the breweries on Oahu had more of a restaurant type vibe, but Honolulu BeerWorks was probably my favorite as it just truly had chill taproom written all over it. Sadly, our stop here was rushed I would have loved to have spent more time just hanging out in their indoor/outdoor space.
Inu Island Ales
Sadly Inu Island Ales was the only brewery on the island of Oahu we weren’t able to make it to. I mean not to toot my own horn but that’s pretty impressive, 10 breweries in 4 days? (This was totally my fault for miscalculating the day that the taproom was closed. So learn from my mistake and double or triple check!) However, that’s a great reason to return, am I right?
Inu Island Ales is located in Kaneohe, so it’s more on the eastern side of the island of Oahu. Check them out after having a chill beach day or driving up to the North Shore and doing a loop around the island of Oahu.
They offer their beers on tap as well as some guest taps as well. You’re bound to find something you love!
Oahu Brewery Tours
If you’re not planning on renting a car while visiting Oahu or just want to meet some fellow craft beer enthusiasts doing a Brewery Tour while on Oahu is a great idea! There are many options available such as walking beer tours and more.
Here are a few you can check out:
Downtown Oahu Food and Beer Walking Tour
Waikiki History Tour Pub Crawl
FAQ’s: Oahu Beer
Can you drink beer on the beach in Oahu?
No. It’s actually illegal to drink beer or have an open container of alcohol in a public place such as a beach, park, or street in Hawaii. A great alternative is finding a bar or restaurant that’s on the beach to have a drink or book a boat tour that allows BYOB or supplies drinks on board.
How much is a beer in Oahu, Hawaii?
It depends on where and what beer you’re drinking. On average you can expect to spend between $6-12 dollars for a 16 oz beer in Oahu, Hawaii. Craft beer can be a little more on the expensive side, however, a great way to try more is by ordering samplers (small pours) otherwise referred to as flights.
How many breweries are on Oahu?
There are 11 breweries on Oahu. Most are closer to Honolulu, but there are some sprinkled across other areas of the island. It’s worth venturing out to sample the brews with the Aloha spirit on the island of Oahu. We were only there for 4 days and we almost went to all of them!
What is the best brewery Oahu?
My favorite brewery was Honolulu BeerWorks (Aloha was a close second). While my husband’s favorite was Hana Koa. The “best” brewery is subjective as to what your favorite style of beer is and what kind of vibe you enjoy at the establishment. It’s a very personal statement! Explore Oahu breweries to determine your favorite!
Conclusion: Oahu Beer
When you’re spending time soaking up the sun and island vibes on Oahu, definitely check out the craft beer scene. With many of the breweries in the Oahu area easily accessible via public transportation and many different walking tours available there’s no reason not to drink local!
After visiting Oahu for only 4 days, we were able to fit visiting 10 of the 11 breweries into our adventures. (The last one was only because it was a snafu on dates it was open, it wasn’t on purpose!) All the more reason to return and drink some more tasty brews on the island of Oahu.
I love exploring breweries wherever I go! (Craft beer adventures, whether near or far are some of the best adventures!)
Be sure to check out more info on great craft breweries in other locations in the links below.
Best Breweries in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
The Best Breweries in Duluth, Minnesota
The Best Beer Experiences in Europe
Beer on the North Shore of Minnesota
Visiting the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin
How to pack beer in your checked luggage
