Flights: Koholā Brewery in Lahaina, Hawaii

(Photo by Jon Page)

Soon after Maui Brewing Co. vacated this warehouse space in Lahaina for its new production brewery in Kihei, an upstart brewery moved in. It didn’t take long for the new tenant to make its mark. Among 115 competitors in the German-Style Pilsener category at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival, Koholā Brewery (910 Honoapiilani Highway #55) earned a bronze medal for its Lokahi Pilsner. Not bad for a brewery that opened its doors in December of 2015. Inside the tasting room, glossy photographs of whales hang from the corrugated tin walls. Under a canopy of white string lights, drinkers relax at wooden tables and sip from nearly a dozen draft options. A flight of four 5.5-ounce beers is $12. –Jon Page

LOKAHI PILSNER
5.5% | German-Style Pilsner

Lokahi is the Hawaiian word for “in unity, harmony, and peace,” and the name is apt for this beer. Crisp, noble hop aromas meet the nose, complementing a sweet, malty taste. Worthy of its 2016 GABF bronze medal.

*PINEAPPLE LOKAHI
5.5% | Pilsner w/ Pineapple

When brewing with fruit, it’s easy to overdo it. But Koholā added just the right amount of locally grown pineapple to Lokahi. The pineapple aroma and taste are present on the nose and palate without dominating the senses. Grab a growler, take it to a nearby beach, and drink in paradise.

88 IPA
6.8% | India Pale Ale

According to the brewery, 88 IPA is named after the longest humpback whale to be measured (at 88 feet) in Hawaiian waters. It is deep amber, and notes of grapefruit and tangerine breach from a thick white head. Thanks to a sturdy malt bill, it’s a balanced IPA.

SWEET HOME LAHAINA
9.67% | Belgian-Style Tripel

The brewery’s first-anniversary ale is a hazy, deep gold. Sweet aromas of guava and bubble gum carry on to the palate and the finish, where they’re met by a slight kick of spice.

*Order the full pint