Big Island Restaurants

Guidebooks

Kona Brewing Co. Pub & Brewery

Write a review

Fodorite Reviews

Average Rating:  

Kona Brewing Co. Pub & Brewery Review

This megapopular destination with a huge outdoor patio features an excellent and varied menu, including pulled-pork quesadillas, gourmet pizzas, and a killer spinach salad with Gorgonzola cheese, macadamia nuts, and strawberries. Your best bet for lunch or dinner is the veggie slice and salad for under $8—the garden salad is generous and the pizza is the best in town. Go for the beer-tasting menu—your choice of four of the eight available microbrews in miniature glasses that add up to about two regular-size mugs for the price of one. The Hefeweizen is excellent. If you're staying in town, purchase beer to go in a half-gallon jug ("growler") filled on-site from the brewery's own taps. The Growler Shack also sells beer by the keg.

    Contact Information

  • Address: 75-5629 Kuakini Hwy., off Kaiwi St. at end of Pawai Pl., Kailua-Kona, HI, 96740 | Map It
  • Phone: 808/329-2739
  • Website: www.konabrewingco.com
  • Location: Kailua-Kona

    Restaurant Details

  • Credit cards accepted.
Write a review

Fodorite Reviews

Average Rating:  
  • Food  
    Décor  
    Service  
    Value  

    Kona Brewing Co. Pub & Brewery Review

    Beer & Pizza: a Hawaiian Classic

    Kona Beer Company has put micro brewing on the Hawaiian map. They're not just about cool graphics (for real, their t-shirt designs are killer) the beer is absolutely fantastic! For KBC newbies your best bet is to start off with the sampler - a choice of 4 brews in 5-ounce glasses. They serve them on this nifty placemat that includes a space for each glass along with a description of each. I'm thinking it's really important for the servers to not mix up the glasses during this process (remind me to never apply for a job there).

    But it's not just about the beer. KBC's menu is extensive, offering various pupus (why is it that the Hawaiian language makes me giggle so much?), or starters to those of you not in the know, salads, sammies, entrees and what soon became our favorite: pizza. All of their dough is made from spent grains leftover from the brewing process. Some of you might be thinking "ewww" right about now but I think it's fantastic, and had it not tasted delicious I might agree with you. It wasn't remotely reminiscent of stinky, yeasty, mashed-up grain shmutz at all. I'm really making this sound appetizing, aren't I?

    Anyway, good for them for not overflowing a landfill with used beer grains because I'm sure that's a huge concern for environmentalists (right up there with #7 plastics). I'm almost tempted to get into brewing if not simply to make pizza with the leftovers. Sounds like a lot of work, actually. It'd be easier and way more fun to just visit Hawaii again.

    -SlackTraveler

    by SlackTraveler, 4/12/12

Add your own review

Free Fodor's Newsletter

Subscribe today for weekly travel inspiration, tips, and special offers.

· Browse Big Island restaurants

By Price:

By Location

 Fodor's Trip Planning Ideas

Travel Deals in Big Island

View all travel deals
* Some taxes, fees additional

· Forums Trip Reports

View more trip reports

·

View more travel discussions

· News & Features

View more blog stories