Big Island Bees
One of the most unique and engaging farms you can experience on the Big Island, Big Island Bees offers tours and a great gift shop with their island-made goods.
One of the most successful and best-known craft breweries in the United States is located right on Hawaii’s Big Island, Kona Brewing Company! For more than 20 years, what began as a small-batch brewery has exploded to more than 200,000 beer barrels sold annually, but despite its dramatic growth and worldwide success, the brewery retains its creativity and craftsmanship with new and exciting recipes – many of which you’ll only find at their flagship brew pub in Kailua-Kona.
For beer lovers of every stripe, we’d highly recommend their daily brew tours for an in-depth look at the brewing process, their surprisingly productive facility, and – of course – the tasting session at the conclusion of the tour. If you’re interested in taking a trip down brewery lane, here’s what you can expect from the typical brewery tour at Kona Brewing:
Due to the tour’s immense popularity and small size, you’ll want to book your tour in advance. Tours cost $20 per person and typically last an hour, offering a guided walkthrough of the brewing facility, storage coolers, and tasting room. You’ll learn about the brewery’s sustainability practices and ingredient sources, the brewing process, what goes into making beer in Hawaii, and may even get a preview of new recipes (if you’re lucky).
An employee-owned brewery, Kona Brewing Company strives to make their community and employees part of the brewing process. Several times per year, the company encourages their brewers, bartenders, waiters, and even dishwashers to submit their ideas for a new brew – some of which even go into mass production! At the entrance of the brewing facility, there’s a small wall lined with wooden barrels and kegs demarking new and sometimes off-the-wall recipes the brewers have produced and are aging. While you probably won’t get to try any of these extremely limited releases, learning about the brewery’s philosophy toward innovation and inclusion is worth the inquiry.
At the conclusion of the tour comes the fun part: actually trying several types of beer for yourself! With nearly a dozen flavors on tap, you’ll find much more to enjoy here than you would in your mainland grocery store. Diverse and always tasty, your brew tour guide will walk you through the many types of beer you’ll be trying out and gather feedback as you go along. From there, you and your party are encouraged to grab a table at the brew pub and enjoy more of the brewery’s creations as well as some of the best food on the island (really!).
Whether you’re a casual beer drinker or a craft beer snob, there’s no better paradise in paradise than a stop at Kona Brewing Company. Cheers!
Meet up at the Growler Shack 15 minutes before your tour.
*Tour information was current when posted but is subject to change.
DISCLAIMER
* This post may contain affiliate links which means we receive a small commission for each completed booking or purchase made through our site. This is done without any additional cost to you. By booking through our website you help us to provide free information to help you and others plan their perfect Big Island vacation. Thank you for your support! Please note that you are booking directly with the tour provider and will need to contact them directly for any booking related changes or questions.
One of the most unique and engaging farms you can experience on the Big Island, Big Island Bees offers tours and a great gift shop with their island-made goods.
Offering the best views available of the Big Island’s marine wildlife and oceanfront scenery, a tour with Kona Snorkel and Sail is an amazing opportunity to experience the best of the Big Island.
With extensive and beautiful vessels, Body Glove Cruises is one the favorite boat tour companies and a major attraction for adventure seekers visiting the Big Island.