Because of their great love for the Big Island, the Kona Coast in particular, they wanted to build a business that would benefit the island and would not harm the pristine environment. The happy result of this dream is the brewery in Kailua-Kona.
Kona Brewing Company’s first beer packaging occurred on February 14, 1995, introducing Pacific Golden Ale (now called Big Wave Golden Ale) and Fire Rock Pale Ale to Hawaii in bottles and kegs. Beer production has increased every year. Three flagship beers and two limited release seasonal beers now are widely distributed, and approximately 10 other styles of beer are brewed on a regular basis and served at Kona Brewing Company’s pubs and select fine restaurants. These range in color from very blonde to black; in flavor from tangy to hoppy to roasty… and everything in between.
Kona Brewing Company’s Kailua-Kona Pub on Hawaii’s Big Island opened in November 1998. In December 2003, Kona Brewing Company opened its second restaurant location at Koko Marina Center in Hawaii Kai on Oahu.
Kona Brewing Company has been the leader in Hawaii’s microbrew category since 1996. It is the largest brewery in Hawaii, and it sells more microbrewed beer than any other craft brewery imported into the state. No company has brewed such a quantity of beer in Hawaii since Primo left in the late 1960s.
In 2003, Kona Brewing Company formed a strategic alliance with Widmer Brothers Brewing Company that utilizes the Anheuser-Busch Sales distribution system. While the alliance has very little impact on day-to-day operations at the brewery, it provides Kona Brewing Company with access to the foremost distribution network in the world.
By 2008, Kona Brewing Company’s ales and lagers were being distributed in fine markets and restaurants throughout the Hawaiian Islands, in 20 mainland U.S. states, Japan and China. As a direct result of this increased distribution effort, Kona Brewing Company was named the 10th fastest growing brewery in the nation by the Brewers Association in mid-2005. Based on 2007 production numbers, Kona Brewing Company was declared the 24th largest craft brewery in the U.S.
Kona Brewing Company is committed to producing and marketing the finest handcrafted ales and lagers with its exceptional team of motivated individuals who are passionate about quality and care about working in an environment where integrity, good will and discipline are the codes. Kona Brewing Company always strives for leadership in everything that it does and serves the needs of its customers, suppliers and shareholders with skill and positive motivation. The company respects the effects of alcohol and stands for the consumption of quality in moderation. Ale-oha and cheers!