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2025 The Outlook is Hazy! |
The independent craft beer industry is facing challenges in 2025. For the first time, in 2024, there were more brewery closures than openings. (399 closings and 335 openings.) There were more closings in states with more breweries. (California, Colorado.) Breweries also face other challenges; issues related to the pandemic, decline in demand and the cost of raw materials and shipping going up. It is not as simple as raising prices as drinkers and watching their expenses and changing what they drink. Brewers have responded by offering more variety in their taprooms. Many now serve ciders and other drinks besides beer. The good thing is that the independent breweries will figure out ways to make their business models work. Collaborations and festivals help unite brewers and bring in more people. Ir's a channellings environment; chances are your favorite local brewery will survive. We all should support the local guys that are making great beer and offer excellent experiences. One thing, I think, is upping the quantity and quality of food offerings. Some have really done a great job of melding a brewery with a great chef or restaurant for a complete drinking // dining experience. I have found several, in the last few years. For the last few years my 'Brewery of the Year' has been breweries with great food. Some still work with food trucks as this eliminates the need to manage an eatery along with a brewery. Things are changing and beer and food is becoming more important to this business, all the time.
The IPA style remains the driver of most breweries' sales. The West Coast, Cold and Hazy versions being the most popular. I am enjoying the renaissance of the West Coast IPA and the Cold IPA. Both are clear and refreshing. I have had enough of the "Hazies". I just like the clearness of of the brews. Also the hazy style is now made using a bit of wheat or oats in the malt bill. That's how the beer stays hazy. The original NE IPAs were unfiltered and some remained hazy well after brewing. Sometimes a keg would lose the haze as the beer sat in the keg. Therefore the use of wheat / oats as the sediment than stays in the remaining beer. 'If I want a wheat beer, I'll ask for it"! That's my feeling. We wile let the market decide. Meanwhile there are many great brews our there, beyond just the IPA style. See you at a brewery soon!
Cheers, Larry |
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Past
reviews 1999
- 2025 Click on each year. Enjoy, Larry |
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Kaua'i Brewing is the westernmost brewery in the US. The Port Allen location is right across form several whale watching charter boats. We scheduled a cruise and had a great lunch at Kaua'i Brewing. The brewery is in a big metal building with a big lanai across the front. Inside is a full bar, game room and the brewery in full view of the taproom. I had The Fonz IPA a west coast IPA at 6.2% ABV and 65 IBU. This award winning brew was easy drinking and the malts are subdud but go well with the hops for a mellow taste. It's the perfect island beer. The food here is locally sourced and top notch. Our Ahi Tuna Poke had a great spicy sauce and was the best we had in Kaua'i. I would have liked to try more brews but the ship was calling everyone to board for the whale watching /sunset cruise. This turned out well; we saw some whales and a great sunset including a 'green flash' which I had not seen before. KIB had very good service on the lanai. Thanks for that. Website: KawaiiIslandBrewing.com
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Maui Brewing Waikiki is located a few blocks from the beach in the heart of the Waikiki area. We were there on a busy Saturday night; the streets were busy and full. The brewery was the same. Upon entering there is a small bar with kegs hanging from the ceiling! We were able to get seats at the longer bar and had a great experience. They have a wide selection of their brews available. I had Big Swell IPA, a hoppy brew with citrusy notes and aroma. At 6.8% ABV and 50 IBU it is a classic IPA. Dry hopped with: Cascade, Chinook, Mosaic, Citra, and Simcoe. This one is a winner. I also enjoyed the Waimea Red an American Red Ale. This style is unusual, these days, it was reminiscent of the California Reds of the 1990s. We loved our pizza here; The Butcher had several different meats, mushrooms and cheese. One of the better pizzas we had on our trip to Hawaii. We had a great visit and would return here or to one of the three other locations on different islands. Website: MauiBrewingCo.com
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When we left Maui brewing (above) we passed by Waikiki Brewing on our way home. It looked busy and a fun place to go. A few days later we visited the location a few blocks from our hotel. (There are 3 around Waikiki.) It was busy and we got a table on the outside deck. It was a beautiful night and the beer and food was just what we needed. I tried the Eee Pah IPA a classic old school IPA. At 7.2% ABV and 75 IBU it has a strong malt backbone to support the huge hop additions., It is brewed with the classic hops: Centennial, Cascade, and Simcoe. (That's why I called it 'old school' as these three hops were a big part of the original IPAs in toe early 2000's.) It is also dry hopped with the same hop bill. it was quite tasty and the malt sweetness went will with the bitterness of the hops. I also tried the Cille of Approval Cold IPA. This was a special release with 6.7% ABV and 36 IBU it was crispy, clean and hoppy. I really like the clear beers and this style is outstanding when brewer properly. This was a winner and I was able to visit another time to enjoy a couple of this limited release brew. They should make it a part of the menu year 'round! Website:WaikikiBrewing.com
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Honolulu Beerworks - Honolulu, Hawaii
When visiting Honolulu, I saw Honolulu Beerworrks beer both on tap and cans. Both were the real deal; top notch quality and correct to the style. I wasn't able to visit the brewery as the taproom is 'temperately closed'. I don't know why; it certainly isn't production or quality of the beer. Hop Island is a straw colored, dank hoppy IPA. 7.0 ABV made it stronger and enjoyable with lunch one day. Their stout was featured, at an eatery in Waikiki, as the craft beer of the week. It was tasty and worked well with our dinner. They sell their beers all over Hawaii. However, I wonder why the pub is closed and how long they can survive without it. For many breweries the taproom / pub is a large source of income for the business.. We will see...the Outlook is Hazy!! Website HonoluluBeerworks.com
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2025- larrygoeser.com |
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