Last week I was invited to attend the blessing of the new bottling line at Hawaii Nui Brewing (aka Mehana). Here in Hawaii the launch of new things are often blessed by kahuna.
After the blessing all in attendance were invited to help themselves to pupus and draft beer. A quick scan of the jockey box revealed a tap with something new; Southern Cross Winter Ale. Hmmm…
From their web site blog, “This year our ‘Southern Cross’ seasonal ale it is a smoked double red or what some call an Imperial Amber Ale. We brew it with Belgian style yeast for a very authentic and phenomenal beer.”
All I can say is Wow! A really nice Belgian style double! I didn’t taste the smoke, but I was blown away! Good commercial beer is finally being brewed right here in River City… oops, I mean Hilo.
Hawaii Nui Brewing is the only brewery bottling beer here in Hawaii.
While marveling at the new seasonal beer, I talked story with Hawaii Nui president Keith Kinsey and brewer Kaiao Archer. They said that they knew Mehana had a reputation of brewing unremarkable beers, but they are determined to brew their way out of that reputation. I said that Southern Cross was certainly evidence of that. When asked what I would like to see Hawaii Nui brew, I told them I really like hoppy beers, “How about a stick-your-dick-in-the-dirt hoppy imperial IPA?”
Kaiao looked at Keith and said, “See?! I told you! I’d really love to brew one imperial IPA!”
I said, “It would be the perfect New Years seasonal.”
They do have a seasonal batch of Tsunami IPA due out in a couple of weeks. Yeah baby! Good things are coming here on the Big Island!
Now back to my growler of Southern Cross. Yum! I worked hard today. I earned it.