The growth of Ola Brew Co. is just short of miraculous considering nearly half of the life of the company has occurred during a pandemic. Established in December 2017, and co-founded by Brett Jacobson, CEO, and Naehalani Breeland, President, Ola Brew has a mission of revitalizing the agricultural economy of the Islands by purchasing locally sourced produce and botanicals and incorporating them into their beverages. The latest endeavor for this community and employee-owned brewery was a crowdfunding effort in late 2020 to expand operations, widen distribution regions, develop new products, and re-open their taproom which welcomed back guests in September 2020.

Since opening its doors in December 2017, Ola Brew Co.’s Taproom has become the spot for locals and tourists alike to enjoy magnificent brews, mouthwatering food, and breathtaking views in an open-air atmosphere. While many of Ola Brew’s products are available in stores across the state and also Southern California, a major draw of the taproom is exclusive access to brews not-yet released and menus that reflect the changes in seasons.

Along with a rotating menu of beers on tap, Ola Brew Co.’s entire line of hard seltzers is also available to enjoy at the Taproom. One must-try is their Hawaiian Ginger that was built for the serious ginger lovers. The full flavor and spicy bite of ginger attacks and refreshes the palate but a gentle balance is brought to the seltzer with the addition of organic orange and lemon juices that results in an all-around delightful beverage. Another crowd-favorite is their Hawaiian Hibiscus Lavender that hints at a crisp glass of rosé from Southern France. Earthly hibiscus is blended with the subtle aromatics of lavender and rosemary creating a complex yet easy to enjoy seltzer.

For the lovers of a well-made hard cider, the Taproom offers a range of hard ciders that are both fun and unexpected in their flavor profiles. Their signature Kona Gold Pineapple Cider is available on tap and constantly draws customers in with its tantalizing aroma and juicy sweetness of sun-ripened, local pineapple. Another stunner available at the Taproom is their Dragonfruit Lychee Cider which blends Island-grown dragonfruit with lychee from Honaunau fermented in a dry style with a similar mouthfeel to a glass of champagne.

Hard tea is another offering of the Taproom and an example of how Ola Brew Co. is riding the wave of beyond-beer categories for guests to enjoy. For something off-the-beaten-path, Ola Brew Co.’s Hawaiian Tulsi Berry Hard Tea will delight with its balanced sweetness and kick of caffeine. Beginning with a base tea of Kona Coffee leaves, this hard tea is flavored with a combination of blackberries, raspberries, the Tulsi plant, also known as Holy Basil, culminating in a balanced beverage set against earthy lavender that offsets the sweetness of the berry creating a truly magical tea.

Food is a major component of the Taproom where chefs utilize the freshest local ingredients in dishes meant to be enjoyed with items poured from their taps. A great dish to share is the Onion Rings that feature thick cuts of local onions dipped in batter that contains the brewery’s signature Ma‘a Lager. Served with a choice of their house-made sauces, the lightly crisped onion rings are a perfect between-sip treat.

For those in the mood for a savory taco, Pork Tacos are a fantastic choice and begin with a base of ground seasoned pork which have been raised on spent grains from the brewery. The tacos are topped with crisp lettuce, zesty onion relish, and refreshing garnishes of cilantro leaves, lime juice, and house-made Hawaiian chili pepper aioli. Their vegan taco option is equally delightful and start with creamy slices of avocado gently dusted with their house-made seasoning. The taco is topped with a crunchy slaw and drizzle of their Hawaiian chili pepper aioli that brings the right amount of heat to the dish. A generous list of flatbreads is also available to enjoy while drinking their custom brews. The Ali‘i Fungi is consistently a winner and begins with scratch-made Bechamel sauce topped with savory roasted garlic, sweet roasted red onions, earthy Ali‘i mushrooms, and finished with spicy arugula leaves.

This Big Island-born brewery has seen tremendous growth over the past years but their future looks bright due to continued increases in demand and new products in the works. This past April, Ola Brew Co. introduced their Okolehao to the public at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition where they won the prestigious Double Gold honor in the category of “Best Other White Spirit” and went on to be named Best of Class at the competition. As Hawai‘i’s only indigenous spirit, Okolehao is an exciting addition to the offerings of Ola Brew Co. and there are plans to begin offering their okolehao in the Taproom in the months to come.

For Brett and Naehalani, Ola Brew Co. was never just a marketing ploy, but a decade long commitment to the community and their dedication to revitalizing Hawai‘i’s agricultural economy and creating innovative revenue sources for Hawai‘i’s farmers. Ola Brew Co. is open seven days a week and invites guests to visit the Taproom and be a part of their community.

Ola Brew Co. Taproom is located at 74-5598 Luhia Street in Kailua-Kona. For more information, call (808) 339-3599 or visit olabrewco.com/tap-room. Open Monday to Thursday 12pm to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to 9pm, and Sundays 12pm to 7pm.