Cheers to the New Year!

Kauai Island Brewing Company Wins Gold at Hawaii Craft Beer Awards with Alakai Oatmeal Stout Brewed with Kauai Coffee!

Photo: Kauai Island Brewing Company

Hau’oli makahiki hou! Happy New Year from all of us at Kauai Coffee Company. It is hard to believe another year has come and gone, but we hope this new year brings you something to celebrate! We’re ringing in 2022 with great news and a hearty cheer because our friends at Kauai Island Brewing Company recently took home top honors at the Hawaii Craft Beer awards winning gold in the stout category with the Alakai Oatmeal Kauai Coffee Stout! We sat down with Kauai Island Brewing owner, Bret Larson to get the inside scoop on the big win and what’s next for craft beer and craft coffee in Hawaii.

When did the Hawaii Craft Beer Awards begin?

Hawaiian Craft Beer Awards began about three years ago with a pause in 2020 due to Covid.

What is the submission process for the Hawaii Craft Beer Awards like?

Each brewery can submit as many beers as they want to each of the 12 categories. Each entry costs $65 and money raised goes to the Hawaiian Craft Brewers Guild which supports consumer awareness of Hawaii craft beer choices and access to the marketplace for Hawaiian Breweries.

Why did you choose to enter the Alakai Oatmeal Stout with Kauai Coffee into the competition?

The complexity of the flavors and the prominence of the Mundo Novo Kauai Coffee aroma became a huge favorite among our customers. It became an obvious candidate for entry into the Stout Category.

How are entries in the competition judged?

It was double-blind judging hosted by moderator Cindy Goldstein. When the judging begins, the moderator unseals the boxes and issues a double-blind tasting. Judges may not be employed by participating breweries, but are usually industry professionals, Cicerones, and BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) members.

How many awards did Kauai Island Brewing win at the Hawaii Craft Beer Awards in 2021? What other awards have you won for your brews?

At the most recent event we won 3 awards:

• Gold Medal in the Stout Category for the Alakai Oatmeal Stout with Kauai Coffee
• Silver Medal in the Beers Made with Locally Sourced Ingredients Category for the Alakai Oatmeal Stout with Kauai Coffee
• Silver Medal in the IPA category for our West Coast IPA, the Fonz IPAaaaaa

There were 10 entries in the locally sourced ingredient category, so we are extremely proud of that win and that our collaboration with Kauai Coffee Company was received so well in both categories. The IPA category had 8 entries and we were glad to walk away with a medal there as well.

Do you have plans to enter the Alakai Oatmeal Kauai Coffee Stout or any other Kauai Island Beers into other competitions in Hawaii or the mainland?

Yes. We’ll probably be submitting the Alakai Oatmeal Kauai Coffee Stout in the 2022 Great American Beer Festival and possibly the World Beer Cup competition.

Is the Alakai Oatmeal Stout still available at the taproom? If not, do you have plans to brew it again?

Yes. It’s popular and we ran out the other day, but it should be back on in a few days.

Are you planning any other local Kauai collaborations this year?

Yes. We’re working with Auntie Lilikoi on a Lilikoi (passion fruit) Ale.

Is there anything else you would like to share or add about the recent win with Alakai Oatmeal Kauai Coffee Stout?

It was a great honor to be given a Gold Medal in the Hawaiian Craft Beer Awards Stout Category considering the number of entries. We appreciate Steve Haumschild with Lanikai Brewing Company for sponsoring this event and Cindy Goldstein for organizing the judges and being a judge herself.