Breweries and Sourcing
Kona Brewing Company produced 220,000 barrels of beer in 2012. Kona Brewing Company runs its flagship brewery in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. Kona Brewing Company also produces its bottled beer at Widmer Brothers Brewery in Portland, Oregon and Redhook Ale Brewery in both Woodinville, Washington and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as part of its partnership with Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. (BREW). Kona Brewing Company prides itself on providing the freshest beer close to the market it is consumed. Brewing in multiple locations helps the company to minimize the carbon footprint by reducing shipping of raw materials, finished beer, and wasteful packaging materials. This partnership with Craft Brew Alliance grants the company access to the Anheuser-Busch distribution network, which, according to Hawaii Business Magazine, "has the most technologically sophisticated distributor system in the country, with computer terminals in thousands of independently owned distributors and its own network of wholly owned distribution branches."
Recipes and beer specifications are dictated by Kona Brewing Company’s brewmaster, who oversees all production at each Kona Brewing Company’s partner breweries. The beer brewed at Kona Brewing Company’s partner breweries utilizes Kona’s hops, malt, and proprietary yeast. In order to create the a consistent experience across the board, the water mineral levels at each brewery are adjusted to replicate the water used in Hawaii. First the water is treated for impurities and then minerals are added to mimic the fresh water available in Hawaii. Water is an important aspect of all Kona Brewing Company's beers. A sample of every batch of beer is sent to the Kona, Hawaii brewery and corporate offices for sensory evaluation.
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