Kona Brewers Festival Is Ready for Another Round
Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii — The Kona Brewers Festival is back for the 22nd annual celebration, with festivities to commence on March 11th, 2017. The highly anticipated Kona Brewers Festival is a community celebration and fundraiser benefiting Hawaii programs supporting environment, culture and youth. Craft Brewers partner with the best Island Chefs to offer the most innovative pairings in a sustainable community gathering at King Kamehameha’s Courtyard Kona Beach Hotel luau grounds in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
The festival indulges craft beer aficionados with 72 selections of ales and lagers served up with a wide variety of island-style cuisine from 36 Hawaii chefs. Breweries from Hawaii and the mainland US will each offer two types of craft brews, offering something for beer novice and connoisseurs alike. Top Chefs from some of the Big Island’s favorite restaurants will offer their best food pairings, ranging from fresh fish and seafood, vegan and vegetarian delights, smoked meats, deep fried avocados and tropical sweets.
More than 600 volunteers carry the event, taking special care to use sustainable supplies like tealeaf plates and reusable and compostable goods. Good food, good beer, and good community is enjoyed Hawaii Style against a backdrop of ocean views, white sands, and passing canoes at the historic and important Kamakahonu Bay Beach.
Live music and entertainment include the must-see Trash Fashion Show, a performance that highlights creative fashions made entirely from recycled material. Festival volunteers divert over 90% of festival waste from landfill by transforming refuse into composted soil for local school gardens. The Kona Brewers Festival has raised awareness, visibility, and $965,000 for over 40 non-profit and community organizations supporting the wellbeing of Hawaii Island.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Afternoon Session, Noon – 3:00pm
Sunset Session, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Tickets On-Sale Saturday, December 17, 2016 11am (HST).
Tickets are $75 and include a commemorative event mug, seven four-ounce brew tasting coupons, unlimited samplings of gourmet cuisine, an afternoon of entertainment, and support dollars for more than 20 island programs doing good work. Tickets are available for purchase online on at www.KonaBrewersFestival.com ($5 fee).
Run for the Hops 5K / 10K – Saturday, March 11
The day of beer tasting takes off with a running start at the “Run for the Hops” 5K / 10K run/ walk on Saturday, March 11, at 7:30 a.m. Presented by Bike Works and benefiting Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii (PATH), the run begins and ends at BMW of Hawaii. Entry fee is $30 and includes a commemorative T-shirt, refreshments, award ceremony and beer tasting following the race. Registration is open at www.KonaBrewersFestival.com.
Homebrew Competition – Saturday, March 11
The Kona Brewers Festival Homebrew Competition is a local competition sanctioned by the American Homebrewers Association, recognizing the most outstanding beer, mead and cider produced by amateur brewers. Judges come from all over the United States to evaluate entries for 28 different styles. The Best of Show Winner for beer will have the name of their brew engraved on a plaque mounted to the Kona Barrel trophy at Kona Brewing Company’s Pub in Kailua-Kona. Ribbons with Medallions are awarded in 28 categories. Entries must be registered January 21-February 25, 2017 at www.KonaBrewersFestival.com.