This is not the usual drop-in brewpub. At the present time, access to the Brewseum and the Wiki Waki Woo Bar comes at the end of a morning long tour of several Oahu WWII battlefield sites. In the near future, there are plans for an abbreviated late afternoon tour and a casual evening spent at the Brewseum. The attached brewery building is currently being upgraded in preparation for installation of the brew kettle and fermenters which are expected to be operational around the end of 2013. HOTBBC currently produces two craft beer styles that are available in local outlets and brewed under contract on the mainland. I have enjoyed both the Pilot Pale Ale and the Remember Pearl Harbor “1941” dark lager.
You enter the “pub” through a museum that displays a wealth of WWII memorabilia and provides associations to the R&R activities soldiers/sailors experienced in the Pacific theater. The Wiki Waki Woo is located upstairs from the museum and includes a short bar and some table seating as well as an outside lanai covered by camouflage netting. The décor reflects the WWII theme and the taps sprout from an ammo box cooled by air circulated from the beer cooler on the first floor. Initially, the evening food menu will be catered by a local food truck (similar to a war era mess trailer?). There is very little nearby parking so the emphasis in on using the tour vans to bring patrons in. The Bus also provides regular service along Kapiolani Blvd and Ward Avenue, just a block away.
A lot will be changing as HOTBBC develops the local brewery this year so craft beer enthusiasts can follow the progress on Facebook or stop by weekdays in the early afternoon to pick up some swag and see the brewery come to life.

reviewed on: 2013-04-13 23:38:04