Great Waikiki Beer Festival

Great Waikiki Beer Festival - August 28, 2016

Michelle and I usually go on date night once per month. We have a nice time out on the town. This time she won tickets on the radio to The Great Waikiki Beer Festival. The last two years I wanted to go, but it was sold out.

This festival is like a charity event to support the wounded soldiers. Supposedly, there are over 150 alcoholic beverages at the event. I thought it would get rowdy, but it seems the high price of admission ($70) deters a lot of the knuckleheads.

Also featured at this event was Hapa and Kenny Loggins. Who doesn't like Kenny Loggins?

The place was packed. I seen Nikki who I use to work with at Pearl City High School, her brother the late Mark Takai died of pancreatic cancer last month. I can't imagine the amount of stress that caused her and her family.

When we got in, the people at the gate gave us a 4 oz glass tumbler which was kinda cool. We were to use the tumbler for all the tastings. They also gave us a wrist band which had 10 squares on it. The concept is after you get a drink, the person serving is to rip a square off.

To my surprise a beautiful sunset was going down in front of Hilton Lagoon. That was spectacular!

I got a flyer which had all the beer on it. I remember the first beer I got, it was Honolulu Beerworks Kewalos Cream Ale. It was a good starter beer. I was doing good handling my liquor, but after the 4th tasting which was Lanikai Brewing Company "Da Haole" over 8% alcohol, I got really drunk and didn't remember too much. Luckily I got a pen and checked off the beers I drank. Here is the list of 10 beers I drank.

#1 Kewalos Cream Ale (Honolulu Beer Company)

#2 Sunshine Wheat (New Belguim Brewery)

#3 Pueo Pale Ale (Maui Brewing Company) *winner

#4 Da Haole (Lanikai Brewing Company)

#5 Hanalei IPA (Kona Brewing Company)

#6 Humpback Blue Lager (Hawaii Nui)

#7 Southern Cross (Hawaii Nui)

#8 Embalmer (Kona Brewing Company) *disgusting

#9 Pranqster (North Coast)

#10 Goldan Sabbath (Big Island Brewhaus) *good

Michelle and I went around and around getting food. We got bratwurst, brisket sandwich, and chicken wings. Michelle drank moscato, 3 glasses. There were no chairs, so we had to stand most of the time. At about 9:00 pm Kenny Loggins came on. Yah, everyone was drunk and happy by that time. He sang Danny's Song and Footloose. But didn't sing Danger Zone which was a disappointment.

I was really drunk by the time we left. Since the event didn't serve dessert, everyone seemed to go across the street to Lappert's Ice Cream Parlor. I got the vanilla mac, was delicious. I think Michelle helped me to the car, I remember getting in, but passed out right away until we got home. That was fun, i like doing this kind of thing. Too bad we didn't save up and get a room at the Hilton. That would have been much better.