Kona Brewing Co. celebrates 10 year anniversary

Modern Brewery Age,  March 14, 2005  

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Kona Brewing Company on Hawaii's Big Island celebrated its 10th anniversary on February 15, 2005. In honor of its 10th anniversary, Brewers fermented a special beer, called "Wiki Wiki Wit." According to the company, Wiki Wiki Wit was brewed in the traditional Belgian witbier style using three types of wheat totaling 40 percent of the grain. The ale was spiced with fresh ground coriander, orange and grapefruit peels. The brewers hand-peeled 120 pounds of locally grown oranges and grapefruits then slow-dried the peels to perfection before adding them to the brew kettle. "Brewing this unique style of beer gave us a great opportunity to use Hawaii-grown produce," said Rich Tucciarone, director of brewery operations. "Our community has been extremely supportive of our efforts and has contributed to our success through the past 10 years, so it seems appropriate to incorporate our island's fresh products into this extraordinary anniversary ale!"

Kona Brewing Company was founded in 1994 and packaged its first batch of beer in February 1995. Currently, Kona Brewing Company claims 10 percent of draft sales in Hawaii and 1.5 percent of the state's total beer market.

The company now has two restaurant locations--its original brewpub on Hawaii's Big Island and a new restaurant on the docks of Koko Marina on Oahu.

Kona beer is now distributed throughout the Hawaiian Islands, in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Japan

"It has been an honor to serve our customers with a taste of aloha for the past 10 years," said Mattson Davis, president of Kona Brewing Company. "We look forward to continuing to develop and provide quality beer for years to come."

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