Ramblings of a Beer Guy

Colorado Beer Relief?

2013-05-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

What do you think about Colorado Brewers getting a pass on excise taxes?
Is this a great way to encourage Colorado Craft Beer?
Is there any reason to think that the savings will be passed onto the consumer? Meh... that part isn't likely. It's pennies per serving, but it's a lot of money for the breweries every year!
Comment.... I dare You!

KUSA - Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) introduced a bill Wednesday that would reduce excise taxes for breweries, a measure he said is aimed at creating more brewery-based jobs.

"Colorado is one of the top beer-producing states in the country, and our innovative brewers have rightly earned Colorado as a reputation as the Napa Valley of beer," Udall said in a news release. "These aren't your dad's beers, and we shouldn't discourage brewers from growing their businesses with an outdated excise tax."

The bill - called the Brewers Excise and Economic Relief (BEER) Act of 2013 - is co-sponsored by Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), David Vitter (R-La.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). Udall and Bennet proposed an identical bill in 2011, which was later referred to the Committee on Finance with no further action.

Under its proposed measures, beer excise taxes would be reduced from:
-$7 to $0 per barrel for brewers producing under 15,000 barrels a year
-$7 to $3.50 per barrel for brewers producing between 15,001 and 60,000 barrels per year
-$18 to $9 for brewers producing more than 60,000 barrels per year
If the bill is passed, it would mean that 90 percent of the licensed breweries in Colorado would not pay federal excise taxes.

Forty percent of a beer's cost goes toward federal, state and local taxes. The average American beer drinker earns less $50,000 a year.

"My bipartisan bill would support established brewers, emerging craft brewers and many agriculture, manufacturing and business service sectors that benefit from our strong breweries," Udall said in a news release

What Say You? Let's speak up for the one thing that brings us together! #CraftBeer!

~Cheers

Happy Mothers Day!

2013-05-11T10:58:00.001-06:00

To all the moms out there in Kahunaville, happy Mothers Day!

We are all so thankful for all that you have done for us!

Here us a rum Punch to help you celebrate!

~Cheers!

Wine Day

2013-05-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

First-Ever Wine Tourism Day in North America to take place May 11

Colorado Wineries hosting a variety of wine events for Local Wine Consumers

The first-ever Wine Tourism Day in North America will take place on Saturday, May 11th, 2013, with wineries, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses offering a variety of events to the public throughout North America. Many Colorado wineries will be offering special events to mark this day locally.

“There are now over 7,500 wineries in 205 American Viticultural Areas, 38 authorized wine appellations in Canada, and another 40 appellations in Mexico,” says Allan Wright, president of Zephyr Adventures, the active wine tour company organizing Wine Tourism Day. “Most of these wine regions and many of these wineries are dependent on visitors who sleep in hotel beds, eat in restaurants, and buy wine from cellar doors. Wine tourism is very important to the success of many local economies and is a subject worth commemorating.”

In Colorado, Bookcliff Vineyards (Boulder), Stone Cottage Cellars (Paonia), Whitewater Hill Vineyards (Grand Junction), St. Kathryn Cellars, Meadery of the Rockies, Talon Winery (all three in Palisade), Liliputian Winery, Mesa Winds Winery and Leroux Creek Vineyards (all in Hotchkiss) are all offering special tastings and tours to celebrate Wine Tourism Day. Events range from unique wine and cheese pairings to a “wine and dine” weekend getaway.

“Colorado has more than 100 boutique, family-owned wineries,” says Doug Caskey, executive director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board. “Most of our wineries are relatively unknown and Wine Tourism Day is a good way to introduce yourself to your local wineries.”

The idea for a Wine Tourism Day comes from Europe, where the European Day of Wine Tourism has been ongoing since 2009. Attendees of the 2012 Wine Tourism Conference, an annual gathering of the industry’s leaders, discussed bringing the concept to North America.

For more information and to find a list of events on Wine Tourism Day, please visit www.coloradowine.com or www.winetourismday.com for national events.

Morning Smoke

2013-04-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Life of A Blogger.... What’s a man to do?

As a “Good Times” blogger, I am often charged with the duty of eating great meals, traveling to amazing destinations, drinking Craft Beer in the mornings and sharing my limited knowledge of rum with you. It’s a hard life, but I know that you are all waiting to see what’s next! You are my inspiration!

As much fun as that all is, I know that you all understand that I am also the guy that works in the fields, mends the fences, helps the wife with the real business that keeps us afloat and drives kids here and there, all while trying to have enough fun to share with you!

Not much in this world grounds me the way a good cigar does. A simple stick of hand-rolled tobacco simply has a way of bringing me back to the important things in life, like not much else can.

When I set fire to the foot of a quality, hand rolled imported cigar, I am taken back to a simpler time! It’s a strange thing to say, but my world almost becomes black and white. I can almost feel the Humphrey Bogart hat on my head, and I can honestly see the crappy old film grain through my sunglasses! I feel like a combination of Ernest Hemingway and Fred Astaire. Life takes a step back and I take another puff!

I recently responded to a Facebook request from Thompson Cigar Company and found myself in possession of a Toro (6x50) Nicaraguan beauty called Magna Carta.

This is a long-filler, Habano wrapper, hand rolled cigar is manufactured exclusively for the Thompson Cigar Company.

It’s medium strength rating had me somewhat confused, as the wrapper looks pretty light to me.

As with anything that I want to get a truly accurate taste test on, I sparked this bad boy up first thing in the morning. Long before my Chili Dog and Malto-mints could destroy my palate for the day.

The first thing I noticed about this cigar was its construction. The overall appearance is flawless. The cigar is quite even from foot to head, and shows no signs of wrapper damage. There are no scrapes, scars, splits, dings or dents to detract from it’s beauty. It is evenly firm and exhibits a slightly oily sheen on the wrapper. So far so good!

Smelling this stick, fresh from it’s cellophane reminded me of my days sniffing out the best cigars during the 1990’s cigar craze.

A simple earthy, cedary aroma made me smile from ear to ear.

Once I set fire to this stick, I was surprised at how mild and clean it was. Earthy flavors sprinkled with a touch of black pepper keep me smiling, while the woody, outdoorsy character keept me intrigued for what is to come.

Becoming a touch stronger in the second half, the peppery notes crescendo just before giving way to a complex leather and wood character that is still ultimately mild and enjoyable.

Toward the end, I was delighted to find dark chocolate, vegetal fullness and perhaps a touch of coffee. Keeping in mind that I could have been craving coffee at 9 a.m. And this may be all my imagination.
This cigar left a great impression on me, and as luck would have it, served quite well as the first cigar of the day!

I would say that the strongest attribute to this cigar is it’s construction. It was able to hold a 3” ash and never threatened to make a mess of my shirt from dropping ashes. It is evenly constructed and beautiful to look at.

That said, the flavor and aroma compare well to cigars easily double the price, with three times the pedigree and 10 times the media hype!

I can very easily see this smoke making its way into my regular rotation.

Matter-of-fact... I may need to go order a few now!

Have a great rest of the week.... I hope you find something great to smoke!

~Cheers

STOP CISPA!

2013-04-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

As a man who makes 90% of his entire living from the First Amendment, I have felt compelled to speak out against this piece of legislation.

As far as I can tell, CISPA would violate our Fourth Amendment rights and severely limit our First Amendment rights when speaking freely on the Internet!

We typically steer clear of politics here on BigKahunaBrew.com, but this is an issue too big to ignore. This is an issue that will touch every person reading this and every person with an e-mail account.

Please contact your legislators to tell them that you DO NOT support CISPA!

CISPA makes a mockery of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, CISPA “would allow companies to bypass all existing privacy law to spy on communications and pass sensitive user data to the government.”

While news media was focused on the dramatic events of last week, the U.S. House of Representatives quietly approved CISPA, with a vote of 288 to 127.

CISPA allows the government to snoop on private emails. It grants companies the right to disseminate individuals’ sensitive, private information — like medical records — without their knowledge or consent. And it grants those companies broad immunity from civil and criminal prosecution, making them easy targets for government arm-twisting.

“The provisions of CISPA are abhorrent and unacceptable in a free society,” said Geoffrey J. Neale, chair of the Libertarian National Committee. “We must not only trash CISPA; we must repeal the Patriot Act, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and every other law that violates our Fourth Amendment rights.”

The House approved a CISPA bill in 2012, as well, but it died last year before coming to a vote in the Senate. This year, Republicans and Democrats have joined forces to renew the CISPA assault on Internet privacy and liberty.

The Libertarian Party is the only political party in America that consistently and vehemently opposes any infringement of civil liberties. The LP platform states, "Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records."

The White House has issued a statement that President Barack Obama's advisers will recommend that he veto CISPA if it reaches his desk in its current form. The Libertarian Party urges every civil libertarian to warn federal politicians that any further advancement of CISPA will be met with dire consequences to their political influence.

Thanks to our Military

2013-04-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

I have been holding off on posting this video for a few weeks. I just thought that it deserved the right timing.

With emergency workers being called to duty in Boston, Texas and even locally on the highways of Colorado, I thought that this was a good time for me to extend a personal thank you to those who serve.

We truly appreciate all that you do!

~Cheers!

Eco Friendly

2013-04-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

As St. John comes into clear view from the front of the ferry that was delivering us from St. Thomas, one of the first thoughts that popped into my mind, was “What beautiful houses and hotels!” Almost immediately, I thought, “What A SHAME that this beautiful island has been cluttered up with these monstrosities!

One of the finest parts of St. John is it’s combination and balance of the high-end resorts and the unspoiled nature of the preserved areas of the island.

The Concordia Eco Resort embodies that mix by providing excellent accommodations for travelers while maintaining a minimal impact on the natural beauty of the landscape.

Located about 11 miles South East of Cruz Bay, the Concordia is about as far away from the hustle and bustle of the port city as you can get while staying on the same island.

Accommodations at the Concordia range from suites with full kitchen to what they call an ECO Tent, which is a small villa with canvas walls.

The Concordia has much more of a community feel to it than the jumbo resorts where we have stayed in the past. Both of the units that were assigned to our party, were equipped with a full kitchen, refrigerator and even come with dishes and cooking utensils.

Keeping to the environmentally friendly goal of the resort, you will not find things like little bottles of shampoo, air conditioning, or maid service where your room is scrubbed from top to bottom on a daily basis.

The rooms are treated more like your own home for your stay. If you make dishes, you do the dishes.

If you want to cool off, go to the pool, open the window or turn on the fan... Or all 3.

The bio-degradable shampoos and dish soap are purchased in bulk and large squeeze bottles are filled for use.

This eliminates thousands of pounds of refuse every year.

Linens are changed between guests, and you make your own bed.

The resort offers community grills near the pool area where you can grill up some fresh island fish, burgers or any other treat that tempts your taste buds.

This option certainly can help keep the cost of your vacation down, but only if you can keep yourself out of the Café Concordia which offers a full menu with fair prices and stunning views of Salt Pond Bay.

As you may remember from our trip in January, when we only spent about an hour at the resort, they also offer a rum punch that will keep you coming back for more!

One aspect of the Eco Resort that I considered very special was the staff. The people you meet remember your name after the first time you meet them, and they address you by name when they see you around the resort.

The guests, perhaps just by association, take on the same chill attitude and are a pleasure to be around, again, adding to the community feel of the resort.

If you are seeking a truly unique island experience, the Concordia offers a work program where you can literally push a broom for your room!

The work Exchange Program is an economical way to experience the island of St John and the surrounding United States and British Virgin Islands.

If you’re looking for a little more “Action” for the evening, the Concordia is a short car ride from the small local bars on the harbor in Coral Bay.

Bars like Skinny Legs, The Tourist Trap (Actually at the entrance to the Concordia) and Island Blues each provide something different to offer. Ranging from homebrewed beer to live local bands, if you can’t find fun here, you might just as well stop looking!

We certainly want to thank the good people at the Concordia Eco Resort for their wonderful piece of Caribbean paradise and their world-class hospitality.

After spending three days enjoying the pure relaxation and island beauty, I know that this will not be my last stay at the Concordia.... Hope to see you there!

~Cheers

Pray for Boston!

2013-04-15T22:40:00.004-06:00

Great day on the bay

2013-04-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Next to the positive comments from readers, travel is one of the best parts of being a blogger! Nothing compares to the joy a reader brings when they let you know that what you write about brightens their day or inspires them, but the beaches of St. John certainly come close.

We had a great opportunity to stay as guests of the Concordia Eco Resort last weekend, and we were so stunned at the beauty of the location, the quality of the staff and our rooms that we figured a quick video to say thanks was in order.

Shawn from Coastlines and Tanlines and I made this video last Sunday from the beach at Great Lameshur bay.

We hope you enjoy the video and check back later when I get my complete thoughts about the Concordia streight and on paper!

Thanks for stopping in!

~Cheers

Happy Birthday!

2013-04-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday To My Lovely wife... @CoKahunasChick! AKA Jessica!

Thanks for being "My Girl!"

Love You!

~Cheers!

Rum and Contemporary Cuisine

2013-04-09T18:40:00.003-06:00

It's a pretty rare occasion that I end up calling something "revolutionary."

I don't mean to be sour about things, but seriously, I just think pretty much everything has been done!

One way or another, there isn't much new floating around these days!

Today, I have the great honor to show you something that I believe is a truly revolutionary product!

Rum and contemporary cuisine, by Carlton Grooms and Geoffrey Blythe is a new book on the market that became available for preorder last week, and is available for purchase now. Click HERE to download the book!

But this isn't just any book, it's an iBook. And not only is it an iBook, it's a cook book! And not only is it a cookbook, it is a cookbook with VIDEO! Built right in! No Internet needed, well... Except to download the book in the first place!

The author, Carlton Grooms has been involved with several great and exciting projects since I've known him. He is just one of those guys that creates things that help others enjoy life!

You may remember the "Go2theKeys" app I was using in September from some of my twitter posts and four square check ins. That was another one of Carl's projects, and unique in its own way, but this book may change the standard by which all other cookbooks are measured!

I have been slightly less than a complete fan of the Kindle App and other e-book formats, since I first got an iPad several years ago. I definitely am one of those people who like the tactile feel of a paper book in my hand. That said, I have been reading 10x more on the iPad Mini than I ever did with paper books.

While most “E-Books” are very convenient and allow me to carry multiple books around without looking like a complete nerd with a backpack that weighs 25 pounds, they are fairly single sided.

This book eliminates that problem.

Rum and contemporary cuisine is completely interactive! It’s part cook book, part cooking show and completely awesome!

The book is divided into chapters like “White Rum” “Gold & Dark Rum” “Aged Rum” “Premium Rum” “Spiced and Flavored Rum” “Over Prof Rum” and even has a chapter that is just notes about the different rums that are used in the recipes.

When you open a recipe, you get a beautiful photograph of the finished product, accompanied by an audio file of Grooms describing the rum used in the recipe. His insightful comments and intriguing stories about the rum are worth the price alone! But as they say on TV... Wait There’s More!

Turn the page and the full recipe appears with yet more of the world class photography that this book will surely become known for. And as if that were not enough, there is a full HD quality video of the recipe being prepared.

Because it is self contained and does not rely on the web for the audio and video, the book takes full advantage of the iPad’s lightning fast response time making for a seamless transition from audio to video and back to the recipe.

I must admit that I have not actually cooked any of the recipes from the book yet, but thanks to the descriptions of the rum, the very familiar ingredient lists and the insightful video, I’ve tasted several in my mind! And I’ve started a shopping list for rum!

Whether you are a fan of food, love rum or just like pretty things, this book is for you!

I look for many other books to follow this format in the near future, so pick up the original ground breaking cookbook Rum and contemporary cuisine today!

~Cheers

Transatlantique Kriek again

2013-04-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last summer, as I was par-oozing my way around the world of Kriek beer, I brought you a bottle of the first rendition of Transatlantique Kriek from New Belgium Brewing.

Read up on that article HERE.

At that time I mentioned to several people that I wished it were available again. Fortunately for beer drinkers the world over, the fine folks at New Belgium are, as always, a step ahead of the game.

Partnering with Frank Boon’s Brewery in Belgium, this 2 part ale traveled quite a distance to become one damn fine drink in my glass!

Pouring a bright ruby red with barely a lasting touch of head, the aroma is bright, sweet and funky. Dominated by cherries and that wonderful brett-like funk that New Belgium Sours are known for.

Flavors of golden malt and a medium-sour flavor lay a grand basis for a floral cherry tartness that really comes together at the back of the mouth.

Further sips, and some more warming of the beer reveals some earthy depth to the beer that is usually reserved for brews that are far thicker and darker than this.

There are flavors from this beer that are a bit surprising to me. There are flavors that very much resemble a hearty brown ale. Roasted grains and oak, and a mossy complexity that is only enhanced by the funky horse blanket thing.

The finish is soft and quick, with not a lot of residual sourness.

I will admit to having paired the second half of this beer with ham, mashed potatoes, corn and abut half a gallon of my wife’s super salty, extra greasy Ham Gravy, known far and wide as the best ham gravy in the house!

The thin texture, the bubbles and the mild acidity cut through it all and worked as an amazing palate cleanser.

I believe this beer would pair well with nearly every decadent meal on the table. Add Duck fat, pig fat, beef, lamb or baked chicken. I cannot think of a dinner this beer wouldn’t work with.

Matter of fact... Bacon! That Is All!

~Cheers

Cherry For the Summer!

2013-04-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping in!

I hope your week has been awesome enough to get you through the last few days till the weekend!

Easter Sunday turned out so nice here at the Kahuna House that I just had to wast a bit of time outside with a good brew!

Today I’ll share it with you!

We have Samuel Smith Organic Cherry Ale. Certified USDA Organic and weighing in at a whopping 5.1% ABV,

This little beer pours a red amber color with a very thin and whispy pink head that dissipates quickly.

The nose is mostly cherry with a hint of malt.

The cherry flavor comes through from the start. There is just a touch of tartness as the brew slides down the throat. There is a touch of wheat flavor hiding somewhere behind the cherry, but it’s tough to detect unless you’re looking for it.

I wish I could go on and on about the flavor profile, but it’s kinda simple. It’s just a tart cherry flavored beer. Warm or cold, it’s quite quafable, and I can see myself enjoying several more of these thorough the summer.

A perfect beer for a perfect spring-time afternoon in the sun!

This one seems pretty well available in Colorado, I’ve seen it at most of the larger liquor stores, and several of the stores with smaller craft beer coolers. So if you enjoy cherry juice... Err... I mean... Fruit beer, I would certainly advise you pick one of these up for an afternoon in a lawn chair.

~Cheers

New Rum Group!

2013-04-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

As you well know, I find Rum to be as rewarding, vast and entertaining as Craft Beer.

Sometimes, an opportunity comes along to share with you, the readers of Big Kahuna Brew, a new industry resource that I think will become huge in the future. This is one of those times!

A few weeks ago, I introduced you all to Bob Davies, a rum guy living in the Turks. He and a group of four other rum professionals have created a new group to provide consultation and information about the world of Rum.

I am lucky enough to call two of the other council members “Friends” and think that you should get to know them all! After all, what’s a pirate without rum?
The following is the press release from their new organization!

Spirits Professionals Launch International Rum Council

Five well known spirits professionals have come together to form the International Rum Council (IRC). Their mission is simple: Promote, advocate and champion the diverse and wonderful world of rum by engaging consumers through events, seminars and focus groups and by producing and distributing one-of-a-kind material on the topic.

The IRC founding members are Dave Russell (RumGallery.com), Bob Davies (Rumelier.com, OldBahamas.com), Mike Streeter (RumConnection.com, Bahama Street Promotions), Nicholas Feris (RumCollective.com) and Carlton Grooms (RumCuisine.com).

IRC members have traveled the world touring rum distilleries, judging cane spirits tasting competitions, hosting rum-themed cruises and speaking at seminars. Most of all, they are known for their published material and have collectively built one of the largest and most loyal online networks of rum aficionados and fine spirits enthusiasts on the planet.

Their first adventure as the IRC takes place this week in Martinique where they will tour the island's famous distilleries as guests of the Martinique Promotion Bureau. In the coming months, the group will travel throughout the Caribbean, US and Europe researching and promoting rum.

Be sure to stay abreast of the IRC's work on their website (RumCouncil.com) and on Facebook and Twitter.

Have a great week!
~Cheers

Meet our friends

2013-03-30T10:01:00.001-06:00

What a busy few days around the Kahuna Castle!

As we work out some last minute details for an upcoming brew, we are also getting things squared away for our upcoming trip to St. John and planning some other fun little escapes for the summer.

We have books to review, beers to share and fun to have!

Today I want to introduce two of our fun friends that Trek around beautiful locals and bring you great coverage of their travels and beautiful photography!

Mango Eddie and Passion Fruit Sista are both fun people that I think you'll certainly like!

Check out their video and then check out their blog, Caribbean Soul Trekkers!

Have a great weekend!

~Cheers

Aloha Video

2013-03-28T07:51:00.000-06:00

Well, I was planning to have a beer to share with you all today, but I changed my mind.

Thanks to a few people giving some very posative feedback, I'm sharing a video with you instead.

Sit back, relax, have a dose of the beautiful island of Oahu!

I hope that little dose of ALOHA helps get you through the rest of the week!

Thanks for stopping in, and I'll see you back here on Saturday!

~Cheers

Multi-Talented Traveler Part 2

2013-03-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome back. We are talking about what you get from traveling, and the different attitudes to take while doing so. Catch up HERE

Two examples from our recent trip include bartenders and tourist attitude.

Our bartenders at Jimmy Buffett’s both grew up less than 20 miles from where we were sitting. When we asked about Cuttlefish, a local snack treat that resembles beef jerky, we were told that we should definitely try it right away!

Sometimes, I'm just a tourist!

I have been seeing Cuttlefish in the ABC stores around Hawaii since I was 8 years old. It always struck me as nasty! Dried fish? No Thank You! And the only people I’d seen eating it were the Japanese tourists that would occasionally pick up a bag as I stood by watching with the astonishment of a country kid from Colorado watching things I’d never seen!

On their recommendation, we tore into the very first bag of soft cuttlefish I’d ever purchased.
Salty, fishy, delicious! This stuff was made for a guy like me! It is exactly what I expected. It tasted like the ocean smells! Very gamey, very salty, very fishy.... The perfect complement to our Long Board Lager!

I have officially wasted 28 years of my life! Because I was too squeamish to taste a local treat while on “Tourist” vacation. What an idiot! This stuff is amazing!

But it leads to a story, of me and the wife, sitting bar-side, at Jimmy Buffett’s, on Waikiki, with our last beers before the taxi took us to the airport... I tried Cuttlefish for the first time! These are the magic moments that make life worth living! These are the stories of our lives!
A Story I won’t soon forget! Even as a pure tourist!

The strange part of this predicament, is that if I had been thinking like a traveler, as opposed to a tourist, I would have gladly tried the cuttlefish years ago, and never had a squeamish bone in my body about it.

This is where I think it’s best to tackle vacations, hell... Life in general, with the “Traveler” attitude.

We all waste a day here and there, lounging on the couch watching some stupid mindless entertainment to pass the day, but most of us only get a limited few days of travel and vacation. That may be why we run our asses off when we are on vacation. We have things to see!

As I reflect on our Hawaiian vacation, I see that my “Traveler” instinct took over more than once.
The first Sushi place I had ever seen as a kid was Furusato Sushi on Kalakaua Ave across the street from Waikiki Beach.

When I was a kid, we would walk by, I would peer in and see the beautiful colors of fish and rice. Their menu board on the street made me drool, although I had no idea how it worked or why it wasn’t cooked.

To a farm kid from Eastern Colorado, it all just looked like something you were supposed to take home and put on the grill!

But this time... My brother and his girlfriend and I took the time to step in and try some of their wonderful food. Best part... My 8 year old son decided he wanted to tag along! That boy is going to be a traveler too!

We scanned the menu for a long time! 5 or 6 pages of fantastic looking samplers, rolls and sashimi.

We finally decided on what to order and a 27 year dream of mine came to fruition. I ate sushi at the very first place I ever saw it.

Was it the best sushi ever? No. Was it a good value? Not really. In-fact, it was over-priced and average, but the experience was more than I can put into words! As a tourist, I would not be very happy with this restaurant, but as a traveler.... I'm pretty damn glad we took this one in!

There are countless other stories and tales to tell from this trip that I’m hoping to put on paper as time permits, but for now, I suppose I will leave you with a fond Aloha and Mahalo, and try to find a good beer to share with you on Thursday!

~Cheers

Multi-Talented Traveler

2013-03-23T10:40:00.001-06:00

I tend to be a bit of a dreamer. I like to forgo reality and indulge in a bit of escapism. I read a lot of travel blogs and I listen to the stories of anyone who will tell them. I hope that’s why you are here... To listen to my stories.

I must admit that I was stricken by a comment made by my friend Shawn at +Coastlines and Tan Lines when he said, "Be a traveler, not a tourist."

When we travel, we do it in one of two styles.

We travel to learn. We (Kahunaschick and I) travel to soak in local culture, experience the things we do not get at home. Food, music, history and local flair. This can be a challenge! Just like any of us, the people who live in tropical and eccentric destinations still live life. Just like the rest of us, they get up, eat and go to work. If they are lucky, they have a local beer to unwind with when their shift is over, but then they have kids and housework. They live there. They are not on vacation!

This makes it a bit of a challenge to work your way into their culture in the few days that we have to experience all a destination has to offer.

Often times, I like to travel to destinations where we have a “Local Connection.” Often times, that means hooking up with a twitter pal or someone who follows this blog to show us the local scene.

Once in a while, it means traveling with someone who is experienced with a destination, and occasionally it’s both.

When we traveled to St. John in January, we were lucky enough to be with a couple who had spent some time on the island, as well as with +RumShopRyan - Caribbean Escape Blogger , a man who may love this island more than any place on earth. Sometimes seeing a location through the eyes of another is quite rewarding!

Our other often engaged in method of travel, is pure tourism. Take for example our recent trip to Hawaii. It’s easy, it’s high dollar, and it’s rewarding as hell! But it still includes some education and soaking in of culture.

When traveling places like Hawaii, I like to do the “Tourist Trap” excursions. I love going to a Luau that picks you up at the hotel, takes you on a bus ride with a smart ass host, telling jokes, tossing in bits of local history and culture, pointing out a few local landmarks along the way and informing you how to get through the luau with the least amount of effort.

When you arrive, there is plenty of photo opportunities to have your picture taken with a “Local” wearing a grass skirt and coconut bikini top (Or a tea leaf covering the man bits) and plenty of cheap rum drinks to lubricate your wallet for the ride home.

After a fair meal of great food, some of which is truly traditional fare, and a pretty cool show including fire dancers and more ladies shaking their hips, you are shuffled back onto your bus like cattle. The Funny man does his thing, entertaining you all the way back to your hotel, asking for but a small tip when you get there!

When being a “Tourist” I actually like that the sidewalks are pressure washed every morning, the flowers along the street are checked and replaced daily and the coconuts are removed weekly. I just like the pure escape of being a tourist.

But even when traveling as a tourist, I never fail to soak in culture and local flair.

Check in on Tuesday for the rest of this story, and more photos!

~Cheers

Looking for something new

2013-03-21T10:18:00.001-06:00

Looking for something new today. Spring is here, the weather isn't!

Let's set our sights to the horizon and see if we can find something new to experience!

Hope you find what you are looking for!

~Cheers!

Live at Jimmy Buffett's

2013-03-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Well, it was live when we recorded it anyway!

This video is a shout out to the organizers of the Conched in Key West Bar Crawl, but also serves as a reminder to you!

The time is NOW to book your weekend getaway for the end of September! Come party with us, come enjoy yourself, come help us raise money for a great charity!

Cheers!

Not that green!

2013-03-16T02:56:00.000-06:00

As with everything in life, there are two ways to look at this post!

I have either failed you, by not having some ridiculous story about armature night... AKA St. Patricks Day, complete with stupid stories of puking in the street and photos of green beer... Or at least pictures of regular beer with green trinkets hanging from the glass!

Or, I have let you sail your course on this holiday with your own compass, trusting that you will make a fool of yourself, without making an ass of yourself, have fun and be safe... All without me holding your hand!

You can either believe that I am slacking on the beach in Waikiki, as a lazy beer drinker, wasting the days away and burning my bald forehead in the sun for no good reason, or that I am diligently working to bring you the beach and relaxation from Oahu, as only I, your fearless Big Kahuna could do!

I suppose, I figure that you all have this down! So I've decided to leave you be, while I go in search of a little escape to get you through the hangover and weeks to come between now and mowing the back yard!

In the first 24 hours on the island, we had eaten Breakfast beneath the oceanarium, a 280,000 gallon salt water aquarium, snorkeld at Hanauma Bay, eaten at Jimmy Buffett's and shopped the International Marketplace. Eaten a wonderful Ahi Tuna Salad... Sorry, no picks (too dark) and drank local beer and rum on the balcony overlooking Waikiki beach!

As you head into this crazy holiday of excess and green urine, please do it with caution! I want to share these stories with you, but I will need some time to make it happen!

Enjoy your night out, party it up! Drink lots of water, and be careful!

I don't call it amateur night for nothing!

May the luck of the Irish be with you! May you find fun, adventure and wild times! May you expand your palate, try new things and drink what you like!

~cheers!

Old Monk

2013-03-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Sitting in the house during a blizzard is somewhat akin to waiting out a hurricane. At least in the fact that it’s a good reason to break out a bottle of rum and a few glasses to help pass the time until the digging out begins.

Here at Kahuna HQ, we popped out a bottle of Old Monk XXX 7 year and I thought you might like to share it with us!

Old Monk is an Indian dark Rum, blended and aged for a minimum of 7 years. It is a dark rum with an alcohol content of 40%. It is produced in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and caught my eye with a cool bottle and sub $20 price tag.

This rum pours a beautiful dark amber color showing right away there is some dark molasses in there.

The nose is of sweet butterscotch and vanilla.

The first sip, neat as always, is sweet and smooth. There is considerable butterscotch and vanilla, but there are hidden notes of dry fig burnt sugar, honey and very little alcohol burn.

This rum is sweet and thick, but manages to finish dry and subtle.

Adding a splash of water opens up the vanilla quite a bit and morphs the butterscotch into more of a black strap molasses and maple flavor.

Seeing as how I picked this bottle up because Kahuna’s Chick decided it was a cool bottle, and it cost less than feeding the kids at McDonalds, I’m dancing a little pre-St. Patricks day jig!

Ending up this tasting session with my totally ghetto Rum Punch, I am just really impressed. I guess I didn’t expect much from an Indian Rum. I cannot say why. I’ve never heard anything bad about them... I was, perhaps, expecting curry and Chai? Who knows what gives a person preconceived thoughts about rum? I’m just very glad that I took this one on.

This is a very good rum, especially for the price! I would not call it “Top Shelf” but it is certainly good enough to sip neat, and it has a complex enough flavor profile to keep me working through it for some time.

I will not likely be satisfied until I’ve used this rum in every mixed drink I know, and mixing it with every liquid in the house.

On the ‘ol Kahuna scale of 1-10, I am rating this rum just over “try it if you see it!” I think it’s big enough to keep more seasoned rum guys happy, but approachable enough for someone just trying to get into rum. And I can totally see me and a few “Pirate” friends pillaging a bottle of Old Monk XXX during a night on the town!

Have a great weekend and be safe!

~Cheers

SEX appeal and beauty!

2013-03-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

What is beauty?

There are people in this world that have become the symbols of beauty. There are plenty of sex symbols in our society! From the Swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated.... (Not much more that an excuse for thousands of me to purchase year-long subscriptions in the name of Basketball to get that one issue full of boobies) to Maxim, to Playboy and Hustler. But what are they selling?

Beauty and Sex are so far removed from reality, that I cannot even put it into words! Selling SEX is easy. Everyone from Coke to 10 cane Rum sells their products with busty broads and six-pack sporting male models in low slung bikini thongs or board shorts.

And don’t get me wrong.... The offerings from Conch Republic Bikinis are more than stellar.... In-fact, I keep sliding the wife her “Zipper Kini” on Friday nights... But that word “Beauty” has so much more meaning than big boobs and six-pack ab’s!

Thank god for me.... And HUNDREDS of craft beer guys around the nation, that there are people who see beauty in the most unsuspecting places!

Huge beards, bald heads, thick rim glasses and beer bellies may never make the pages of SI... But I say "Screw ‘em! "

For my money... I’ll take a woman... Like Kahuna’s Chick that sees beauty in a fat man with a big heart! It just means so much more than a rock star with a rock hard..... abdomen!

Real men like real beer and just the same, real women, they are neither thin nor flavorless. We don’t leave you wanting something extra... We leave you thinking... Damn!

Today I want to share with you the vocal styling of a man who was neither thin nor flavorless. His appearance is more than enough to turn LOTS of simple minded idiots off, but to me, with my limited exposure, and inability to say I’ve ever met him, strikes me as one of the most beautiful people to grace this fine planet!

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (IZ) is a Hawaiian original. A one of a kind. And a beautiful voice attached to a beautiful person!

His life, his music and his personality all point to one thing.... Love. Take it for what it is, enjoy it, and make it your way of life!

I would give all that I have in this world, short of my wife and kids, to share a beer with this salty man of the islands and just BS with him for a while!

Dying at the age of 38, the world suffered a huge loss on June 26, 1997! At 700 plus pounds... This giant of a man leaves this Kahuna feeling more like a scraggly ass leprechaun than a Kahuna!

I choose to believe that his body died because his beauty and personality became too large for his tiny body!

Even his funeral, the scattering of his ashes, was featured in the video of “Somewhere over the rainbow.” Can any of us hope to be immortalized like this? I can’t!

Please enjoy these videos as we soak in a small part of what Oahu has to offer!

Look for more Hawaii posts to come forth in the near future on BKB!

~Cheers!

Time to run away!

2013-03-09T11:20:00.002-07:00

Diamond Head, Oahu Hawaii.

The wind is here, blowing around 35 mph,

The sleet is turning to full on snow.

Bunk in and stay safe on the roads. We've got to head for palm trees on Wednesday!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

See ya in the sunshine!

~Cheers

Island Jay!

2013-03-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Aloha my friends.

As you know, BigKahunaBrew is somewhat of an ADD, adult good times blog. I bring you Craft Beer, Rum, Music, Food and Travel. I try and bring you the things that help me escape the daily crud that brings us down.

Today, I bring you a relatively new blog that I think is worth checking out.

Island Jay is very similar to BKB in that it is a blog about several of the things that make me happy. Jay writes about food and travel and tropical drinks. The Tiki life if you will.

As I prepare to head off on a very large jet plane next week to bring you a little of the Aloha Spirit from the Island of Oahu, I think you should grab a drink and spend a few minutes checking out Island Jay.

"Island Jay offers your Daily Dose of the Beach & Island Life. Every day Island Jay updates his web site and Facebook page with photos, food, or destination stories about many tropical locations around the world.

From Key West to Tahiti, you will find breathtaking photos along with recipes for some of Jay's favorite drinks and destinations.

Island Jay can be found at
www.islandjay.com & on Facebook at www.facebook.com/islandjay