‘Captain Cook’s Original IPA’ from Waimea Brewing Company

The charming Waimea town has many faces. It’s home to the Waimea Theatre, the Russian Fort, lots of red dirt, blistering heat and flash floods, happy people, and also the westernmost brewery in the world.

Waimea Brewing Company, “the last beer before tomorrow,” regularly offers 10 kinds of beer. The most popular, “Captain Cook’s Original IPA,” is named for the first westerner to reach Hawai‘i. Waimea was the first place Cook’s men set foot in the islands.

Brewmaster David Curry said the IPA was created in the late 1700s, and soon became the beer of choice among British sailors for many reasons.

The IPA’s high alcohol content preserves it longer than normal beer, something to consider if you end up stranded on some island, in a boat full of men, and without beer.

Also, because IPA has more hops, it limits bacterial growth, giving it a one-two punch against spoiling.

Technical explanations apart, the crowd that comes to the brewery really likes it because of the taste.

The Waimea Brewing Company is located by Waimea Plantation Cottages, immediately past downtown Waimea.

Dress casually, hop in your car, fill up the gas tank and drivewest, seriously. Bring a designated driver. If not, plan to stay inone of those super-cool, plantation-style cottages, or bring a tentand go camping. The beer is that good, so you might end up drinkingtoo much to drive.