Venue Review - Kona Cafe

"Lapu Lapu" at Kona Cafe

When is a specialty beer not special? When you can get it everywhere!

Alright, I have very divided thoughts on Kona Cafe. From a food and availability window, I am pro. From a cocktail window, I am thumbs up. But from a beer window, and this is Between Pints, it’s complicated for me. Kona Cafe offers craft beers that fit the theme of a Polynesian resort, but many that you can find in pretty much any American market.

Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also a large number of famed cocktails on the menu and “Hawaiian Sourced or Inspired” beers. And I think that phrase is key as we dig in.

The awesome thing I have found about Kona is that I can generally get a reservation without much warning, and enjoy cult Poly treats. For example, at breakfast, you can order Tonga Toast if you don’t want to just quick service it at Captain Cook’s. Lunch and dinner have a variety of sushi rolls and poke bowls which can fulfill the typical Midwesterner's desire to try something exotic without being overly dangerous and adventurous. That’s the same with other items I have enjoyed here, like Pork Belly Noodle Bowl, which is rich and filling but again not overly scary to the typical vacationer pallet. 

Pork Belly Noodle Bowl

The two cult cocktails on the menu are rum-heavy. The “Backscratcher” is a combination of rums, tropic fruit juice, and Jack Daniels. It comes with a wooden backscratcher, which is currently sitting on my desk and is now an essential work tool. But I admit the “Oriental Trading Company” stamp on it instead of Disney branding takes away in the moment. It is juicy and rum-forward, with the whiskey not scaring off the non-whiskey drinker who ordered it. The “Lapu Lapu” is a combination of rum, orgeat, and tropic fruit juices served in a pineapple. The cocktail is sweet and refreshing, but the hollowed-out pineapple puts you perfectly in the mood. When at the Polynesian, there’s a vibe, this is how you match the vibe in a glass.

Soooooo, “Hawaiian Sourced or Inspired” beers is how the menu lists them. Two breweries really serve as the cornerstone of this beer menu. Kona Brewing Co. offers ”Longboard Island Lager,” “Big Wave Golden Ale,” and “Hanalei Island IPA”, which I feel you can find pretty much anywhere in U.S. markets. In fact, in many places, I feel they are pushed up against the macro beers instead of the craft due to their heavy distribution. But despite that wide distribution, they are still a craft brewery, in 2024 listed as the 32nd largest craft brewery by size and 42nd largest producer including macro beers. Part of the reason it could be found nearly everywhere is they were using Anheuser-Busch distribution through the Craft Brew Alliance, which Bud owned. Craft Brew Alliance breweries not in Hawaii but on the mainland were brewing Kona beers for all locations that were not in Hawaii. Anheuser-Busch has been leaving the craft beer business and sold off Craft Beer Alliance. And Kona became the property of PV Brewing Partners of…Kansas City! So all this history shows that while Kona is a craft brand, it’s also honesty more inspired by Hawaii than a product of Hawaii if you are drinking it in Florida. If you want Hawaiian-brewed Kona, you need to visit the tap room in Hawaii to increase the probability of Hawaiian brewed not just Hawaiian recipes. 

"Pineapple Mana Wheat"

Oh, yeah, there are two major breweries on this sourced and inspired list. Maui Brewing Co. is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery and the one that has traditionally had less distribution on the mainland. In 2024, it was the #26 producing craft brewery and #36 overall. They offer, “Coconut Hiwa Porter” and “Pineapple Mana Wheat” on the sourced and inspired menu. In 2022, they were only distributing to 26 states. But they are also a growing concern too with purchasing Modern Times in California. They have also been known to contract brew on the mainland to get product closer to drinkers. I had the “Pineapple Mana Wheat” which is a 5.5%, 18 IBU fruited wheat beer. It has a light wheaty beer flavor with some dry not as sweet pineapple. It was easy to drink, but maybe not as juicy as I had hoped thinking it would contend with a cocktail. I’ve also had the “Coconut Hiwa” which my data tells me from 6 years ago that I liked! What am I doing that I’ve not had this more? It’s likely the beer I grab next time at Kona Cafe if I skip a cocktail.

A Georgia beer, Terrapin’s “Luau Krunkles Passionfruit-Orange-Gauva IPA”, sounds like POG juice to me, finishes out the inspired selections. There is also a list of additional beers on draft that include the usual suspects like Yuengling’s “Amber Lager” and Cigar City’s “Jai Alai.” So if you want more of the usual suspects than inspired, you have options.

Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding

Who Drinks Here? For those who want to find good food fast, book reservations here. Maybe Ohana never had spots open up. While dining, you will have to wait till the end to get my personal must-have, Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding. If you order a beer, you likely are not in a cocktail mood. But you still want to match the vibe so you grab a Maui Brewing Co. beer for the fruit flavors that help you stay in that Polynesian mood while on your vacation. Sit back, enjoy your cocktail and beer and forget for an hour the craziness of a Disney vacation.

Beer Review - Black Velvet Blend

A Freshly Drawn Pint of "Black Velvet"

Real beer talk!

I love the Rose & Crown Pub. The theming and service are fantastic. But the taps are generally all imports that can be found in most liquor stores and many grocery stores in the United States. It’s a selection lacks adventure.

With that truth in front of us, when I want something different or challenging I can’t just order a regular pint. Instead, I look to the blends, where the beertenders expertly combine two beers. I recently was feeling a little adventurous and ordered the blend which felt the most challenging, the darkest beer on tap with the sweetest offering you could pour into a pint.

“Black Velvet” is a combination of “Guinness Stout” and “Strongbow Hard Cider.” The two are very traditional English pub offerings with “Strongbow” often serving as a key ingredient in English blends. With “Strongbow” think boozy apple juice, a bottle I first enjoyed on a train from London to Cambridge. I really thought out of everything on the menu, this had the best chance of being weird by smashing the dark malty brew with the fruity light liquid.

And weird it was not. Honestly, the “Strongbow” overtook the first sips, even with the “Guinness” layer on top. The first sip was really a big apple fruity punch of flavor. As the pint went down, it kept sweet flavors, but the “Guinness” with its creamy mouth feel balanced out the sweetness and honestly made it very mellow as a sipper. I really really liked it. It was a great reminder that despite its dark color, “Guinness” is a super approachable ale. The flavor was more natural and fruity than many fruit-infused stouts that I have sampled in the past. “Black Velvet” is a nice way to try out stouts.

An Adventurous Lunch!

 

Now it was lunchtime, and I paired my “Black Velvet” with a bag of Jelly Babies I grabbed in the Sportsman’s Shoppe. I will admit I am a bit of a nerd and I had seen Jelly Babies on TV quite a bit on an English-imported TV show as a kid. For those who know, is it officially part of the Disney family now! The Jelly Babies felt hollow as I bit into them and they collapsed on a gel that I did not expect. They were soft chewy gummy candy that was super sweet. And as a pairing, sweet complimented sweet. I may not have gotten buzzed from the beer but I did get a sugar high. I will admit, I could not finish the bag. I also am not likely to create this pairing again.  

Who Drinks This? We all should be looking for pints at the Rose & Crown Pub. Those who drink this are looking for a challenging but surprising pint. The results for those happy drinkers who select “Black Velvet” will be a sweet fruity glass, that shouldn’t be paired with candy!

Beer Review - Dragon Blossom

Dragon Blossom

It’s time again for Epcot’s Luminous: The Symphony of Us! Which means I need a beer. This new to me brew was a surprise. I was holding a viewing spot down in Mexico, but I wasn’t in the mood for a “Lägermaiz”…though I considered it. So I went on a bit of a walkabout but wasn’t in the mood for anything German. There in the China Pavilion, a brew unexpectedly caught my eye. At the Joy of Tea, known for the “Tipsy Ducks in Love” one beer was on tap!

“Dragon Blossom” honestly is not the beer that I would pick up at my local liquor store with the description of orange blossom honey and green tea. I mean, I like a good tea, a good black tea! But I didn’t want to wander anymore…and needed to make a quick choice to hold down the Luminous Lookout!

“Dragon Blossom” is a no IBU, 5.5% ABV pilsner crafted by the local Orange Blossom Brewing Company. To be honest, I’ve had an orange-toned ale from Orange Blossom in the past, and it was fine but it wouldn’t steal an order from my next new to me beer. So I was shocked to find myself in line. And let me say, this is what you really want to see from a themed beer in Epcot. Yes, it’s not an import from China. But it is a nice sweet lager, where you sip and clearly can taste the honey and the green tea. After being foiled by other beers where I failed to taste the adjunct flavors I was pleased and satisfied. I also think the yellow pilsner fits the vibe of the pavilion.

Orange Blossom Brewing Company’s found Tom Moench and Steve Jobs have a lot in common! Moench started his brewery in his garage when he was too young to drink. It is one of Orlando’s first breweries. A key to the taste profile is the Orange Blossom Honey which is made from the nectar of orange blossoms. And while orange groves may be harder to find in Orlando than years ago, they were a large part of Moench’s childhood.

Who Drinks This? It’s clearly the best option for those who can’t find anything to drink in Norway and don’t want to walk to Germany! It’s also a beer for those who want an adult beverage that is unique to the China Pavilion, but may not want the bourbon-backed “Tipsy Ducks in Love”. It’s sweet, it’s unique, and it fits the theme of the China Pavilion. Finally, with the well-showcased green tea, it is definitely worth some sips. 

Brewing Review - Half Barrel Beer Project

Half Barrel Beer Project has a special place in my heart. It was the first brewery that I visited in the Orlando area. It’s also the one that is the easiest for me to convince others to grab a quick pint at. It feels like there is always something interesting on tap for me and for others. If the taps don’t have what I want, the fridge is always stocked with something fun, cool, and new.

Half Barrel is a 12-minute, 6-mile drive from Universal Studios Florida. Best of all, it’s right next to the future Epic Universe. We use a visit to Half Barrel to catch a glimpse at the new hotels and the state of construction. When Epic is up and running, Half Barrel is truly the closest craft brewery to the park. in the last year, Half Barrel tore down some walls and added more space, maybe anticipating what’s going on across the street. I think this is an investment likely to pay off as guests next year focus many of their visits around the future 4th Universal theme park. 

Half Barrel Beer Project

The tap room is pretty compact, it used to be more so. It was all one relatively small room with a bar, some low tables, and some pub tables. But in the last year, they added space with more seating including a couch for a large party comfy space. There are a few patio tables out front. It is small but clean and comfy. The small room means that everyone in the main room can see games playing on the TVs above the bar. However, my drinking partner is convinced that the wifi is slow. It is located in a strip mall/apartment complex so parking is a bit limited. Overall the vibe is friendly and inviting with couples and friends engaged in lively debates over their glasses.

Let’s look at the beer! We recently slipped in after their 7th Anniversary party to grab a pint of celebratory recipes.

"Put the Pineapple Ice Cream in the Coconut"

• “Put the Pineapple Ice Cream in the Coconut” was the reason for our visit. My partner really enjoys their 2019 Orlando Beer Festival Judges Choice Award, “Put the Lime in the Coconut” which I’ve been stalking for months for them to put back on tap post brewery expansion. This version has Dole Whip in it. This house loves Dole Whip. Half Barrel has shown success with other Dole Whip beers in “No-Churn Pineapple Dole Whipped” which is one of my favorite Dole Whip-based beers in Orlando. I again stand by the argument that every brewery in Orlando needs a Dole Whip adjacent beer. “Put the Pineapple Ice Cream in the Coconut” was a delight. My drinking companion stole the whole chalice. I found it to be a nice combination of pineapple and coconut flavor where both shined and were distinct, with a slight sour pucker on the end.. Happy Anniversary, this is a great sour that fruity beer drinkers are likely to enjoy. The newest Dole Whipish beer has 0 IBUs and only is 4.2% ABV.

"No-Churn Pineapple Dole Whipped"

For my next two beers, I grabbed tasters. I mean… someone has to drive.

Two Tasters: "Dreamscape Daze" and "Pretzel Logic"

• “Dreamscape Daze” is an anniversary IPA that was dry-hopped with experimental hops from Michigan. Now, Midwest experimental hops can be a bad adventure sometimes. It’s not a region known for hops! This IPA has a 6.6% ABV and is listed as 0 IBUs, which is an odd bitterness for an IPA. Honestly, it has a lighter mouthfeel and the hop flavors to me were more spicey and herbal than piney. It was something that I would not typically grab, but I was glad I tried it and exposed myself to new flavors.

• “Pretzel Logic” is an Angry Chair Brewing milk stout with a big 11.5% ABV and 0 IBUs (a theme of the night. I have found a few great Angry Chair stouts on tap or in the fridge here. I recommend grabbing one, even the not barrel-aged cans when you can as they are full of complex flavor. This stout has a nice sweet and bready front when it hits the tongue and finished to me like a very traditional dry stout.

Honestly, it was a very successful weekday stop at a fun craft brewery.

While we have focused on beer, there are other options including several wines for those who don’t want beer. They have also expanded their food options in the last year, moving past what I would see as snack options to meals.

As I’ve said before, beer laws are weird. Half Barrel continues to show this with their taps which are generally 2/3rds filled with guest breweries and their packaged guest fridge where you can grab cans and bottles to drink on-site at home or hotel room. The selection does overlap some with GB’s Bottle Shop, which honestly has a slightly bigger selection. However, the advantage for Half Barrel is they keep the selection updated on their website. So you can know before you go what is currently stocked. If you are visiting Universal Studios, this is a great place to grab a can or three craft beers from across the nation for your fridge. I have been able to discover IPAs from California (which was collaborating with BlackStack), Toppling Goliath 4-packs, Lupulin Brewing stouts and IPAs, German Ayinger Octoberfest while in season, and so many other labels that I had wanted to try for years. Every time I go, I look across the table, declare that I’m going shopping, and then pick up at least one to-go beverage for later sipping.

Who Drinks Here? Craft beer fans who want to try a variety from around the country should stop in at Half Barrel Beer Project. I’d say you never know what you will find, but they do an excellent job of keeping their offerings updated online. If you are staying at a Universal Studios resort, this is a great grab-and-go spot to stock a room fridge. For those looking to visit and take a break from Epic in the future, this is a great potential spot to grab some food, pints, and air conditioning. And there’s a good chance that those Between Whips may find an alcoholic version of the famed Disney treat.

Beer Review - Wizard's Brew

Looking Up Towards the Gringotts Wizarding Bank

It’s a dark evening and a green light illuminates the streets.

Death Eaters are scurrying around the bystanders inspecting arms for dark marks. I wander over and show the tallest my mark, pointing my wand at a Jungle Cruise boat where the dark mark should be. He looks at me, looks at my wife, and glances into the camera saying with no words, “This Guy!”

With this proud Hufflepuff staring down a dark wizard, it was time to slide over to The Hopping Pot in Diagon Alley. I grabbed some “Frozen Butterbeers” for my loved ones and a “Wizard’s Brew” to reward myself for facing off against evil. A Death Eater did run through the line, but I had my wand at the ready. 

A Pint of "Wizard's Brew"

“Wizard’s Brew” is a beer, I’ve tried to make appear a few times. I keep trying to accio it in the Hog’s Head in Hogsmeade, but it’s exclusive to Universal Studio’s Florida and Diagon Alley in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I’ve been wanting to grab this pint because it’s the stout offering among the Wizarding beers. And if anything howls English beer to me it’s porters and stouts. This is a 5.7 ABV milk stout with 0 IBUs. The zero IBU stands out, as the malty finish gives it a taste of sweet bread. The mouthfeel is very silky and pleasant. To me, this is very much a beautiful marriage of an English brew and a Wizarding ale at the same time. It is what I have been looking for in the Wizarding World and so sets the mood.

Now others in my party did not agree. They took a big sip and made a face, as this is a dark brown to black colored beer. And I think the color sets an expectation of what one should be tasting bitterness. No additional sips were taken or offered. I think if they were blindfolded, they may have had a different opinion of the potion. Me…I want a sweet cookie to pair with this, and I’ll admit I traded sips between “Wizard’s Brew” and “Butterbeer”. I found this to be a really mellow and relaxing sipping treat.
 

This is another Wizard beer from Carib Brewing USA. As a stout a sweet or milk stout relies on the flavor from the dark malts making it bready. But there is typically an additional flavor punch from the addition of milk sugar or lactose. And as you can imagine that does add silkiness, the creamy element, and the sweetness, the sugar. It can transfigure a more normal or dry style stout into that sweet bready pint that I enjoyed as dueling wizards attacked the Death Eaters around me.

Who Drinks This? Me! If you like dark beers or English-style craft beers, this is for you and are in Diagon Alley so only Wizarding pints for you. I’d like to see a barrel-aged beer in a Central Florida theme park, but know due to tastes and profit margins that won’t happen. However, if dark beers are not your style or taste…you may need to look for a “Dark Forest Ale” or a “Hog’s Head Brew” instead. Sadly for the Beertenders of the Hog’s Head, I will probably still try to order it in Islands of Adventure.

Venue Review - Biergarten Restaurant

The Outside Facade of Biergarten Restaurant

“Im Himmel gibt’s kein Bier”! No don’t you say say it. I disagree. You take it back Germany polka band, you take back the lie that there is no beer in Heaven. Because if so, I have a lot of pints to catch up on. Hoi Hoi Hoi!

As seen on these pages, the Germany Pavilion is a rich hunting ground for finding unique and fun pints. And I can’t think of a better venue to capture the spirit of German beer tradition than the Biergarten Restaurant. 

An Indoor Beer Garden

The restaurant is buried deep into the Germany Pavilion. It has a walkway covering for guests waiting outside just in case there is rain. After check-in, we were led into an indoor beer garden. Like Blue Bayou in Disneyland and San Angel Inn Restaurante, diners are sitting in an outdoor-themed dining area. There just isn’t a water ride passing by. I will admit, that there has been some anxiety about dining at Biergarten due to notes I’ve seen about sharing tables with other parties. My group of two had our table and room for bags, while a three-person party had the same table right next to us. And while they were close we also had clear separation between our two groups. 

There is a stage up in front. A traditional polka band leads dinners through a 12 to 15-minute set where they invite chanting and dancing, especially for the kids looking to drop some Fortnite dance moves on the dance floor. I have to be honest, I found myself a little obsessed with the bells, as the performer flew through a table of notes in front of him. Maybe it was the beer talking. 

 

The Polka Band

The server offered to give us a tour of the buffet, but honestly, it was fairly straightforward. It started with salads and soup on both sides. This was followed by warm food as typically found in Disney buffets, and finally a shared meat and desert zone. And we can’t forget the kids' area. The online menu highlights numerous German dishes like schnitzel, sauerkraut, sausages, rotisserie chicken, spätzle, and more. Honestly, the food overall was fine. The meats and potatoes were all overall solid and filling. But being both German traditional food and Disney buffet, the food was filling but not game-changing. The best item for me was the Beer Cheese Soup, which makes the perfect condiment for dipping chicken schnitzel, pork schnitzel, and potatoes. For me, the soup, and a pretzel roll for dipping is the do not miss item on the buffet. Overall, the menu is approachable, where everyone will find something they can enjoy. 

The Spread!

For my beer I selected a liter, yes a liter, of “König Ludwig Weissbier Hell.” This is a Hefeweizen wheat beer with a dark opaque yellow color. It was style perfect giving me light sweet fruity tones that provided a sweet bread flavor. It has a light 15 IBUs and a drinkable 5.5% ABV. The shocking thing for me was the heaviness of the stein, which while it left my arm sore, didn’t leave me feeling even buzzed despite the large volume. I could have ordered a safer half-liter, safer I say since the volume in my tummy mixed with food and the other drink in front of me, left me overfull. The beer itself follows traditional Bavarian traditions and is considered true to style. The König Ludwig Schlossbrauerei Kaltenberg brewery was opened in 1871 by the Bavarian royal family, with the current ownership being the great-grandson of the last Bavarian king. And as you can guess, for much of the brewery’s history they had the monopoly on brewing! This makes “König Ludwig Weissbier Hell” very to style and fitting the traditional theme. 

“König Ludwig Weissbier Hell"

There are three other beers, which you can get in a flight of four. You can enjoy the hefe, but you can also grab a “Beck’s Pilsner”, “Warsteniner Dunkel”, or “Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen.” My second choice would have been the Dunkel. But I did laugh watching others toast with large steins of the pinkish-orange grapefruit brew as it looked electric!

Now, I don’t drink much pop. If you want my secret to losing 50 pounds, it was choosing between pop and beer. Beer won, especially since I didn’t drink it as frequently, cough cough daily, as soda. So when my kind server suggested “spezi” or “Mezzo Mix”, I leaned in. This soda ia a combination of “Coca-Cola” and “Orange Fanta”. With a soft drink included, I went ahead and asked for one. I used to be a huge fan of “Cherry Pepsi”, and would when needed take a “Cherry Coke”. I found “spezi” to be a less sweet and syrupy cola drink with a slight citrus flavor. I liked it quite a bit and drank around 3 glasses of soda. That volume along with the liter left me very full. 

"Spezi"

Who drinks here? You have the Disney Dining Plan and you need a reservation. Biergarten Restaurant may not be your first choice, but it definitely will be filling and has openings. Yes, you had to spend beyond your credits for a full-liter or half-liter of beer. But let’s be honest, you’re at a beer garden and it only makes sense. With four beers on tap, you will find something to match with “spezi” to pass the time and you await the Polka Band’s set.

Beer Review - Oktoberfest - Brauerie Gutmann

 

"Oktoberfest - Brauerie Gutmann"

“Oktoberfest - Brauerie Gutmann”... that’s a lot of words Sierra Nevada!

It’s fall and time for everyone to enjoy an Octoberfest beer! That season started this summer..since brewers will start dragging out the Pumpkin Spice Latte of beers in May!

BaseLine Tap House along with the regular lineup, does a great job of throwing a seasonal into the mix. Last time this year, the Octoberfest was to my memory a nice little Marzen-like beer that I found myself enjoying. I wanted to go there again, with me enjoying Yuengling’s “Oktoberfest at home regularly. So I jumped right up, ordered one from a friendly face, and said, “hmmm, that is not an Octoberfest!” after a big gulp.

Let’s talk about it. So, it wasn’t as copper colored as my beloved Yuengling. It was not as malty and bready as a Marzen. It was honestly, a little hoppier than I expected. It’s a 6% ABV, hoppy ale with not as much malt as I expected. The hops shined, with a little 26 IBU rating. But the hops brought the flavor. I just kept asking myself what happened here that I ordered a hoppy lager and not a traditional Octoberfest. I guess Sierra Nevada’s love of hop flavor won out! I also found it a little odd that in Untappd, each year’s brew had the year called out and was marked out of production. I mean, this is a standard seasonal right? I was about to grumble about consistency as the color is so different between two years out of the same style plastic cup! Also, while I swear last year’s was more malty, it also had a higher 30 IBU! Sierra Nevada is too good of a brewery to be giving so much variance with a recipe!

INSERT RECORD SCRATCH! First, let’s talk about this beer being off-style. They don’t list “Oktoberfest - Brauerie Gutmann” as an Octoberfest, but a Festbier. This means to me and many other beer drinkers that this is really an anything-goes beer. It is meant to be drank in fall, in celebration of the season, and there’s no reason to worry about hitting any standard style definition! So that can explain why the two offerings are so different. But then I got really confused as I looked in my data as this year’s offering is titled, “Oktoberfest - Brauerie Gutmann” while last year’s was titled “Oktoberfest - Kehrwider Kreativebrauerei!” I need to know more. I did some time-consuming research, Googling, and read Untappd descriptions and a realization hit me, Sierra Nevada is using fall as an excuse for collaboration. They are working with German breweries, like Brauerie Gutmann and Kehrwider Kreativebrauerei who are known for making traditional Greman-style beers in Germany! Sure, I don’t know who they are, but if I actually was in Germany I would likely find their offerings all around me! 

 

"Oktoberfest - Kehrwider Kreativebrauerei"

This is awesome! I love the fact that Sierra Nevada is using the occasion to introduce German breweries to the United States and Disney Hollywood Studios! There’s no reason to worry about consistency or even style year-to-year because the style and collaboration allow breweries to play and give us something different every year!

Who Drinks This? You like drinking to the occasion, and like sampling something new this is for you. You also like collecting unique beers, catch this while you can because you won’t get it next year. Just don’t expect a Marzen! If you like some hop flavor, grab this annual offering. This is brewers giving you something different than maybe what you expect. This uniqueness could lead me to grab a second sip.