19 brews await at the Moana Beach Bar’s annual Father’s Day fest

Beer, brats and tots are on tap for the third annual Father’s Day beer fest at the Beach Bar at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa.

The food and beverage team at the historic hotel has put together an assemblage of 19 craft beers and a menu of specially paired foods for the event.

If 19 beers sounds daunting and dangerous, “we’re doing 1- to 2-ounce samples of 19 beers,” explained Beach Bar manager Jesse Suderman, which adds up “to three to four beers, by the end,” he said.

Local and imported brews will include Breakside Brewery, Chimay, Clown Shoes, Coronado Brewing Co., Gigantic Brewing Co., Green Flash Brewing Co., Maui Brewing Co. and Midnight Sun Brewing Co., to name just a few.

In the interest of enjoying responsibly, an array of food will be served and is included in the event cost.

The menu prepared by executive chef Jason Watanabe is designed to pair with the beer.

From the kitchen will be PB&J chicken wings with peanut dipping sauce, kalbi short rib sliders with kim chee kale, truffled tater tots, crispy pork belly bun with hoisin sauce, beer bratwurst with onion and papaya kraut and smoked pork back ribs with amber and lilikoi barbecue sauce.

Some of the dishes were favorites during last year’s event, said Ryan Loo, the Moana’s recently promoted director of food and beverage services.

Loo, Watanabe and Suderman collaborated on the pairings.

Lighter-style food pairs well with lighter-style lager, Suderman said, as an example. He also set out to choose “beers people haven’t heard of because they’re new on the scene, as well as some old classics,” he said.

A cicerone, or certified beer specialist, will be on hand to discuss the various beers and their qualities with guests.

While the event is being staged on Father’s Day, it’s not exclusively for guys, though everyone in attendance must be at least 21 years old. Attendance at the event has risen each year, to nearly 200 last year, Loo said.

“We encourage everyone to wear their lederhosen too,” Suderman said with a laugh.