
We Ain't Gay, But Were Homo For Beer
It was fall of 2008. Kamehameha School grads and boyhood buddies Russel Kealoha and Bully O’Sullivan were in Bully’s garage, and decided to come out of the closet. No, they’re not gay; they’re two local guys who are “queer for beer.” And unlike many people across the islands, they’re most enamored with dark brews over mass produced Heineken, Budweiser, or (shudder) Primo.
They pored over brewery research, put up a camera in the garage, set out some microbrews, and started a beercast to the world. At that time, “the world” was just Andy Bumatai and another guy in Palolo. But within months, their beer-vangelism caught on like wildfire to the masses. Today, people from around the world watch their weekly reviews, even non-beer drinkers.
Russel, with a bachelor’s degree in film from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, is the mastermind behind the production of the beercast. Bully, who works for his family’s catering business, brings depth of knowledge to the beers that they quaff. Together — with the help of Engi-Queer Kaeo Kepani — they share their passion for the art behind the brew.