Hunting for the Perfect Hinano: A Beer Lover’s Guide to Bora Bora

Hinano has been the national beer of French Polynesia since 1955, and on Bora Bora, ordering one means asking for une coquille — “a shell.” The pale lager runs 5% alcohol, and you will find it in cans, bottles, and on draft across the island, though what you get in a resort minibar and what you find at a snack bar near the Vaitape ferry landing are often different beasts in terms of temperature and freshness. This guide covers the full Hinano lineup, the newer craft breweries challenging its dominance, and where to drink each one on Bora Bora without overpaying or ending up with a warm can.

Bora Bora does not have its own brewery. Almost all beer arrives by barge from Tahiti, which affects availability and shelf life. The beer culture here is split between resort guests drinking whatever is cold and locals who know exactly which bar on Motu Piti Aau keeps a clean tap line. I have spent enough time watching bartenders pull warm bottles from under counters to know that ordering draft in a high-turnover spot matters more than the label.

Bora Bora’s Beer Landscape: From Hinano to the New Wave

Hinano is not one beer. The core lineup includes the original pale lager at 5% ABV, the Ambrée at 5.5%, and the Gold at 6%, the last introduced in 2014. All three are brewed in Tahiti and distributed across the islands, but the Gold sees limited shelf space on Bora Bora. The Ambrée, an amber lager, has a maltier profile that holds up better against rich coconut-based dishes than the lighter original. Most resort restaurants stock only the standard pale lager, so finding the Ambrée usually means heading to a local épicerie or a bar that caters to residents.

The island also gets a trickle of smaller-batch Tahitian beers. Triple Red Mo’o is a golden ale at 7% ABV sold only in 0.33-litre bottles. Bora Bora Lounge, a blond ale at 5.8%, is bottled exclusively in Papeete at the bar across from the ferry port and is not available on Bora Bora itself. Tabu Mojito and Tabu Lemon are radlers — fruit-and-herb blends at 5% and 5.5% respectively — and they show up in a few supermarkets around Vaitape, though they are more common on Tahiti.

The biggest disruptor to Hinano’s near-monopoly is HOA brewery, a microbrewery founded in Papeete in 2020 by three friends. HOA does not distribute widely to Bora Bora yet, but its beer occasionally appears at Bloody Mary’s and a handful of guesthouses. The name means “friend” in Tahitian, and the brewery also hosts concerts and tastings on site. If you see a HOA tap on Bora Bora, order it — it is fresher than almost anything bottled on Tahiti and shipped over.

Where to Drink on Bora Bora: Resorts, Snack Bars, and the One Good Tap

Bloody Mary’s and the Matira Beach Strip

Bloody Mary’s has the most consistent draft system on the island. The bar runs through enough volume that kegs do not sit. The standard pale lager is the move here, served in a chilled glass that actually stays cold past the first few sips. Matira Beach has a handful of snack bars — Snack Matira and the roti stand near the public beach access — that sell bottles for about half the resort price, but the bottles are often warm and the turnover is unpredictable. I have watched a bartender at Snack Matira pull a bottle from a styrofoam cooler that had clearly been sitting since the morning delivery. Drink the beer, not the idea of the beach.

Vaitape and the Ferry Area

The area around the Vaitape ferry terminal is where you will find the best selection. Les 3 Brasseurs, the French craft brewery chain that has operated in Tahiti since 1998, does not have a Bora Bora location, but its Papeete waterfront branch sells bottles that sometimes make it onto the supply boats. On Bora Bora itself, the small grocery near the dock stocks Hinano Ambrée and Gold more reliably than anywhere else, alongside the occasional six-pack of Tabu Lemon. The bar at the Bora Bora Yacht Club, a short walk from the ferry, keeps a clean draft line and pours Hinano at a fair price. It is also one of the few places where you can sit at the water and watch the supply boats unload — the same boats bringing the beer.

Resort Minibars and Overwater Bungalows

The beer in your overwater bungalow minibar has almost certainly been there longer than you have been on the island. Resorts restock infrequently, and the bottles at the Four Seasons and the St. Regis are priced at a premium that makes no sense for a pale lager. If you want a beer on your deck, buy it in Vaitape and bring it back in a cooler. The resort will not stop you, and you will pay a third of the price. The trade-off is that you lose the novelty of ordering room service, but the beer will taste better.

Practical Planning for Beer Lovers

The logistics of drinking well on Bora Bora come down to timing and knowing what is actually available. The availability of Hinano across French Polynesia is broad, but Bora Bora’s remote position means that supply is inconsistent. The table below breaks down what you can expect to find and where.

Getting Beer to Your Bungalow

The supply boat from Papeete arrives in Vaitape on Tuesday mornings. If you arrive midweek, the selection at the grocery will be thinner. The best strategy is to hit the grocery on Tuesday afternoon, stock up on a mix of pale lager and Ambrée, and keep them in your room’s cooler. Ice is available at most resort bars for free if you ask. Do not expect to find craft beer from HOA or Les 3 Brasseurs on Bora Bora with any reliability — those are Tahiti-only experiences worth seeking out before your flight home.

Costs and Markups

A bottle of Hinano at a resort bar costs between $8 and $12. At the Vaitape grocery, the same bottle is around $2.50. A draft pint at the Yacht Club or Bloody Mary’s runs about $6. The markup is steep, but the grocery option is realistic if you have a cooler and a way to carry bottles back to your room. The French Polynesian recycling system means you will pay a small deposit on each bottle — return the empties to the grocery for a refund.

On the Ground: Etiquette, Glassware, and What to Avoid

Ordering Like a Local

In Tahiti, ordering a Hinano means asking for une coquille — “a shell” — a reference to the shell-shaped logo on the bottle. On Bora Bora, the phrase is understood but less common among resort staff. If you want to sound like you know what you are doing, order une Hinano pression for draft or une bouteille for a bottle. Do not ask for a “Hinano light” — there is no light version, and the question marks you as someone who has not done the reading.

Glassware and Temperature

Most bars serve Hinano in a standard pint glass or directly from the bottle. The Ambrée benefits from being poured — it opens up more malt character — but the pale lager drinks fine from the bottle if the glass is warm. If the glass feels room-temperature, ask for a chilled one. A warm glass kills the carbonation faster than the bottle itself. The French Polynesian habit of serving beer with ice cubes is common in snack bars; if that bothers you, order draft and specify sans glaçons.

What to Avoid

Do not order the Bora Bora Lounge beer on Bora Bora — it is not sold here despite the name. The blond ale is brewed exclusively for a bar in Papeete, and asking for it will get you a blank stare. Also avoid the Tabu radlers if you are looking for a beer flavour — they taste more like sweetened lemonade with a faint alcohol kick. They serve a purpose in the heat but are not what most beer drinkers are after.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beer in Bora Bora

Is Hinano the only beer available in Bora Bora?

No, but it dominates. You will also find Tabu radlers, Triple Red Mo’o, and occasional shipments of HOA or Les 3 Brasseurs, though those are rare. Most resort bars stock only Hinano pale lager.

Can I buy Hinano to take home from Bora Bora?

Yes, from the Vaitape grocery or the airport shop, but check your airline’s liquid restrictions. Bottles are heavy and the deposit system applies — returning empties is expected. The airport shop sells six-packs in cardboard carriers.

What is the best beer to drink with local food?

Hinano Ambrée pairs best with poisson cru and other coconut-heavy dishes. The malt sweetness cuts through the richness without clashing. The pale lager works for lighter meals like grilled fish or raw salads.

Are there any brewery tours on Bora Bora itself?

No. All brewing happens on Tahiti. The nearest brewery experience is Les 3 Brasseurs in Papeete, which offers on-site brewing and tastings. Plan a stop there before or after your Bora Bora trip.

Does Bora Bora have a craft beer scene worth exploring?

Not really. The craft movement is centred on Tahiti, where HOA and Les 3 Brasseurs operate. Bora Bora’s remote location and small permanent population make consistent distribution difficult. If craft beer matters to you, spend a day in Papeete.

Hinano is not a beer you travel to Bora Bora for — it is a beer you drink because you are there, and that distinction matters. The pale lager works in the heat, the Ambrée works with the food, and the whole experience lands somewhere between a cold convenience and a cultural marker. If you want variety, stay a night in Papeete. If you want a cold shell on the water, you already know where to find it. For a broader look at Bora Bora’s dining landscape, this locals guide to restaurants covers more than just beer.

Sources and further reading

French Polynesia Beer Guide. Unusual Traveler, 2024.

Tahitian Beers: A Complete Guide. Anoe Tahiti, 2025.

Exploring the Charm of Hinano Beer from Tahiti. Beer Insiders, 2023.