Brewery: Kona Brewing
Origin: Kona, Hawaii
Size: 35.5cl
Alcohol: 4.6%, 4.4%, 4.5%
Price: 19kr, 21kr, 23kr
Systembolaget: 89378, 89665, 82696
Well, it must be said, this is a first time for me! In 2018, I had Big Wave and Longboard in 2 separate tastings, and I always said I wouldn’t repeat beers. However, it has been 3 and a half years, so I thought it was time to revisit these past classics as part of a triple pack to kick off the tasting. Hailing from Big Island, Hawaii, Kona Brewing has been running since 1994 and currently owns 3 restaurants and has 250 employees. I wanted an easy beginning to the tasting, so I thought it was the perfect time to compare a lager, golden ale and an IPA from the same brewery as I’ve never done that before.
As this is three different types of beers, I will be quick! The Longboard Lager was fresh and easy to drink, with its cracker, biscuit and slight honey notes working together well on the palate. Big Wave Golden Ale was light, with a hint of cloud and a fresh grapefruit bitterness in the aftertaste. As you might expect, the Hanalei IPA was the most prominent taste wise, yet it was too fairly subdued. Big tangerine notes emanated the glass, followed by guava, pine and a hint of bitter citrus.
Even though they were all different styles, you could clearly see the thread that ran between the three beers in the way they had been brewed. All three were light and fresh, perfect designed for the sunny climate from which they hail. I could see myself on a beach drinking any of these beers in the near future. Very nice indeed!