Kua Bay
Kona Brewing Co.

Kua BayKua Bay
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From:
Kona Brewing Co.
 
Hawaii, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #3,131
ABV:
7.3%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,233
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 10.3%
Reviews:
40
Ratings:
159
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 22, 2024
Added:
Aug 20, 2014
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  42
Kua Bay IPA is a bright, bold, copper-colored India Pale Ale. Piney hops, spices, and a subtle caramel maltiness make it a delicious beer that’s both full-bodied and flavorful.

60 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mandpasbury:
Photo of Mandpasbury
Reviewed by Mandpasbury from North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Another offering from a Kona Brewing variety pack, this IPA certainly surprise me (especially since the first Brew I had out of the variety pack was the Lager). It pours a very nice copper color with very small amount of lacing, very stubborn. It has the aroma of grapefruit and pineapple I thought, a strange combination. It has a middle of the road IPA taste, a little floral and citrus with a bit of pine. It did, however, have a very nice long Finnish that was very clean and had a great mouth feel. Overall, a solid IPA. Nothing that I would search out if I was in a row of taps but I certainly would drink it again if the opportunity arose.
Apr 03, 2019
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
12 oz bottle from Homebrewstuff. Medium, clearcamber, small tight head. Caramel malts on the aroma, trailng hop fragrance. Taste leads with the malts, hops coming close behind. Woody, piney, light bitterness.
Jan 22, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Jul 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by iftcoach from Germany

Jul 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.82 by KC_beerman from Missouri

Feb 07, 2023
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Canned 6/9/22. Poured deep gold with excellent clarity; one finger of off-white foam; soapy lace, heavy ring. Tangerine and a little pine in the nose. Bitter citrus up front - lemon zest; tangerine; pine; firm malt foundation; some earthy hops in the finish. Medium light body; crisp feel; moderate minus carbonation; no warmth from 7.3%; no astringency. Fairly bright citrus overall with a pleasant bitter linger; a well balanced WC IPA style; I’ll gladly drink more.
Jul 31, 2022
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz can (12/20/2021–way past prime) into a snifter-type glass, best glassware available at the resort where we’re staying. Pours a gorgeous glowing golden orange with a nice fluffy white head.

Aroma is dank and hoppy with unmistakeable Simcoe, maybe Centennial hops. Pretty standard American IPA fare.

Taste follows nose—pale neutral malt and some pretty common American hops, that characteristic alpha acid bite—though perhaps a bit muted in this 4-month-old IPA. But I suspect it’s not that too different from fresh.

Mouthfeel is balanced, medium bodied. Goes down easy and certainly drinkable. Refreshing after a hot day of swimming and snorkeling on the north shore of Kauai.

Overall a pretty pedestrian but still enjoyable American IPA. This one won’t be winning any awards for innovation but sometimes you just want a beer without thinking too much about it.
Apr 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.27 by ChuckTom from Arizona

Apr 09, 2022
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Rated by davidward from Florida

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A malty IPA with some bitterness. Definitely drinkable.
Mar 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.86 by DrewTheBrew from Ohio

Feb 27, 2022
Photo of Gatch
Rated by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had this on tap while in Kauai so that makes it a little more special. Otherwise, just a plain ole West Coast IPA that’s easy drinking.
Feb 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by MillyLite from Michigan

Feb 15, 2022
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, pine. Taste is piney, light malts and hints of citrus, fairly bitter. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer.
Feb 10, 2022
Photo of CTHomer
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
A: crystal clear; copper colored; 1+ finger finely pored off white head that receded to a thin cap; nice lacing;

S: not especially aromatic; what's there is floral;

T: pine, floral, and lemon from start to finish; mild to moderate bitterness at the end;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish; crisp;

O: not interesting;
Jan 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Dec 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by avisong from Virginia

Nov 21, 2021
 
Photo of BNSlums
Reviewed by BNSlums from Germany

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Out of the bottle it appears a clear caramel with amber hue. The off white head impressively retained over 2 minutes. Moderate carbonation is visible in the light.
On the nose is a lod of pine and sweet malt, bordering caramel. Minor pineapple notes, no wonder. Hops are detectable but offloaded by abv and heavy malt. Much like an Elysian space dust IPA. There’s no doubt, this beer will be filling.
Oh man, I am pleased. There is a surprise of citrus and candied pineapple with less hops than anticipated. Malt is a secondary player but by no means humble here. The flavors all melt together on the palate into one elingated experience. The mouthfeel, amazingly creamy smooth for a high abv. Alcohol is noticeable but nothing overboard.
I am quite impressed with this IPA. In character is it Northwest Style, yet the mouthfeel retains an Eastcoast vibe. There is an overall caramelization of flavors, and dont be deceived by the abv.
Aug 02, 2021
Photo of Jaasoares
Reviewed by Jaasoares from Virginia

3.12/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a clear dark amber color with a fluffy off white head. Notes of malt, pine, pineapple and hops both on the nose and taste. The bitterness of hops was significantly out of balance with the flavor of the beer...the finish is dry and honestly not very appealing to buy another one of these.
Jul 23, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by ryancl from Minnesota

Jul 22, 2021
Kua Bay from Kona Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 159 ratings