-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Big Wave Golden Ale
Kona Brewing Co.


- From:
- Kona Brewing Co.
- Hawaii, United States
- Style:
- American Blonde Ale
Ranked #223 - ABV:
- 4.4%
- Score:
- 81
Ranked #26,314 - Avg:
- 3.59 | pDev: 14.21%
- Reviews:
- 503
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Tuesday at 04:49 PM
- Added:
- Mar 19, 2005
- Wants:
- 76
- Gots:
- 962
Big Wave is light golden ale with a subtle fruitiness and delicate hop aroma. A smooth, easy drinking refreshing ale. The lightly roasted honey malt contributes to the golden hue of this beer and also gives a slight sweetness that is balanced out by our special blend of hops.
20 IBU
20 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Hephaistos from Netherlands
2.78/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
2.78/5 rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
355ml bottle at 4,4% abv. A light lager.
Chilled to 5-6 degrees,. Poured in straight beer glass.
High on the carbonation, low on the foam. 1 finger white head, disolving fast.
Smell, biscuity with a bit of citra coming throuh.
Mouth feel thin, with a slight bitter, grafruity aftertaste. Quite dry.
Seems a little bit like a mix of IPA with lager and thinned with water.
Drinkable though and low on the ABV.
Tuesday at 04:49 PMChilled to 5-6 degrees,. Poured in straight beer glass.
High on the carbonation, low on the foam. 1 finger white head, disolving fast.
Smell, biscuity with a bit of citra coming throuh.
Mouth feel thin, with a slight bitter, grafruity aftertaste. Quite dry.
Seems a little bit like a mix of IPA with lager and thinned with water.
Drinkable though and low on the ABV.
Reviewed by Lanoke12 from Michigan
3.44/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look is clear and golden. Smell is slightly sweet and inoffensive. Taste is smooth and slightly sweet. Feel is light bodied. Overall a good blonde ale that is a great beer when you want something light.
Sunday at 04:54 PMReviewed by notaveragejoe
3.71/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
L: Transparent, dark gold
S: Mixture between malty and nectary notes
T: Slight hints melon, maybe kantalope or honey dew.
F: pretty smooth, lower carbonation, lighter body
Nov 18, 2023S: Mixture between malty and nectary notes
T: Slight hints melon, maybe kantalope or honey dew.
F: pretty smooth, lower carbonation, lighter body
Reviewed by FreePal88
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Very mild, sweet blonde ale with some honey and pineapple/citrus notes (the fruitiness stands out much more after drinking it right after strong IPA or something). Not amazing for an ale, but also not that crisp or refreshing next to a good lager--although it's better than adjunct stuff. It's OK.
Nov 17, 2023Reviewed by highdesertdrinker from Arizona
3.79/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle but I assume it’s a pale gold based on other reviews and it has a nice little hop snap, clean, dry, and a little lemon thrown in. A nice, refreshing beer that beats most aal’s in drinkability if not price, cheers!
Nov 05, 2023Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia
3.63/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 25 oz can with a best by date of 3/06/2024 into a pint glass.
L - Pours a clear medium amber color with a fluffy white head that dissipates slowly.
S - Smells slightly fruity.
T - Tastes of honey, lightly fruity and slightly malty.
F - Medium to light bodied with a medium carbonation.
O - Nothing great about this beer, but it’s a nice easy drinking ale.
Oct 26, 2023L - Pours a clear medium amber color with a fluffy white head that dissipates slowly.
S - Smells slightly fruity.
T - Tastes of honey, lightly fruity and slightly malty.
F - Medium to light bodied with a medium carbonation.
O - Nothing great about this beer, but it’s a nice easy drinking ale.
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin
2.77/5 rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.77/5 rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Pours a clear, light golden color and only a thin veneer of head. Aroma is very light blonde malt. Taste is very light, slightly bitter, as in not the hoppy kind, and with little distinguishing character. Carbonation disappears quickly. Not quite crisp, but it is light.
Oct 22, 2023Reviewed by markfill from Tennessee
1.39/5 rDev -61.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.25
1.39/5 rDev -61.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.25
I cannot,for the life of me,figure out how this beer rates an '81' at this time.It is nothing but golden water.
The look is golden,that's fine.
The smell...what smell,there is none.A faint sweet something,maybe?
Taste?Water,with alot of carbonation and a hint of malt.This isn't 'Natty Light' water.Look.it isn't thaaat bad.This is over-carbonated,but not offensive.There is no taste that lingers....there's a hint of malt,but it just doesn't do it for me.At all.
Feel.Too much carbonation.
As Americans,we like our beer cold.This beer sucks cold.As it cools down(warms up),it gets slightly better.But,in no way,shape,or form,does it deserve the respect BeerAdvocates give it.Even as a beach beer,no thanks.
PS:Get a $2.00 discount on a sixer via Bybe App.
Aug 29, 2023The look is golden,that's fine.
The smell...what smell,there is none.A faint sweet something,maybe?
Taste?Water,with alot of carbonation and a hint of malt.This isn't 'Natty Light' water.Look.it isn't thaaat bad.This is over-carbonated,but not offensive.There is no taste that lingers....there's a hint of malt,but it just doesn't do it for me.At all.
Feel.Too much carbonation.
As Americans,we like our beer cold.This beer sucks cold.As it cools down(warms up),it gets slightly better.But,in no way,shape,or form,does it deserve the respect BeerAdvocates give it.Even as a beach beer,no thanks.
PS:Get a $2.00 discount on a sixer via Bybe App.
Reviewed by Tshane from Michigan
2.03/5 rDev -43.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
2.03/5 rDev -43.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
Way too bitter vs. how it was advertised and described. Was hoping for much lighter hops, but they are heavy for the style. It actually verges into IPA territory, which is NOT to my liking.
It certainly was crisp and refreshing as far as other flavors, maybe with a hint of fruity taste -- but only good for people who like hoppy light beers because the hops totally overwhelms any other taste.
Aug 23, 2023It certainly was crisp and refreshing as far as other flavors, maybe with a hint of fruity taste -- but only good for people who like hoppy light beers because the hops totally overwhelms any other taste.
Big Wave Golden Ale from Kona Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
2469 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!