Hanalei Island IPA | Kona Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Kona Brewing Co.
Hawaii, United States
konabrewingco.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.50%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
This easy-drinking island-inspired IPA is Kona Brewing Co.’s homage to Kauai, “the most beautiful place on earth.” Passionfruit, orange and guava balance the subtle bitterness of aromatic Azacca and Galaxy hops to deliver a coppery laidback, session-style ale bright with tropical flavors.
Added by ConradKenney on 07-26-2016
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 125 | Reviews: 45
3.5/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.69/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.25/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
2.3/5 rDev -36.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Somewhat enticed by the flashy label and the promise of passion fruit and guava that offsets bitter hops, but that promise simply doesn't deliver. Weak, bitter, watery; Sour Corona effectively. 2nd fail I've had from Kona.
225 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Somewhat enticed by the flashy label and the promise of passion fruit and guava that offsets bitter hops, but that promise simply doesn't deliver. Weak, bitter, watery; Sour Corona effectively. 2nd fail I've had from Kona.
225 characters
3.49/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.9/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aroma definitely had some guava, not sure what passion fruit smells like but I detected some peachy tropical notes. The taste is tart, with some lemony accents, definitely not a big hop bomb - which is nice for a change given this is an IPA. Mouthfeel is light, carb is average, pours a golden straw color. A nice refreshing IPA with some bitter hops and bitter citrus. It does have a sour edge to be aware. Also the "malt backbone" is not exactly that strong since it is a defacto "session ipa." Regardless, it is a beer you should try if you dig Kona Brewing - my guess is this is way better on tap, served in their Kona Brewery. :)
641 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aroma definitely had some guava, not sure what passion fruit smells like but I detected some peachy tropical notes. The taste is tart, with some lemony accents, definitely not a big hop bomb - which is nice for a change given this is an IPA. Mouthfeel is light, carb is average, pours a golden straw color. A nice refreshing IPA with some bitter hops and bitter citrus. It does have a sour edge to be aware. Also the "malt backbone" is not exactly that strong since it is a defacto "session ipa." Regardless, it is a beer you should try if you dig Kona Brewing - my guess is this is way better on tap, served in their Kona Brewery. :)
641 characters
3.94/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.22/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25
3.97/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Darker gold and near clear. Starts with a single finger head which settles to rim bubbles. Lots of small spots for lace.
Pineapple and other tropical aromas.
Starts with a toasted malt. The hop is strong in a white pepper way. Decent body with an elevated carbonation level. Overall, a pretty well balanced IPA.
315 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Darker gold and near clear. Starts with a single finger head which settles to rim bubbles. Lots of small spots for lace.
Pineapple and other tropical aromas.
Starts with a toasted malt. The hop is strong in a white pepper way. Decent body with an elevated carbonation level. Overall, a pretty well balanced IPA.
315 characters
3.75/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle - when they specify the fruit additions, and then have to say 'with natural flavor added', I get nervous.
This beer pours a clear, bright medium copper amber colour, with a teeming tower of puffy, rocky, and chunky off-white head, which leaves some random splattered and sudsy lace around the glass as it slowly and evenly subsides.
It smells of fleshy tropical fruit (guava, blood orange, peach, and passionfruit), grainy and bready caramel malt, and very subtle grassy, leafy, and floral green hop bitters. The taste is gritty and grainy pale malt, a lesser biscuity caramel sweetness, some much reduced exotic fruity notes (pineapple core, dried orange peel, and peach pits), a bit of earthy yeastiness, and more tame leafy, weedy, and dead floral verdant hoppiness.
The carbonation is fairly laid-back in its bored-seeming frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, with nothing really a threat to the status quo here. It finishes trending dry, the malt going all crackery, and the fruit gasping its last breath.
Overall - well, this one started off oh so promisingly, but blew its load a little too prematurely. Yeah, the big tropical fruit aroma really pulled me in, and then BAM! It nearly disappeared - kind of underwhelming to say the least, so I'm not going to say more.
1,319 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle - when they specify the fruit additions, and then have to say 'with natural flavor added', I get nervous.
This beer pours a clear, bright medium copper amber colour, with a teeming tower of puffy, rocky, and chunky off-white head, which leaves some random splattered and sudsy lace around the glass as it slowly and evenly subsides.
It smells of fleshy tropical fruit (guava, blood orange, peach, and passionfruit), grainy and bready caramel malt, and very subtle grassy, leafy, and floral green hop bitters. The taste is gritty and grainy pale malt, a lesser biscuity caramel sweetness, some much reduced exotic fruity notes (pineapple core, dried orange peel, and peach pits), a bit of earthy yeastiness, and more tame leafy, weedy, and dead floral verdant hoppiness.
The carbonation is fairly laid-back in its bored-seeming frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, with nothing really a threat to the status quo here. It finishes trending dry, the malt going all crackery, and the fruit gasping its last breath.
Overall - well, this one started off oh so promisingly, but blew its load a little too prematurely. Yeah, the big tropical fruit aroma really pulled me in, and then BAM! It nearly disappeared - kind of underwhelming to say the least, so I'm not going to say more.
1,319 characters
3.31/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.52/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.58/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.98/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
The fruit aroma and flavors are fantastic. Unfortunately, it drinks more like a pale ale as a whole. Hops are a hindsight. High in bicarbonates. Alkaline flavor in the back.
173 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
The fruit aroma and flavors are fantastic. Unfortunately, it drinks more like a pale ale as a whole. Hops are a hindsight. High in bicarbonates. Alkaline flavor in the back.
173 characters
3.71/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On-tap at Waterfront Ale House, New York, NY
A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with short white head that died down, leaving a small collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of tropical fruits are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of tropical fruits such as passionfruit. There is only a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This IPA isn't that heavy on the palate so it is easy to drink, particularly on a hot summer day.
Serving type: on-tap
649 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On-tap at Waterfront Ale House, New York, NY
A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with short white head that died down, leaving a small collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of tropical fruits are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of tropical fruits such as passionfruit. There is only a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This IPA isn't that heavy on the palate so it is easy to drink, particularly on a hot summer day.
Serving type: on-tap
649 characters
3.14/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
From the 12 fl. oz. bottle dated April 21, 2017. Sampled on June 18, 2017.
It pours amber-orange with a slight haze and a modest white head that diminishes.
The aroma is most definitely a tropical fruit fest including pineapple, guava, and passion fruit with an underlying woody malt character.
Medium body.
I think the fact that this is two months old contributes to the more malt forward character of the taste rather than the fruitiness I had hoped for. Mildly bitter finish.
484 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
From the 12 fl. oz. bottle dated April 21, 2017. Sampled on June 18, 2017.
It pours amber-orange with a slight haze and a modest white head that diminishes.
The aroma is most definitely a tropical fruit fest including pineapple, guava, and passion fruit with an underlying woody malt character.
Medium body.
I think the fact that this is two months old contributes to the more malt forward character of the taste rather than the fruitiness I had hoped for. Mildly bitter finish.
484 characters
Hanalei Island IPA from Kona Brewing Co.
3.62
out of 5
based on 125 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5