Mauna Kea Pale Ale
Hilo Brewing Company

just a pale ale, good balance, plenty fresh, but relatively unexciting, a little fuller feeling in body without being too sweet or malty in the old school sense. light copper colored, good clarity, average white head, great carbonation making it drink a little lighter than it really is. the nose has some piney hops up front, some bitter citrus, a little generic and overly familiar, but the bitterness seems turned up a little bit, and the grain is simple and fresh, with trace honey and toast notes along with a big of persistent sugar as it warms up. the flavor follows, hops ahead of the grain a little bit, early onset bitterness, cut pine branches and sap, herbal indica without being major dank, and some clean citrus on the back end. toasted grain character is more than adequate here, the ferment is pretty minimal but this leans slightly english anyway somehow, not a bad thing at all for a pale. bitterness lingers a little, slightly less sweet than it smells, quality ingredients on display and good execution, but this is real samey and lacking any real identity other than its branding. still, its solid, the place is cool, and ill never complain about quality pale ale...

Almost sessionable Pale Ale from the Big Island. Loved it on Oahu.

 

 

Bought a 6-pack cans $8.99 Foodland
10 days before best by date
Smell of sweet malts
Amber color
Medium mouthfeel
Medium-light carbonation
Taste of sweet malts, caramel, light bitterness finish
Overall a nice beer for the Hawaii weather.

 

Ko olina trip. On the beach. Went down nice.