Kona Brewing Big Kahuna Summer Pack

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by JasonJYoung, May 10, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 2
  1. JasonJYoung

    JasonJYoung Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    Some may scoff, but I picked up the Kona Brewing Summer Variety pack at Costco over weekend and quite pleased with all four offerings:

    Priced $24 for the case at Costco. Less than 5 weeks old. Not bad at all!

    Almost went with the New Belgium Summer Folly canned variety with Heavy Melon Watermelon, Citradel Tangerine IPA, Blue Paddle Pilsner, & Fat Tire Amber Ale ($24).

    Other new stuff was Red Hook Summer Variety Pack, Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America & High Altitude 4-Pack (as mentioned in other thread).
     
    #1 JasonJYoung, May 10, 2016
    Last edited: May 10, 2016
    Andy1010 likes this.
  2. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I believe those are all main line beers for them. Only one I'm not familiar with is the red. Brewed on the mainland (in Inbevs LA facility, IIRC). Solid enough brews for a buck each.
     
    #2 BBThunderbolt, May 10, 2016
  3. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    Golden ales aren't a "sexy" style, but I really like Big Wave. I crushed a few bombers of it by the pool/beach while I was in Hawaii a couple years ago.
     
    #3 LambicPentameter, May 10, 2016
    Hoos78 likes this.
  4. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The CBA brands are typically brewed at their own breweries ( OR, WA, HI & NH) and at City's Memphis brewery.
    [​IMG]
    Don't think I ever recall seeing any brewed at AB facilities.
     
    #4 jesskidden, May 10, 2016
    Schnapsidee, CGuil220, Ranbot and 3 others like this.
  5. JasonJYoung

    JasonJYoung Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    I was really surprised with the Lavaman. Reminded me a little of a brown ale with chocolate undertones. No complaints here.
     
    #5 JasonJYoung, May 10, 2016
  6. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    What brewery would they use in PDX, Widmer? For some reason I thought some of the CBA beers were brewed in ABI plants.
     
    #6 BBThunderbolt, May 10, 2016
  7. Zorro

    Zorro Grand Pooh-Bah (3,258) Dec 25, 2003 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Lavaman was OK.

    Mostly it is just really easy to drink, not particularly special.
     
    #7 Zorro, May 10, 2016
  8. CJNAPS

    CJNAPS Pooh-Bah (2,492) Nov 3, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I don't think I've had that Lavaman, might have to grab this mix 12er to try it.
     
    #8 CJNAPS, May 10, 2016
  9. Vitamin_Hop

    Vitamin_Hop Pundit (812) Mar 26, 2015 Illinois
    Trader

    KING KONA!
     
    #9 Vitamin_Hop, May 10, 2016
    nick0417 likes this.
  10. Hoos78

    Hoos78 Maven (1,327) Mar 3, 2015 Ohio

    Big Wave is really nice. Hell, better than really nice. There are loads of threads on here about easy drinkin' beers for summer. Big Wave fits the bill nearly perfectly.
     
    #10 Hoos78, May 10, 2016
  11. JaefromLA

    JaefromLA Initiate (0) May 19, 2015 California

    Big Wave is the best. It tastes a little like lychee to me sometimes. Great easy drinking beer.
     
    #11 JaefromLA, May 10, 2016
  12. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Solid beers across the board, and for the price not bad.
     
    #12 NeroFiddled, May 10, 2016
  13. Pantalones

    Pantalones Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2014 Virginia

    Looks a lot like the regular variety pack I've seen around, except with the Fire Rock pale ale swapped out for a new(?) one. I remember the pale ale being my least favorite of the bunch the last time I had one of those packs, while I really liked the others (Big Wave really surprised me with how good it was -- definitely glad to see some positive words on that one in this thread), so I'd definitely give this one a try if I saw them around.

    (Well, the 12-pack version anyway, since I don't have a Costco or anywhere else that sells mixed 24 packs like this anywhere nearby.)
     
    #13 Pantalones, May 10, 2016
  14. Ranbot

    Ranbot Pooh-Bah (2,463) Nov 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Most likely. The CBA distributes through ABI, but they brew their own beer.
     
    #14 Ranbot, May 10, 2016
    jesskidden likes this.
  15. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Likely, as that is currently their biggest brewery (expanding to 750k bbl/yr) - I imagine that, like most multi-brewery companies, their date/bottling code includes a way to determine the actual brewery.
     
    #15 jesskidden, May 10, 2016
    BBThunderbolt likes this.
  16. Andy1010

    Andy1010 Initiate (0) Jan 26, 2016 Indiana

    Kona is great. I don't care who owns it, if it's a good beer drink it! Well worth $24 enjoy!
     
    #16 Andy1010, May 10, 2016
  17. CGuil220

    CGuil220 Initiate (0) Feb 11, 2015 New Hampshire

    They're also all brewed at Redhook in Portsmouth, NH
     
    #17 CGuil220, May 10, 2016
  18. sefus12

    sefus12 Pundit (938) Sep 7, 2006 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Been to Kona's brewpub on the Big Island several times and everything I had from there was decent to fantastic. Gained a much bigger appreciation for them on that trip and never get too upset if I get a can of Longboard at a bar. They may not make sexy beer, but it is solid beer.
     
    #18 sefus12, May 10, 2016
  19. JasonJYoung

    JasonJYoung Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    @sefus12 or anyone, have you been to Maui Brewing? If so, how was it? Also had no idea that Longboard was canned. I really hope to see Kona canned here in the States.

    Speaking on these type of breweries being owned/ bought by bigger corporations; I've witnessed this with the Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville WA. Honestly, very little changed with Red Hook besides tweaks to various processes and distribution. Most, if not all the employees continued brewing the same recipes with same ingredients (minor tweaks here and there). Sure, they immediately had access to resources that enabled quicker and sometimes cheaper raw materials.

    The point is, once the reality sat in with places like Red Hook, Elysian, Kona, etc......... what really changed? As mentioned, I dont care who owns or brews squat! If it's good with some flavor profile, I'm all in. Especially when you're able to grab a case for $24 that is shareable with family, friends, neighbor's, and/or co-workers. In turn, maybe you're able to expose many of these people to a new style of beer at a reasonable price. Thus, the consumer base continues to grow, as does the industry. Not everything needs to be a $15+ six-pack that attacks your sense's with exoctic ingredients and cool artwork.
     
    #19 JasonJYoung, May 10, 2016
  20. Schnapsidee

    Schnapsidee Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2009 Oregon

    Yes - the Widmer Facility brews both Redhook and Kona beers at one point or another.
     
    #20 Schnapsidee, May 10, 2016
Page 1 of 2
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.