Kona Big Wave Golden Ale

A crisp, well-balanced glass of tropical sunshine.

My Rating: 7.5

Brewer: Kona Brewing Company
Origin: Kona, Hawaii, USA

Name: Big Wave Golden Ale

Style: pale ale

% ABV: 4.4

IBU: 21

Original Gravity: 10.3° P

Color: golden amber

Aroma: sweet, hoppy, slightly fruity

Flavors: crisp, tropical fruit

Again, another misplaced beer for this time of year in the upper Midwest, but today was unseasonably warm and sunny for a few hours, so I figured a light and fruity ale would be appropriate.  (I have a much more appropriate late-winter beer from New Glarus that I will be reviewing soon!)  But for now I will stick to the lush tropical flavors of Kona's Big Wave Golden Ale.

The label is one of my favorite shades of blue, reminiscent of shallow island waters.  With soft yellow tiki-style lettering, the scene is straight out of a 1950's postcard.  The bottle itself is also distinctive with its slightly stubby design and custom embossing of "Liquid Aloha" alongside an outline map of the Hawaiian Islands.

The ale is a rich golden amber color with a half inch head that quickly diminished to a minimal lacing.  The aroma is hoppy and fruity, almost tropical.  With the first sip, I am hit with a sharp, but not too strong, hoppy flavor that quickly gives way to a sweeter and fruitier sensation.  The ale has a crisp and clear mouthfeel that is a bit like a deep breath of ocean air.  Overall, the flavor is crisp, smooth, and balanced, never too bitter or sweet.  As the beer warms up, the fruit flavors become more pronounced, bringing to mind a canned tropical fruit medley.

Summary: Kona has produced a very pleasant and balanced golden ale.  I know it's cliché, but this beer tastes a bit like bottled sunshine.  During the unpredictable, chilly, and wet Midwestern springtime, Big Wave brings a tropical escape that disappears all to quickly.