Ah, Hawaii. It’s been a year now since I visited that island paradise (Maui specifically, although we first landed in Honolulu we only got a quick look around from the airport before changing planes). It’s one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been, and I’m fondly recalling it tonight whilst sipping a mug of Kona Kanaha Blonde Ale at Taco Mac under a Kona bar mirror.
Kona brewing is located neither on Maui nor Oahu (where Honolulu is located), but rather on the “big island” of Hawaii, for which the state is named. Their main facility is the Kona Pub & Brewery in Kailua-Kona. It is solar powered (I saw solar and wind power everywhere in Hawaii). The islands are green, and Kona wants to keep them that way. They operate a pub on Oahu called the Koko Marina Pub where you can find most Kona beers. Here on the mainland, Kona beers are contract brewed by Redhook in Portland, Oregon and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
I had never seen Kona Kanaha Blonde Ale before. Kona says on their website:
Our brewer’s were inspired by the trade winds to create this smooth, refreshing blonde ale with the adventures of summer in mind. After a day riding the winds over shimmering waters, Kanaha Blonde ale is a bright, sessionable beer that will ease you ashore without weighing you down. Real mango fruit adds a juicy, tropical flavor that is easy like the islands. This crisp Kona brew will take you up, up and away.
Ingredients, also from the website:
Malts: Pale Malt, Caramel Malt
Hops: Millennium, Mosaic, Amarillo
Kona Kanaha Blonde Ale has an alcohol content of 4.2% by volume with 18 IBUs. I paid $6.12 for a 23-ounce mug at Taco Mac, it runs a very reasonable $7.99 a six-pack at Total Wine. This is a year-round offering from Kona, and is named after Kanaha Beach in Maui.
My mug of Kona Kanaha Blonde Ale arrived a beautiful bright straw color with a thick fluffy white head and soft tropical mango fruit in the nose. Taking a sip, the beer has wonderful biscuity malt in the palate with a hint of toast and light juicy mango fruit. There’s a gently bitter herbal finish to round it out, and the beer presents the fruit nicely without being sweet.
For the intended style, with the hint of fruit and at a bargain price, I give this beer very high marks indeed. I could drink Kona Kanaha Blonde Ale all day. Preferably on one of the Hawaiian islands, on a beautiful summer day.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft