Big Wave Golden Ale - Kona Brewing Co.

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Year round. The waves that roll onto Hawaiian beaches are some of the best in the world. Catch the crest of a breaking wave and ride it all the way in. Our sun-drenched big wave golden is a smooth, refreshing brew. Inspired by what makes Hawaii great. Kona's Big Wave Golden Ale is brewed in the style of an American Blonde Ale, and is the final year-round bottle release to make it to the east coast. Manufacturing date on the bottle is August 01 2012.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to my Kona pint glass. Served above 42º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a cream white head of a thin consistency over a pale golden-yellow body with mild carbonation presence. A slight haziness is visible from a cloud of sediment in suspension as well as the presence of occasional pulpy flesh here and there. Lacing is thin and head quality is of little fascination either. It's very predictable for a golden ale, but that doesn't mean it can't improve the way it presents itself. 3.25

(Smell) Heavy emphasis on citrus fruit, with notes of grapefruit and orange, possibly from a bright hop addition, which is notable in the aroma. Pale malts are not the forward aspect of the aroma. A very inviting and clean aroma. 4

(Taste) Sweetness is underutilized. The hop presence with citrus is very tea-like, with little malt body to balance it out. Therefore, it's a bit high on bitterness. Citrus is also disappointingly shallow, with a more musty lemongrass and pale hop character than anticipated. Flavor is a bit shallow throughout. It's not gross by any means, but the lack of a sweet profile really drags the drinkability down, and makes for a thin profile with a limited flavor. Reminds me at times of watered-down green tea. 2.75

(Mouthfeel) Carbonation is fuzzy with a touch of cream. Balance is slightly less sweet than anticipated, mild dry finish with a mild hop bitterness. Body is light for the style, light overall. Carbonation is right, but the body is very shallow and should be a notch higher to reach a desirable balance. 3

(Overall) Low on sweetness. Reminds me at times of a light ale. Quite drinkable like water and tea might be, but not very enjoyable like a more substantial beer should be. Much of the fix would be made with a fuller malt profile, although a brighter-flavored hop flavor would also have made the flavor desirable. Until then, this is merely a drinkable but not particularly enjoyable golden ale. 3

Kona Brewing Company's
Big Wave Golden Ale
/5.00

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 23:10:22 | More by Jadjunk

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.43/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Kona Big Wave Golden Ale has a fairly thick, rocky, off-white head, a clear, golden appearance, lots of streaming bubbles (etched glass), some lacing, and little white specks floating throughout. The aroma is of fruit (think pineapple), faint bread, and mild sweetness. Taste is all of those, with a strong tap water note. Bitterness is mellow and pleasant, but ho-hum, to an extent. Mouthfeel is between light and medium, and Kona Big Wave Golden Ale finishes dry, crisp, refreshing, lager-like, and drinkable. Overall, this is alright, and I suppose it’s worth checking out.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 15:43:17 | More by RonaldTheriot

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

05-21-2013 03:23:38 | More by morebeergood

Imperial_Sapient_Groat

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +19.7%

05-20-2013 07:59:29 | More by Imperial_Sapient_Groat

ItsBeer4Me

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-19-2013 20:40:18 | More by ItsBeer4Me

Budinetz

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -43.7%

05-19-2013 06:36:27 | More by Budinetz

Nihilistkid

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +26.8%

05-19-2013 06:34:03 | More by Nihilistkid

CMOrak

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

05-19-2013 01:08:59 | More by CMOrak

bzach

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%

05-18-2013 23:02:18 | More by bzach

hustlesworth

Ohio

3.69/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- slightly hazed golden color with a thick whitehead. The foam shrinks down at a medium pace... Leaving some spots and swirls of lacing.

S- nicely hoppy and almost pilsner-like, but with more of an American west coast hop attitude. Very floral and brightly citrusy with notes of lemon, lilies, pineapple and cut grass. Pale malt background is barely crackerish and the overall aroma is mild with hops in the forefront.

T- interesting balance here.. Bitterness is low but hop flavor is high, seemingly due to the timid subtlety of the malt used. It provides almost no flavor, maybe some bready cracker or cooked flour, but for such a light beer I guess it works. Citrusy and almost tart hop flavor catches the big wave with what could be perceived as a tropical character. Lemon, pineapple and grass, apple skin and white grape. Maybe some star fruit and unripe guava idk. Finishes super dry with lingering tart fruitiness.

MF- light bodied and refreshing. Insanely dry and clean enhanced by zippy, well rounded carbonation.

D- not so bad, if you're a fan of the style. This one really falls somewhere in between a pils and a kolsch as it totally has traits of both. Malt seems to provide nothing but structure which is odd, but the hops are nice enough so yeah like hang ten bro.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 18:04:07 | More by hustlesworth

eheinz

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -29.6%

05-18-2013 00:54:18 | More by eheinz

raffy313

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

05-18-2013 00:18:11 | More by raffy313

dvanhandel

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -22.5%

05-16-2013 23:08:11 | More by dvanhandel

tgatort

Florida

4/5  rDev +12.7%

05-15-2013 05:37:07 | More by tgatort

KevinGordon

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

05-14-2013 15:50:18 | More by KevinGordon

BeastLU

Virginia

3/5  rDev -15.5%

05-14-2013 14:57:59 | More by BeastLU

gir02021

Illinois

3/5  rDev -15.5%

05-14-2013 02:02:52 | More by gir02021

jkball01

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

05-13-2013 16:40:31 | More by jkball01

Joelt123

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%

05-12-2013 02:28:13 | More by Joelt123

bbapst

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%

05-12-2013 02:07:04 | More by bbapst

kp29

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +19.7%

05-11-2013 21:05:01 | More by kp29

Kpitevl

Missouri

2/5  rDev -43.7%

05-08-2013 00:30:11 | More by Kpitevl

UltimateLivewire

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

05-05-2013 00:23:56 | More by UltimateLivewire

bellb

Connecticut

2/5  rDev -43.7%

05-04-2013 23:21:02 | More by bellb

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

05-03-2013 02:16:25 | More by DrunkinYogi