Wailua Wheat - Kona Brewing Co.

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Beer review from BA Mag Aug 2007.

Wailua is a community on the east side of Kauai at Nounou Mountain (aka the "Sleeping Giant"). This offering is labeled as a "wheat ale brewed with passion fruit."

Obviously filtered, it pours a clear and bright golden color with a thin pure-white head. Light tropical fruit aroma, fresh wheat and powdery malts in the nose. Light on the palate, creamy and coarse with a wheat edge, followed by soft tropical passion fruit flavor. Recalls the juice in a fruit cup as it warms. Faint citrus snap and crispness. Moderate sweetness; low hopping. A slight herbal note and a touch of mint in the background. Dry, husky tannins. Gritty finish.

Interesting choice of fruit, though we wish it finished a bit cleaner. Fairly pedestrian, but that's probably the point. Kona's website suggests pairing this beer with lighter fare: grilled fish and shrimp, roasted chicken, salads and Asian foods. They even suggest vanilla ice cream. Hmm ... pairing this beer sounds more fun than drinking it on its own!

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 14:11:54 | More by BeerAdvocate

GraduatedCashew

California

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

06-17-2013 19:08:49 | More by GraduatedCashew

steelshell

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -25.4%

06-16-2013 22:34:05 | More by steelshell

swinyeju

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

06-16-2013 16:08:18 | More by swinyeju

BucannonXC5

California

3.48/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Firestone pint glass
From: Vons in Normal Heights (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $12.79 for a variety 12-pack
Purchased: June 15, 2013
Consumed: June 15, 2013
Misc.: Born on date of April 25, 2013

Poured a pale clear color with about one finger of offwhite head that dissipated rather quickly. Minimal-to-no lacing on the sides. Poor retention on the way down.

Smelled pilsner or maybe lager notes from the beginning. Got skunky malts, honey, caramel, grass, bread, cereal, lemon and honey. Also a little bit of a fruity whiff.

Tasted tropical notes first. Got mango, melon and a bunch of other tropical stuff that I couldn’t out my finger on. Reminded me slightly of the old Tropical Fruit Bubble Gum. Also got honey, lemon grass, bread and cereal.

Light body. Thin texture. Soft carbonation. Abrupt watery finish. Clean, crisp and refreshing.

The taste was the best part of this beer, but overall it was closer to average. I won’t try it again after this variety pack.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 07:26:27 | More by BucannonXC5

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No freshness dating

A= Pours a nice translucent yellow color with a thick two fingers of typical wheat style head that is bone white. The lacing on the side of the glass is great.

S= The smell is filled with poopy wheat and a nice sort of semi sour passion fruit aroma. This is my third time having this beer and my first really taking note of it's characteristics and the passion fruit in the nose surprised me. Never noticed it before despite the bottle saying it's there.

T= The taste matches the nose quite nicely. A big poopy wheat flavor comes through and the passion fruit hits the tongue right up front before being swallowed by poopy wheat. The passion fruit is less "fruity" and more of a slight sour flavor. It's not like this is a sour beer but the passion fruit definitely plays a little sour role.

M= OH SO CREAMY

O= This is a solid beer for summer. I think I'll be buying more actually. A nice tame beer but when you take the time to peak at it it's pretty fun. The more I get through it the more the passion fruit flavor comes through. Check this beer out for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 00:45:33 | More by jjanega08

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

3.09/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a pale, fizzy yellow with a finger of head at pour. Some traces of carbonation remain on top through consumption. No lacing really present.

S: Strong wheat nose - really nice. Faint citrus.

T: One dimensional. Refreshing for a warm day - wheat presence but not much else going on here.

M: Light as expected. Carbonation disappates quickly.

O: Alright.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 21:55:01 | More by Oakenator

Rudy

California

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

06-14-2013 07:29:19 | More by Rudy

jplopez21

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -3%

06-14-2013 04:38:15 | More by jplopez21

bigd84

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -25.4%

06-13-2013 23:51:08 | More by bigd84

gir02021

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +11.9%

06-13-2013 17:06:30 | More by gir02021

Danimal1101

New York

3.25/5  rDev -3%

06-13-2013 14:41:50 | More by Danimal1101

Hefeweizen

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not really overly thrilled with the mixture of fruit in a beer, so I was not sure what to expect. The passion fruit was not dominant over the wheat so it was not a bad choice. Probably will not buy it again; but I enjoyed the taste of a newly found beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 10:23:55 | More by Hefeweizen

Stevie_Janowski

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +11.9%

06-13-2013 00:35:07 | More by Stevie_Janowski

JSchock7

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -3%

06-12-2013 06:53:35 | More by JSchock7

swimnadd

California

3.75/5  rDev +11.9%

06-12-2013 05:23:44 | More by swimnadd

ccoyle

California

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

06-11-2013 19:49:56 | More by ccoyle

Bassman2019

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +19.4%

06-11-2013 19:20:52 | More by Bassman2019

jabo134

Illinois

3/5  rDev -10.4%

06-11-2013 02:49:59 | More by jabo134

KC9LDB

Illinois

5/5  rDev +49.3%

06-11-2013 02:39:35 | More by KC9LDB

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -10.4%

06-10-2013 12:59:48 | More by BostonHops

bh123

California

3.75/5  rDev +11.9%

06-10-2013 00:37:22 | More by bh123

DaveR514

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -3%

06-09-2013 17:48:01 | More by DaveR514

BDF2000

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

06-09-2013 01:08:49 | More by BDF2000

BeerOps

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -17.9%

06-08-2013 23:32:32 | More by BeerOps