Fire Rock Pale Ale - Kona Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Not a bad beer, though not an outstanding pale
Galena, Cascade & Mt. Hood hops. Not so familiar with Galena.
Big carbonation was a bit much, but still getting the hops, they did not skimp, and a tad of fruitiness. This would be interesting on cask. Fruity colour with moderate off-white head. Drinkable stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2009 05:39:54 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Particulate-laden, medium orangish amber. I had this bottle stored on its side so I must have kicked up the yeast in the process of getting it into the glass. The head is rich cream in color with big rounded craters on top, has fairly good retention and deposits fat, broken rings of lace.

It smells like both American- and English-type hops are in use. I can pick out orange and grapefruit zesty notes as well as herbal, earthy ones. I have the exact same impression after tasting. The flavor is an Anglo-American mix that just has to be due to a combination of hops from those two countries.

The malt backbone is as solid as a (fire) rock. It's certainly more substantial than in most beer of this style. There's a fair amount of butterscotchy, caramel-like flavor to go along with the citric fruitiness of the hops. The finish is increasingly bitter and is on the lengthy side thanks to the medium-full APA body.

Fire Rock Pale Ale is malty, hoppy and just plain good. I'd love to drink it on-tap, as fresh as possible. Of course that would necessitate a trip to the islands, a sacrifice that I'd be willing to make for the good of my vocation.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2004 14:36:31 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

the last time I stopped into I was shocked to see this one sitting on the shelves. I had heard we were getting Kona, I just did not think it was coming so soon. Poured this one into a pint glass straight out of the fridge and served it for dinner last night. A nice bright golden amber color with crystal clear clarity came out of the bottle. Lots of visible carbonation was apparent throughtout the session with chains of bubbes rippling up through the glass. A nice two inch hight pillow of white foam then came over the top and settled down qucikly leaving a bare centered crown in its wake. No appreciable side glass lace, but still a more the decent look to it.

The aroma was light with hints of light citrus, lemon mostly mixed in on top of a cereal grain filled base. Lots of whaeat and light earthy aromas blending in, but as it warmed a light hop presenced was dulled out way in the back, the aroma overall though was far too light to be really a knockout in any way. A nicel ight, crisp, and clean flavor was then produced. It was a classic light pale ale flavor, clean with a light wheat base, some light floral, citrus notes spprinkled through, orange, light lemon grass, especially in the finish. Great mouthfeel, with a carbonation that held thoughout the session. Easy drinkability as the flavors were light, crisp and clean, with almost no aftertaste. I could easily session this one over the course of a night.

Overall while not really spectacular, this was definitly a solid offering all around. There is no really I could not put down more then a few and this is not a bad offering for a BBQ or to get someone into craft beer a little bit more. I would go for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2008 13:43:11 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.6/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A fairly clear orange/amber color with almost no head and no lacing.

S: Very citrus forward, mostly orange. Caramel malt in the background.

T: Fairly sweet, citrus, not really too much bitterness until a bit on the finish.

M: Light-medium body with very little carbonation.

D: Not an outstanding beer, but it's an easy drinking beer that you could have a few of.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 07:11:46 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes.

Poured into a tulip. The color is a moderate orange-copper with a slight white head and not too much lacing. The nose brings some very, very mild hops along with some pale malt and light caramel. The taste pulls back so that the hops are nearly non-existent, not even to the level of a mild. Fairly light feel without really any bitterness. No off flavors and the malt is fairly nice, but not what I expect from an APA.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 12:02:00 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear, copper body capped by a small, white head.

Smell: Aroma of pale malts and fragrant citrus. Keepin' it simple at Kona. I like that.

Taste: Standard pale maltiness with a mild sweetness. Citrusy hops with a medium, balancing bitterness. Lingering bitterness to the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A good, albeit basic pale ale. I'm sure it'd be 100% better to be enjoying this beer in its home state.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2008 06:35:15 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear light amber color with a modest head that leaves some lace shards around the pint glass

Smell: Grainy aroma with some citrusy notes

Taste: Starts out with a slightly fruity but doughy flavor that builds in herbal bitterness by mid-palate; after the swallow, there is a flash of citrus, but the malt remains prominent; the finish is slightly harsh with some mineral elements, but there remains a subtle underlying honey-like sweetness on the tip of the tongue

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Despite some of the harsh flavors, I rather like this beer and its peculiar complexities

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2007 23:56:07 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Schooners Patio Grille in Santa Clarita, CA.

Pours a hazy brown with a 1 inch off-white head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of bread/biscuit-like malt and some subdued hop aromas. Taste is of citrus zest and floral hops up front with a solid malt backbone. Mild bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good pale ale with a nice balance between the malt and hops in the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2011 17:35:58 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

In the bottle, I thought it went a bit 'flat' and thin too quickly. Tried it last night on tap and was quite impressed. The body stood up better throughout the durration of the glass. Creamy, bready, rich and full from start to finish. Caramel, toasted sweetness balances with spicy American hops, a tough of ginger and nutmeg. The head retention and carbonation remained consistently firm. A much better experience with this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2006 13:12:15 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

To my knowledge this is the first Hawaiian beer I have had,poured into a standard pint glass a clear lighter copper with a tight formed 1/2 white head that settled into a somewhat frothy mass.Very light aromas I did get a little spike of piney hop at bottle opening but it faded quickly to just a hint of tasted malt,very balanced pale here a big toasty cereal-like malt presence up front with a touch of caramel that melds into a piney-citric finish that lingers nicely.A balanced pale ale that is food friendly went well with a pizza with spicy sauce,not over the top flavor wise but very quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2007 22:14:05 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Kona's fresh, floral, and citrusy hops are evident in the nose as you admire its dark-gold/amber body and frothy "vanilla" head. The flavor is a bit more malty, however, but it's nicely balanced and has just the right amount of hop flavor to keep you interested. The bitterness is solid enough to balance its lightly bready malt, and it lingers a bit in the finish with a smattering of citrusy and floral hop flavors. Quite nice!

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2005 22:11:09 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Ted Nugent sets rocks on fire. Get used to it. Anyway, this stuff pours a clear copper topped by a finger of lightly off-cream foam. The nose comprises mild pine needles, mild caramel, and light orange rind. The taste brings in more of the same, with more orange and a touch of flowers. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a nice, if not altogether distinguished, brew. 'Nuff said.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 04:45:31 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear tangerine countenance, suitable creamy froth holds it down.
Citric aroma, with toasty, caramel-apple tones, but overall, bitter notes and orange/lemon flavors dominate.
Smooth and crisp, with a prevailing hoppy bite. Nicely fruity, quite quenching. Bright berrries join other fruity associations.
Medium bodied, but a bit too watery and thin, with a soft, fading finish, that pleases the palate plenty before it leaves, letting the tongue rest briefly on the warm, round, appealing taste.
Very easy drinker, but could stand to have a bit more depth.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2005 10:42:59 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.45/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a dark golden, almost amber color with a 1/2" offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a solid malt scent that boasts of pale, Carapils, and crystal malts. There are some light bisquit notes as well. Hops are present, but mild in comparison. The taste is decent as well. It has a moderate bitterness along with a solid malt character. I'm not a huge fan of the malts used in this one. It's got a lot going on, but maybe a bit too much for a simple APA. The mouthfeel is average. It is a medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a pretty good beer, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2009 21:56:51 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Orange-amber color with a very small white head. The aroma has some orange and mango notes as well as some bread and biscuit malt. The flavor is orange citrus, as well as some flowery and perfume-like hops, mixed with biscuit malt. Low bitterness. The mouthfeel is about medium and the carbonation is pretty low. Decent.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 02:58:50 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a copper/amber color with a foamy, off-white, one-finger head. It left a little lace.

S - It smelled of grass and malt.

T - It tasted of sweet roasted malt. It also had a nice spicy hop bite.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - A very nice APA. It is the best of the 3 Kona beers that I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2007 17:07:09 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear light copper in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin head that quickly faded away into delicate lacy patterns of bubbles on the surface.
S: The smell has light aromas of citrusy hops and toasted malts.
T: The taste has flavors of bready, caramel and toasted malts, which are accompanied by a slight amount of sweetness. A slight amount of bitterness is present in the finish.
M: It feels light-bodied and smooth on the palate with a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
D: This beer is quite easy to drink; I could easily have several of them in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 23:34:26 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a lightly hazy gold color with a tan head that disappears after a bit. There is a hoppy aroma of candid citrus fruit, malt, and a hint of alcohol. Sweetish with a nice toasted biscuits and malt flavor up front. This beer finishes with a solid hop flavor and a nice sharp bitterness. I get notes of toffee, orange, hay, tropical fruit, and herbs. This is a pretty good pale, light bodied, and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2004 18:37:45 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap 4/15/09 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep golden brown color, with a short off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is faint but contains caramelized malts, citrus and some hops.

T: The taste is decently balanced with sweet flavors of citrus and caramel up front, followed by a good hops presence. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a nice beer to drink for a while, but overall it's just an average pale ale.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2009 14:16:29 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a nice looking golden yellow color. The head was fluffy and white. The lacing is decent but nothing too great. The smell of the beer had a good amount of hops and malts. The taste was nicely balanced. The malts were sweet and the hops were lightly citrusy. The mouthfeel was crisp, clean and refreshing. Overall this beer is pretty good. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 01:28:43 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev +24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Born on date od 14 dec 05, made in oregon still???

Pours caramel to orange, with a 3 fingers+ rocky as hell offwhite head. Head retention and lacing are average

Smell:: Malty sweetness, piney hops, followed by some caramel

Taste: Rich fruitiness, piney/floral hops& caramel dance together. A nice hoppy/bitter & slight dry/finishing finish

MF: Slight thickness with good carbonation. Great balance in this beer

Very drinkable, great session ale. When fresh,I highly reccomend this, a very well put together PA! Or as they'd say on the big island: onolicious!!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2006 06:10:10 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.43/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, listed as 6%,

A: Pours a cherry red, with a small white head, good retention, spotty lacing.

S: Light mix of citrus a toasty malt.

T: Roasted biscuit and bread takes a sharp bite as the beer first enters the mouth. Then the hops come out - flavours of bitter pine at first, and light grapefruit. Good flavour overall, but not as full-bodied as I would have liked.

M: Fairly light-bodied, watery at times, but solid enough.

D: A pretty good beer from Kona, easy drinking beer from Hawai'i, even at 6%.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 02:44:02 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: orange in color with a fluffy 2" head. Light amount of carbonation bubbles slowly rise to the surface.

Smell: light caramel and floral hops are detectable.

Taste: caramel, light orange citrus, and a floral bitternss makes up a basic APA. Flavors are a bit muted but pleasant.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp from start to finish. Aftertaste is very brief. Lighter side of a medium bodied beer.

Drinkability: easy to quaff - a definite session beer. But one may become a bit bored with this after a few.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2008 13:56:42 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle on Aug. 30, 2006 (three months before tasting)
Pours bright copper with a thin head that soon becomes a thin patch before virtually disappearing.

The smell is bready with flresh, floral citrus. It's quite thin, but what is there is decent.

The taste is of chewy, bready and cirtusy hops upfront. Sweet caramel and honey soon enter and balance out the hops more and more as the drink progresses. A slight hint of tea-leaf in the middle. By the end, the malt catches up to the hops, surpassing it in the end to leave a honey-like sweet finish.

The feel is of a chewy creaminess. Smooth with a solid medium body.

This is a fine interpretation of a classic APA. It is well-balanced between malt sweetness and hop bitterness. The alcohol was well-covered. Nothing particular "wowed" me, and I was considering a 3.5 for flavor, but decided, especially after another, that is just makes the higher score because, while the taste is mild, it is nice and has some complexity to it. I recommend this one if you are in the mood for an easy drinking, well-balanced pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2006 20:16:47 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my first beer from the state of my conception! (I know, TMI...) Nice little Hawaiian language lesson under the cap: 'Kia'i ola', which apparently means 'lifeguard'.

This beer pours a clear golden medium amber hue, with one finger of soapy off-white head, which dissipates quickly, leaving decent layers of thin lace around the glass. It smells of biscuity, fruity malt, with some floral, earthy hop undertones. The taste is toasted, crackery, mildly sweet caramel malt, and herbal, dusty hops. The carbonation is moderate and unobtrusive, the body medium weight, and fairly smooth. It finishes dry, clean, and kind of light and airy.

Not a bad pale ale, more British session ale in style than anything, excepting the 6 points of booze, none of which is at all evident.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 21:46:24 | More by biboergosum