It’s been a bit of a frustrating day. I got to file an extension on my taxes because I thought I’d be having a procedure on Tuesday. But that got postponed because of an issue with my labs. So both these things remain hanging over my head. Seems like a good reason to pop open a fresh beer.
Kona Brewing Co. of Hawaii (and on the mainland, of four other breweries) have sent me their Hanalei Island IPA. While the current craze is for “juicy” IPAs achieved through exotic hops, this one involved actual juice. It’s brewed with “POG” juice, an islander blend of passionfruit, orange, and guava. Its hop load is Galaxy (also know for a passionfruit and citrus note), Azacca (another citrusy hop) and Millennium.
The pour is a golden, slightly brassy IPA color under a fluffy head (which dwindled away while I was trying to get a shot in focus). The smell is indeed full of tropical fruit, unusual is that it lacks the pine tree smell of most new IPAs.
The taste is citrusy at the top, followed by a bit of intense bitterness for the sake of bitterness. It’s a pretty light 4.5% alcohol by volume, and a neutral, but slightly toasty malt base, that puts the spotlight on the juicy and bitter notes. Despite the bitter punch, it’s pretty easy drinking. Kona recommends pairings with seafood, tacos, pizza or pasta.
