Kona Brewing Company Longboard Island Lager Review

Like other beer connoisseurs, I am always looking for new beer to sample and I almost always choose a new product rather than a familiar one. The problem, of course, is finding new products to sample. Grocery stores have limited supply and there is usually nothing in the beer aisle I haven't already sampled. But every now and then, a large grocery chain gets something new from its suppliers and this is how I got to know Kona Longboard Island Lager, a tasty lager brewed in Hawaii.

Beer Commentary:

Kona Longboard Island Lager pours to a yellow/straw color with a body that is slightly hazy. The aroma emitted from this beer is quite pleasant, with a scent that combines biscuits with spice and a touch of fruit.

Kona Longboard Island Lager offers an interesting taste that emphasizes its malt base. The malt contributes a bread- like flavor and there is a small degree of nutty flavor as well. The hops kick in mid way through, contributing a small amount of spice and fruit (mostly apple) that eventually gives way to the biscuit- like flavors of the malt in the aftertaste.

Kona Longboard Island Lager is brewed using Pale and Munich malts, Mt. Hood hops, Tettnanger hops, Saaz hops, and lager yeast. The bitterness level of this beer stands at 24 IBU and the alcohol level is 5.5 percent by volume.

My initial impression of this beer based on appearance was good, and I really liked the aroma. But appearances are, of course, sometimes deceiving. Many beers look promising and then disappoint in the end, but Kona Longboard Lager isn't one of them. This beer isn't too light or watery. It offers refreshment with a medium- body and a good deal of malt flavor.  

Speaking of malt, this is the taste that is most noticeable with Kona Longboard Island Lager. The combination of bread and biscuit flavors make this a good choice for drinking with many different foods. There is also a certain degree of purity in its flavor. And it does appear to be very pure, with nothing but the basic ingredients (malt, hops, yeast, and water) used in the brewing process.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

Overall, Kona Longboard Island Lager is a very tasty lager with more character than the typical U.S. lager and with a good deal of refreshment and body to earn it an easy recommendation. It offers a tasty malt base and just enough hops to contribute to a well- rounded malt beverage product.