Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale: Would this Volcano erupt?
Written: Jun 04 '01 (Updated Jun 23 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lively pour, smooth texture, caramel sweetness.
Cons: May be too sweet for some
The Bottom Line: Not as much fire as a volcano, but definitely lively with lava like texture. May be too sweet for hop-lovers, but for me, an excellent caramel smooth pale ale.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale |
Let me just start out this review by confessing to my ignorance, and I did have to refer to the Encarta CD before coming up with a satisfying answer.
Kona? Interesting name!
To myself, an Englishman well educated in European geography, the name Kona carried no particular significance. Having seen this listed as a new beer at my local, my first guess would have been a California microbrewery.
However to Americans, or Californians at least, the name Kona instantly inspires thoughts of Hawaii, something I would not find out until I read the label. So this explanation is for the unknowing foreigner like myself. Kona is a district of Kailua, on the island of Oahu, which is also the location of Honolulu, and commonly referred to as “The Big Island”.
OK, the pieces come together a little more clearly, Fire Rock, Hawaii. Would this beer be something volcanic?
The Volcano is Dormant
My local carries about 200 beers, and I’ve tried over 100 of these, pretty much exhausting my interest. So I was glad to see a couple of ‘Kona’ beers appearing as something new. Now to me, the name sounded like some Californian microbrewery, so I’m glad upon ordering, that I did not ask the bartender: “Where’s it from?” I decided to pass up the lager and opt for the imaginatively titled “Fire Rock Pale Ale”. As an ale drinker, the choice was actually pretty simple.
The Brewery
I have seen references, not only on their website, but also in a couple of beer guides, that Kona Brewing Company is the only brewpub on the island. However, I did read of a Gordon Biersch brewery in Honolulu, which was experimenting with a Pineapple Pale Ale, and a Kona Coffee Stout (source: Stuart A. Kallen’s “Complete Idiot’s Guide to Beer”). Any feedback here would be extremely welcome.
The brewery has been around since 1994, and as well as handcrafted ales and lagers is also noted for its distinctive merchandise. This alone makes a trip to the website worthwhile. Other than that, the website offers very little information on the company, which is a little disappointing.
Fire Rock Pale Ale – What Kona says
A medium to full-bodied "Hawaiian Style" pale ale, Fire Rock has a deep copper color and a crisp, pronounced hop flavor and aroma.
The bitterness is pretty much in the middle of the pale ale range (which can be anywhere between 20-50 IBU’s) at 35 IBU’s. The alcohol content is a slightly higher than average 5.8% ABV.
The malt: Pale, Munich, Honey, Wheat.
The hops: Galena, Cascade, Mt. Hood
The Volcano has Erupted
The pour is a deep golden-amber color, and a little lively needing some care. It’s fairly thick in body and somewhat hazy, which may be from the wheat. There’s a slight sign of carbonation, while the head holds fairly firm throughout.
The aroma tells me right away that this is going to be a sweet beer, smelling a little caramel like but there’s also a nice subtle flowery hop in there too. On the palate this is a little thicker than I would have expected, but still light enough for easy and (although I shouldn’t say so) mass-consumption. There’s also a slight fizziness. The flavor is most notable for its sweetness; it runs over the palate pretty smoothly leaving a nice caramel, even slightly chocolaty taste. There’s some hop and bitterness in the middle that also creates a little crispness in the finish. The hop however is overshadowed somewhat by the malt in the aftertaste, which quickly mellows and settles into a sweet smoothness.
The Storm is Over
The malt and smoothness in this remind me of an English pale ale, as most English breweries are trying to perfect the creamiest pint. It’s not as creamy as the draft flow cans, but would probably best compare to the bottled Samuel Smith’s pale ale, which is among the best I’ve tasted. This beer will not be for everyone, and may be a little too sweet. There are hops and bitterness in the finish but they could be a little stronger in order to balance out the malt.
I love the bitter citric bite of an IPA but I also like a smooth mellow pale ale from time to time. For this reason I enjoyed it, and feel that all pale ale drinkers should at least give it a go. I would definitely drink this again.
Hipahipa! (That's "Cheers" in Hawaiian!). Sounds like a nice name for a brew, Hipah IPA.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: The Desert, So Cal
Reviews written: 219
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