Honolulu Beerworks Hop Island IPA

Hello and Happy Sunday everyone! Jack from The Intoxicated Review writing today freshly back from my Hawaiian Island trip to the island of Kaua’i. I stepped off the plane here in San Jose, California right into forty degree weather, immediately wishing I was back in the islands. Today’s review is about both a new brewery and beer for the your reading pleasure. This one will hopefully bring some of the warmth of the islands back to me to see me through the frigid temps here at home. The brewery is Honolulu Beerworks and the beer is their Hop Island IPA. This is a West Coast Style IPA and it is rather dank. Lots of aromas and lots of flavors! This is a new brewery as well as a new beer for the blog and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

BREWERY:

Honolulu Beerworks

APV:

7%

THE SHEET:

Hops: CTZ, Citra, Amarillo, and Mosaic.

THE POUR:

Hop Island IPA has a dark golden color to it and a head that appears, rather thick, at an inch and a half, but it will disappear very quickly. This is a particularly aromatic beer, even after pouring.

THE AROMA:

As noted, this is a particularly aromatic brew. Right away I can smell the hoppy/pine smells, along with citrus and tropical fruit notes.

THE FLAVOR:

This beer has a mild to medium bitterness to it. Right away I was able to taste the hoppy and pine flavors, which were followed immediately by the citrus flavor. Towards the back end I was able to detect the tropical fruit flavors. Delicious! This beer has a quite crisp finish to it.

THE BODY:

This beer has a higher than average body for an IPA. I would rate it at medium to medium heavy.

OVERALL:

Friends, this is a quite flavorful and fun to drink beer. I highly recommend tasting this beer! This is a rather bitter and strong bodied IPA, so I don’t recommend this beer if you’re not into IPAs.

Well, this beer definitely did the trick and warmed me up from the inside out. Thank you very much for reading today and I’ll see you again soon!

Jack

Kona Brewing Company Kua Bay IPA

Aloha readers! And Welina Hou to The Intoxicated Review! Jack writing in today from the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. What better way to enjoy Thirsty Thursday than with a great tasting Hawaiian beer made right here in the islands. Today’s beer choice comes from Kona Brewing Company and is their Kua Bay IPA. First off Kua Bay is a real place on the Big Island. I have never been to the big island, but maybe one day. But enough about my travels onto the beer!

BREWERY:

Kona Brewing Company

APV:

7.3%

THE SHEET:

Hops: Centennial, Cascade, Millennium, and Chinook.

THE POUR:

This pia pours with a copper color to it. The po’o forms at one quarter inch, where it lingers even after the pour.

THE HONI:

I can smell pine notes as well as subtle hints of caramel. This one does smell different from the typical brew put out by this brewer. Typically there would be a smell reminiscent of the islands…not a big deal as I’m sure the beer will taste amazing!

THE HOAO AKU LA:

Well, this is a little different. Up front this beer has a hoppy flavor, which is followed up by a subtle caramel note. It’s delicious! The beer has a crisp, clean finish to it. There is a mild bitterness to it, but still quite drinkable. Typically this brewer puts flavors into the beer that remind you of the islands, but I was a little surprised that they didn’t this time.

THE BODY:

With the mild bitterness as well as the hoppy flavors, I would rate the body of this beer at medium. Despite all the normal IPA characteristics, I still found the beer refreshing and easily drank.

OVERALL:

Hoa (Friends), this is an amazing addition to the menu at Kona Brewing Company! I was very impressed with it and highly recommend it!

Hoa Mahalo for reading today! I look forward to writing for you again soon! Check back soon! I have some new beer for you!

Jack