Kona Longboard Lager Beer Review

Date July 24, 2009

I’ve got to start trying more Lagers!  Looking back over many of The Brew Club beer reviews that I have personally done, probably 90% of them have been reviews of some type of Ale – which is cool, but sometimes I get the feeling I’m missing out on some decent lagers.

Kona Longboard Island Lager Beer ReviewKona Brewing Company Longboard “Island Lager” is one of them.  I ended up really liking this beer from Hawaii, and I doubt I would have ever tried it if not for my pal Sally (you know who you are) who provides me with tasty beer samples from time to time!

The 5.5% ABV Kona Longboard Island Lager, (from here on out simply referred to as Longboard Lager) pours a ‘typicalish’ lager color, perhaps a little richer looking than say a Bud or something, but still is looks like a lager to me.  OK, you’re pushing for more descriptive descriptions.  How’s this? The Longboard Lager’s color is something between pale-straw and golden liquid sunshine.  How’s that?

This golden liquid sunshine stuff created a nice pure white fizzy head in my glass – as witnessed by the accompanying photo.  Really.  Look at the photo and see for yourself.  Go ahead – LOOK AT IT.  Fizzy white head.  OK.

Now, the aroma of the Longboard Lager is going to be a little tougher to do because this blog’s smell plugin isn’t working so I’ll do my best to describe it in words.

How’s this?

It smells good.

Ok, ok… The smell is sorta sweet, sorta citrusy, maybe a tad fruity a little bit hoppy, yet at the same time still ‘beery’ smelling. (Please no gagging from the real beer reviewers out there) Overall, I found the aroma to be quite nice.

Now the important bit – taste!  I’m also finding this a little hard to do because of my relative lack of lager exposure, but here goes.  The taste at first is sweet, but there is what I think a decent amount of maltiness that balances it out pretty well.  There’s something in the flavor that really mellows it for me, not sure what it is but its a little nutty maybe?  This is tough for me to put a finger on.

The mouthfeel is light, and overall this lager is rather crisp, but there is none of that hop sting that is often associated with lagers.  The finish is just a touch bitter, but I really have no complaints about the taste at all.  From what I know of lagers, this is nicely done.

So, would I have a Kona Longboard again?  Yes I would, and I think if you are a fan of lagers you should give it a try as well.

Rating: ★★★½☆

Red Hook Brewery BlessingInterestingly enough, the Kona Longboard is going to be (if not already) available in my neck of the woods.  On April 28, more than 5,000 miles from the Kona Brewery on the big Hawaiian Island, began brewing its beer at the Red Hook Brewery in Portsmouth, NH.  That makes sense because it seems like an awful lot of resources needed to get this stuff from Hawaii to the mainland otherwise.

I don’t really know if my sample of Kona Longboard was brewed in Hawaii or in the Red Hook Brewery in New Hampshire, (bottle says Hawaii) but either way I enjoyed it quite a bit and would have it again.  A nice summer beer!

Have you tried Kona Longboard Lager?  What did you think?  What about other Kona brews?

Blessing Ceremony Photo Courtesy Kona Brewing Company

13 Responses to “Kona Longboard Lager Beer Review”

  1. nate said:

    I haven’t tried this, but it looks refreshing. I too don’t think i drink enough lagers.

    I really need to get my hands on that “smell plugin!”

  2. Liz - The Sports Bra Reports said:

    I was lucky enough to try this brew compliments of Scott who hooked me up with a bottle and I really liked it… I think this Lager is crisp and refreshing and would definitely have it again given the chance.

  3. Michael Reinhardt said:

    I’d have it again, too. I remember enjoying it…not wowed but it is refreshing.

  4. Nate said:

    I had many a Longboard Lagers when I was in Hawaii last summer. I enjoy the Fire Rock Pale Ale a bit more, but LBL hit the spot on those hot days near the pool.

  5. Scott-TheBrewClub said:

    Nate, I’m hoping that they’ll brew more than the LBL up in NH. I wouldn’t mind trying the other stuff as well like the Fire Rock Pale Ale. Thanks!
    .-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Kasteel Cru Rose – French Beer Review =-.

  6. Beer drink-r said:

    I had the Longboard Lager a few years back when I visited Hawaii, I even had the chance to visit the brewery, but wasn’t able to because I ended up sick and couldn’t go! I remember the label looking a little different, but I also remember it being a very nice beer. Nice to hear its going to become more available.

  7. Mike said:

    I haven’t had this one yet but Kona seems to make quality beers. Their Pipeline Porter was tasty in my opinion and I just had the Wailua Wheat (review coming soon) and enjoyed it.

    By the way, were they bought out by InBev-AB or distributed by them? If they are brewing at the Red Hook brewery it would make me think so.
    .-= Mike´s last blog ..Fat Tire Amber Ale =-.

  8. Scott-TheBrewClub said:

    Mike, that’s a good question. I didn’t read about them being owned by A-B, but who knows. Good to hear their other stuff is good, hopefully I can try some soon!
    .-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sam Adams Cherry Wheat Beer Review =-.

  9. Mike said:

    Actually found that InBev-AB just distributes Kona Brewing. I came across this article and didn’t know just how much stuff they have their hand in.

    http://www.drinkamerican.us/faq/31-general/53-anheuser-busch-brands-to-boycott.html
    .-= Mike´s last blog ..Yeti Imperial Stout =-.

  10. Jay Thomsen said:

    We live in Plymouth, MA and love your beer. Do you sell your Longboard Ale to any of our local liquor stores?

  11. Scott-TheBrewClub said:

    Hey Jay! We don’t make Longboard, we just review it! Good thing for you is that this beer is brewed in New Hampshire now, so I bet if you look around you could find it. If not, see if the beer manager can order some for you, I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem.

    While you’re at it, check out their Pipeline Porter! Another great Kona beer!

    https://thebrewclub.com/2010/01/04/beer-review-kona-pipeline-porter/
    .-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence =-.

  12. Justin said:

    FYI, *all* bottled Kona Brewing beers – even those bough in Hawaii – are contract brewed on teh mainland, as are all kegs on the mainland. Only beer actually brewed in hawaii is kegs served in-state. For a variety of reasons, not least of which are environmental concerns, it is not feasible to run a bottling plant in Hawaii.

    Maui Brewing, on the other hand, actually brews all their beers on Maui. They get around the botltle issue by using cans. They do a lager, but their standout beer is their coconut porter…which is amazing.

  13. Scott-TheBrewClub said:

    Thanks Justin – I didn’t know that actually! I’ve heard that the Maui Coconut Porter is an amazing beer and I hope I can try it someday!
    .-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Founders Breakfast Stout =-.

%d bloggers like this: