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Black Sand

Kona Brewing Hawaii
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🌍 United States · Porter · One of 97 Porters in hopIQ

Black Sand is the porter of the Kailua-Kona brewery, named after the dark volcanic beaches of Hawaii Island and served only at its pubs. Seven malts, from chocolate and black malt to Munich and two caramel malts, give a near-black body with a tan head. Bittersweet chocolate leads in nose and mouth, backed by roasted coffee, dark toffee and a little nuttiness. Centennial and Northern Brewer add a firm, slightly woody bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. The body is full and smooth, and the finish is roasty and dry.

ABV
6.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter40 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28
See all Porter alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Porter.
Malt character
chocolate
coffee
roasted
toasty
nutty
malty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Sand

◎ Appearance

Black Sand presents a near-black body with deep mahogany transparency at the edges when held to light. A tan, stable head forms with fine carbonation visible throughout. Lacing clings persistently to the glass, indicating good malt structure and protein content.

near-black bodytan headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bittersweet chocolate, immediately supported by roasted coffee and dark toffee notes. A subtle nuttiness rounds the mid-palate aromatics, while Centennial and Northern Brewer hops contribute a gentle woody undertone without dominating the malt-forward character.

chocolate, bittersweetroasted coffeedark toffeewoody hop notes

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and smooth, with chocolate and coffee at the forefront. Mid-palate develops dark toffee complexity, while a firm, slightly woody bitterness from dual-hop additions prevents sweetness from becoming cloying. The seven-malt bill creates balanced depth without harsh edges.

chocolate, roastedfirm bitternesssmooth, full bodycoffee, toffee

◑ Finish

The finish is roasty and distinctly dry, with lingering coffee and cocoa notes fading gradually. Bitterness persists without sharpness, leaving a clean, malt-driven aftertaste.

dry, roastylingering coffee
81
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Black Sand

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C. Too cold mutes the roasted complexity that makes a good porter worth drinking slowly.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within 6–12 months for best results. Baltic Porters can be aged longer.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Black Sand

About Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Porter?

Porters are dark ales with 4–6.5% ABV and IBU 18–35. Roasted malt brings chocolate, caramel and toffee — medium body with a clean finish.

Finding a similar Porter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, roasted, coffee character as Black Sand will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Porters in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Porter beers in hopIQ →New to Porter? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →