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Duke's

Kona Brewing Hawaii
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🌍 United States · Blonde Ale · One of 46 Blonde Ales in hopIQ

Duke's is the lightest beer the Kailua-Kona brewery makes and is sold on draught only. Pale two-row malt with a share of wheat malt gives a pale straw colour, a soft, lightly bready base and a smooth, slightly rounded body. Cascade, Willamette and Hallertau stay in the background with a hint of lemon peel, a little floral lift and a gentle herbal edge. The bitterness is just enough to balance the malt, and the finish is crisp, dry and short.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter18 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Blonde Ale.
Hop character
citrusy
herbal
floral
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Duke's

◎ Appearance

Duke's pours a pale straw colour with excellent clarity and bright, golden translucence. The head forms fine and white, settling to a delicate collar with modest lacing. Carbonation appears moderate and steady, creating gentle effervescence without aggressive bubble structure.

pale strawbright clarityfine white head

◌ Aroma

The nose is restrained and composed, leading with soft, slightly bready malt notes from the two-row and wheat base. Cascade, Willamette and Hallertau hops emerge subtly in the background, offering a gentle lemon peel character, light floral lift and understated herbal edge without dominating the profile.

soft breadylemon peeldelicate florals

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a light, clean malt sweetness and rounded body that feels smooth rather than thin. Hop bitterness integrates seamlessly, providing just enough balance without sharp edges, while citrus and herbal nuances thread through the mid-palate. The finish is crisp, dry and short, cleansing the palate efficiently without lingering astringency.

light malt basebalanced bitternessclean finish

◑ Finish

The beer concludes with a brief, crisp drying sensation and minimal aftertaste. This short finish emphasises refreshment and drinkability rather than complexity or depth.

crisp drynessshort finish
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
74
Taste
76
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Duke's

Serve at 7–10°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Duke's

About Blonde Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Blonde Ale?

Blonde Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Blonde Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same light, dry, smooth character as Duke's will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Blonde Ales in hopIQ

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