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Fire Rock

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Fire Rock was among the first beers Kona brewed in 1994 and takes its name from the lava flows of Hawaiʻi Island; the brewery calls it a Hawaiian-style pale ale. Munich and honey malts over a pale base give a copper colour and flavours of toasted bread, honey and light caramel. Galena, Cascade and Mount Hood hops add grapefruit, orange peel and a floral, lightly spicy edge. The bitterness is moderate and firm, and the finish is dry with a lingering toasty note.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter38 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
honeytoastycitrusy
honey
toasty
citrusy
orange
floral
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with toasted bread and honey notes, a direct reflection of the malt bill's warmth and sweetness.
also:caramel,spicy,hoppy
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fire Rock

◎ Appearance

Fire Rock presents a warm copper hue, bright and clear, reflecting the Munich and honey malts at its foundation. The head forms with moderate density and displays good retention, leaving thin trails of lacing down the glass. Carbonation appears lively and well-integrated, typical of a well-conditioned pale ale.

copper, brightmoderate headclean clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with toasted bread and honey notes, a direct reflection of the malt bill's warmth and sweetness. Citrus emerges clearly—grapefruit and orange peel—alongside a subtle floral character and a light spicy edge contributed by the Galena, Cascade, and Mount Hood hops. The overall impression is balanced, neither dominated by malt nor hop intensity.

toasted bread, honeygrapefruit, orange peelfloral, lightly spicy

◐ Taste

The palate entry is clean and malty, with the toasted bread character immediately evident. Mid-palate develops gentle honey sweetness and light caramel complexity before the hop bitterness emerges—firm and moderate at 38 IBU, grounding the beer without aggression. Citrus notes persist throughout, weaving together with the malt backbone into a cohesive whole.

toasted malt, honeymoderate bitternesscitrus balance

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry, with bitterness and malt receding evenly. A lingering toasty note persists in the aftertaste, providing a pleasant reminder of the beer's malt-forward character.

dry finishtoasty fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
79
Appearance
78
Finish
76
Serve at 7–10°C

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass

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

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Fire Rock

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About Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same honey, toasty, dry character as Fire Rock will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →