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Kona Light

Kona Big Wave
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🌍 United States · Blonde Ale · One of 46 Blonde Ales in hopIQ

Kona Light is a blonde ale brewed with mango, formerly sold as Kanaha Blonde Ale after a kiteboarding beach on Maui. Amarillo, Mosaic and Millennium hops sit over a pale, lean malt base. It pours a bright yellow with a white head. The nose shows ripe mango and juicy tropical fruit with a little citrus and a floral touch. The body is light and lively, the fruit carries into the middle, and the finish is short and dry with soft bitterness.

ABV
4.2%
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

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

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

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kona Light

◎ Appearance

Pours a bright yellow with excellent clarity and a crisp white head. The carbonation is lively and visible, with fine bubbles rising steadily through the glass. Head retention is moderate, leaving thin but consistent lacing on the glass walls.

bright yellowclearwhite headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by ripe mango and stone fruit, presenting a juicy tropical character. Behind the fruit sits a gentle citrus note with a subtle floral undertone, likely from the Mosaic hop. The pale malt base remains in the background, offering minimal grainy notes.

ripe mangotropical fruitcitrusfloral

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and light-bodied, with the tropical fruit character carrying forward onto the palate. The mango and citrus notes develop in the middle, balanced by a lean, crisp malt structure. The finish moves toward dryness with soft, well-integrated bitterness that does not dominate.

light bodytropical fruitcleansoft bitterness

◑ Finish

Short and dry with lingering fruit notes that fade quickly. The aftertaste is clean, leaving a gentle citrus and floral impression without any harsh edge.

short finishdryclean aftertaste
74
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
72
Appearance
78
Finish
70
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kona Light

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 Kona Light

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 tropical, fruity, light character as Kona Light 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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