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Lilikoʻi Kea

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Lilikoʻi Kea is a Belgian-style witbier inspired by the Nā Pali coast of Kauaʻi and its canoe races. Pale malt and white wheat give a hazy, pale straw beer with a soft, bready body. Local passion fruit juice goes into the brew and sits at the front, tart and tropical, while coriander brings lemon zest and a light floral spice and grains of paradise a peppery warmth. Saaz adds a faint herbal note. The bitterness is very low and the finish crisp and lightly tart.

ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Mild10 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
coriandertropicalbready
coriander
tropical
bready
fruity
spicy
tart
Aroma
Passion fruit leads prominently on the nose, delivering a tart tropical character that sets the tone immediately.
also:floral,citrusy,herbal
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Lilikoʻi Kea

◎ Appearance

A hazy pale straw color with bright, translucent clarity and a fine white head that clings gently to the glass. The haziness derives from the wheat and unfiltered character typical of the style, while modest carbonation produces a soft, creamy collar that fades gradually.

pale strawhazy, unfilteredsoft white head

◌ Aroma

Passion fruit leads prominently on the nose, delivering a tart tropical character that sets the tone immediately. Behind the fruit sits a gentle coriander-driven lemon zest with subtle floral spice, while grains of paradise contribute a warm, peppery undertone. A faint herbal whisper from Saaz hops provides dry mineral restraint.

passion fruit, tartcoriander, lemon zestpeppery spiceherbal notes

◐ Taste

The palate opens with the same forward passion fruit tartness that greeted the nose, supported by a soft, bready malt body with wheat's characteristic lightness. Coriander and grains of paradise develop a lemony, peppery complexity mid-palate, while Saaz provides dry herbal definition without aggressive bittering—bitterness remains restrained at just 10 IBU, allowing the fruit and spice interplay to dominate.

tropical fruit tartnesssoft, breadylemon-pepper spice

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and lightly tart, echoing the passion fruit character without lingering heavily. A dry herbal edge accompanies the fruit's fade, creating a clean, refreshing conclusion.

crisp, tartrefreshing dry finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
75
Finish
77
Serve at 5–8°C

Serve cold to preserve the delicate citrus and spice aromas. Too warm and the yeast esters become heavy — too cold and the coriander disappears.

Witbier glass

The tall, slender wheat beer glass holds the full 50cl pour and shows off the hazy golden colour. The wide mouth lets citrus and spice aromas drift upward freely.

Best consumed fresh. Citrus and spice notes fade after 3–4 months. Drink within 6 months of packaging.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Lilikoʻi Kea

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About Witbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Witbier?

Witbiers are Belgian white ales brewed with unmalted wheat, 4.5–5.5% ABV. Hazy and refreshing with citrus peel, coriander spice and a soft creamy body.

Finding a similar Witbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same coriander, hazy, tropical character as Lilikoʻi Kea will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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