Kona Brewing's Wailua Wheat

Price                                    1.79 per 12 ounce bottle
ABV                                      5.4%
IBU                                       15
Plato                                     12.0
Seasonal                                Yes, March to September

Commercial Description: This golden, sun colored ale has a bright, citrusy flavor that comes from the tropical passion fruit we brew into each batch. Sit back, relax and enjoy paradise anytime.

       Passion Fruit? What in the hell am I getting myself into? This is another of the singles run from Total Wine and More in Greenville South Carolina. Again my curiosity has gotten the best of me. I was disappointed by the Fire Rock Pale Ale but really enjoyed the Longboard Larger, two of the offerings from Kona brewing. I have a bottle of the Pipeline Porter also for a future review. I have read a few reviews of it and folks don't seem to upbeat about the fruit flavor.

      It pours a clear golden yellow, I always look in the bottom of any wheat beer and noticed that this one had some sediment in it. I shook up the last dregs in the bottle and poured it in. The beer is a dark gold now and is most assuredly more attractive to me. The head is white and medium at best. It has a slight fruity smell but is a tad chemical. There is definitely some wheat notes mingled in, but it is odd. It almost smells like over ripe pineapple.

     I am a little afraid of tasting this beer, what if I like it, I will never be able to get the other beersuckers to even consider a passion fruit beer. I will have to go into hiding and secretly consume these it the bathroom behind locked doors away from the prying eyes of the known beer world or move to Hawaii, eat poi and drink fruity beers. (hey that may not be too bad). The taste..... Uh Oh. Its not sweet to me, it's tart with a good mingling of what ever fruit they supposedly put in it. I like it. I am not one on putting a lime in  beer which is the norm, but I think I will get some pineapple juice and try it. DAMNIT. The mouth feel is very crisp and as you exhale it goes thru you sinus passages very well. It has a lingering finish that starts off sweet and tart but has a small amount of bitter bite on it. I do like wheat beer and this one is very different.

      Ok I am not saying to run out and try this one. I like it, but I do like an boat drink every once and a while. It's a good alternative to the lime flavored summer beer. It would make a great beer to have with some grilled seafood.

The Rating (don't be Mad)

Smell (1-10)                                    5 (smells nothing like it tastes)
Taste (1_50)                                  40
Finish (1-10)                                    8 ( I like an odd finish)
bang for the buck (1-30)                 20
total                                            73 out of 100
Pack rating (enjoyability) I did like this beer, but I don't think that you could drink more that 6 in one session so I will give it a 6 pack.