Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.
Kona wants Big Wave Golden Ale to be your tailgate go-to. The Hawai’ian inspired brewery has grown in prominence since its parent company was acquired by Anheuser-Busch, making it a stable presence in the mainland for a beer that originated thousands of miles and half an ocean away, but technically not an import.
It’s a brewery that’s always been interesting, even if it doesn’t take many risks. Kona’s brews have typically been domestic beer standards — light lagers, golden ales, blondes and American pale ales. There’s nothing wrong with that, obviously, but it’s not something that makes their beers stand out in any way besides “HAWAI’I,” even if the bulk of its product isn’t actually brewed there.
But in the spirit of going a little easier for Sober October — and because it’s prime tailgating season — I wanted to tuck back in with Kona’s Big Wave Golden Ale, which promises the easy lift of a macro light beer with more flavor and “tropical hops.” Let’s see how it tastes.