What they say (Kona Brewing C., 21+ please):
?Longboard Island Lager is a smooth refreshing lager fermented and aged for five weeks at cold temperatures to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor. A delicate, slightly spicy hop aroma complements the malty body of this beer.?
My take on it:
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this “Island Lager.” I’m finding that I like the west coast style of brewing, but Hawaii isn’t west coast, is it? I mean, they are a culture unto themselves, so I didn’t have a clue how this was going to sit with me.
First, I have to say I’m in love with the artwork. I mean, completely, head over heels, having an emotional affair with the label, ?in love. Classic Tiki art and it’s beautiful. Seriously. Love.
Now, this is the first time I’ve had a lager from a craft beer company. And usually, I stay away from lagers except in the spring and summer. I don’t know why. I just do. But, Frank’s the man and he’s mentioned this a couple of times, so I went ahead and grabbed it.
The first thing I noticed is a short head that doesn’t hold up over a clear, pale yellow body. The next thing I noticed was that it didn’t have much of an aroma. What little scent I did notice was light and fruity. The last thing I noticed is that my glass was completely clear after the beer was gone. No lacing at all.
But I was enjoying this one from the first sip. It was crisp, tasty and very well balanced. I never got a sense that any particular ingredient was overpowering. It’s light with good carbonation and comes in at 4.9%, which in my book helps this one go down easy. I expect Longboard will be a regular in my fridge in the warmer months. I can honestly say that I’m looking forward to drinking one of these while I’m grilling.?
Longboard cost me $9.99 for the six, which I think is a little on the high side for a beer of this type. ?I wish it had a bit more flavor, but then it would lose that light, crispy feel I look forward to in the warmer months.
6.5 out of 10 from me.
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