Big Wave Golden Ale is an American Blonde Ale that’s brewed by Kona Brewing Co.. For the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in a shaker pint glass from a 12 oz. bottle.

Packaging art for the Big Wave Golden Ale by Kona Brewing Co.

What You Need to Know

The Big Wave Golden Ale is one of the core offerings from Kona Brewing and is available in cans and bottles year round. It’s targeted for those who just want an easy drinking brew with a palate that’s approachable and appealing to the masses. So how was it? Let’s get to the review.

Appearance

The Blonde pours a brilliantly clear pale golden hue and is topped by a finger-thick cap of loose, soapy white froth that shows modest retention. The head’s reduction doesn’t leave behind any lace or residue, just a thin layer of bubbles.

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Aroma

The aroma is bright with a scent of honey and cracker. A touch of floral hops lingers in the background.

Flavor

A light bready malt greets the palate and is followed by a hoppy blend of flavors ranging from floral to peppery to citrusy. But they’re quite restrained and the malt flavor is the focus. Their mild bitterness lingers briefly and the tasting is rounded out with subtle honey wheat sweetness.

Label art for the Big Wave Golden Ale by Kona Brewing Co.

Mouthfeel

The feel has a crisp draw that becomes and dry with a medium-light body moderately-high carbonation.

Overall

The head retention could be better but otherwise this brew looks fine. The aroma is pleasant enough and the feel is perfect for easy drinking. The palate has just enough bite to keep the brew interesting but mild enough that it’s agreeable for most palates. This is one of Kona’s best-selling beers and it’s easy to see why.

Overall, the Big Wave Golden Ale is a brew that’s easily quaffed, and as it has such a low ABV, you can knock back a few of these back in a single session.

Recommended Pairings

Big Wave’s lighter body and bright hop aroma and taste make it a natural choice to enjoy with seafood, poultry, salads, and light pasta dishes.

Named for Big Waves

The waves in Hawaii are legendary. In the winter months, the island’s north and west coasts see big waves that often climb to 40 feet, with huge curls of white water breaking off shore. This is just one reason why surfers, body boarders, paddlers, and those of us just willing to watch from the beach make this pilgrimage.