Kona Pipeline Porter

I had this beer on tap at the brewery while I was on vacation there. This has a dark ruby color which is very similar to the Black Sand Porter that Kona makes as well. Very little sunlight is able to penetrate the glass. The aroma from the pint glass is extremely powerful. As my nose approached the glass, I was got strong dark roast coffee aromas; almost like an espresso. The espresso flavor was present as well. This beer had a very heavy coffee flavor with a hint of chocolate on the back end. I love how this medium to heavy bodied beer tastes on my tongue. This is one of my favorite Kona brews. Although the bottled beer is not made at the same brewery as the kegged beer, I would highly recommend this beer to anyone that likes robust porters.

Even though the bottle informs you it is made with coffee, I was not prepared for how well they blended the coffee flavor and the mild molasses-like flavor of the porter. It was pretty low bodied, which is a bit out of style for porters, but it really just increased the drinkability of this beer

Finally was able to score a 6 pack of this at Knightly Spirits, since for whatever reason this never made it to Tampa. Dark chocolate brown body with a two finger thick light brown head. Nice retention and some excellent sheet lacing. Nose is pure coffee at first, but reveals a backing of chocolate, malts, roasty tones and some bitterness from the hops. But mostly this is Hawai’ian coffee, and it smells delicious. Tastes just as good, a nice blending of all of the different components. I love how the Kona coffee is the star of the show, but at the same time isn’t overpowering and melds with everything else that is going on here. Medium bodied but super creamy and easy to chug. Finish is coffee, some chocolate and roast, then more coffee for the duration of the super long ending. One of my favorite porters, and as easy as most of the 6 pack went down, supremely sessionable. Great beer.

Aroma has a nice dry coffee scent in it. Color is good deep black with a slight purple tone. Carbonation is low with a nice thin tight head. Taste is clean and coffee like. Starting with a medium body it goes down smooth. Finish comes on with a nice coffee flavor that is roasted and smooth. This turns sweet for a moment then ends clean with an after taste that fads in with a dry feel of tasted coffee. This is a very good coffee flavored Porter that would be great on a nice winter day.

Pours a deep cola brown with a small cap of light tan foam. Reduces to a clean liquid top in no time. Minimal lacing. Aromas give a chocolate bar treat to the nose. A touch of roastiness. Meanders between sweet and roasty in the air. Flavors of big chain coffee concoction, mainly something with whipped cream, chcocolate syrup, and blended ice. Smells like dessert and an after-dinner coffee all in one. Aftertaste of some more dessert-like quality with a cookie dough flair. Nice finish with a staccato coffee note. Thinner mouthfeel than I hoped for. Is emminently drinkable, the bottle was drained quickly and with a smile. Best Kona beer I’ve had yet. I had frankly begun to wonder about good beer on the island....