Tap Handle #73: Kona - Fire Rock Pale Ale

This is a nice tap, inspired by the copper glow of the Kilauea Caldera that pours molten lava into the sea on the big island of Hawaii. Of all the Kona taps I possess, this is probably my favorite variety.

Click through to read more about Kona Brewing and their Fire Rock Pale Ale...


Kona was founded in 1994 on the big island of Hawaii by a father-son team, Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa. They started with two beers, Pacific Golden Ale (now called Big Wave) and Fire Rock Pale Ale. Their brewpub, Kailua-Kona, opened in 1998, and they added Longboard Island Lager to their lineup. In 2003 they opened a second brewpub in the Koko Marine Center on Oahu. In 2008 they opened a third location in the Honolulu International Airport. Kona also entered into an agreement with the Craft Brewers Alliance to have their beers brewed at Widmer Brothers in Portland and in New Hampshire by Redhook. This is a very meticulous process, as minerals in the water must match Kona's water, and a sample of every batch of beer must be sent to Kona for testing. As a result, Kona gains access to the Anheuser-Busch distribution network. By 2009, Kona was the 14th largest craft brewer in the U.S. and distributed its beer to 25 states and Washington D.C.

Fire Rock Pale Ale is described as a crisp, copper-colored Hawaiian-style pale ale. Recommended food pairings are barbeque, chicken, and salads. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 3.18 out of 5.

Kona Official Website