The Craft Beer Market
Kona Brewing Company is a Kailua-Kona, Hawaii based craft brewery that brews Longboard Lager (sort of, but more on that later). The craft beer market has grown rapidly over the last 40 years after Congress legalized homebrewing in 1978. As a result, this inspired many beer enthusiasts to start their own small breweries. However, today the overall beer market is flat and possibly in slight decline. Even the craft beer market has become oversaturated. The number of breweries in the United States continues to rise, albeit at a much slower rate. There are daily reports of breweries closing. Many are predicting a “beerpocalypse” as once popular breweries, brewpubs and tasting rooms close.
Kona Brewing Company
Kona Brewing Company was founded in 1994 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on the Big Island. They still have a brewery and pub there where they brew a variety of lagers, ales, IPAs and more. BUT, and this is a big BUT, if you purchase any Kona Brewing beers in any of the 49 states except for Hawaii, you are actually buying beer brewed and distributed by Anheuser-Busch on the mainland. Without getting into all of the complicated corporate transactions and Department of Justice anti-trust decisions, suffice it to say you aren’t buying a beer brewed in Hawaii if you are in the other 49 states. Anheuser-Busch’s subsidiary Craft Brew Alliance even settled a class action lawsuit over deceptive advertising that confused customers into thinking they were buying beer brewed in Hawaii and overpaying for it. But let’s get to the beer.
Longboard Lager
Longboard Lager is one of Kona Brewing’s flagship beers. (And yes we are linking to the Hawaii brewery.) Kona Brewing describes Longboard Lager as “a crisp, pale-gold lager made with choice malts and aromatic hops, brewed in a traditional lager style. It’s a smooth and easygoing beer that never goes out of style—ever. Longboard Lager typically pairs well with lighter fare but has enough flavor and body to stand up to heartier foods, too. Try some with grilled chicken on mixed greens, pizza, or a sandwich.” It has Pale (premium 2-row) malts and Mt. Hood, Hallertau, Sterling and Millennium hops.
Longboard Lager has a 4.6% ABV, 2g protein, 11g carbs, 0g fat, a 20 IBU and 134 calories. It has an “Okay” rating on Beer Advocate.
Our Review of Longboard Lager
I was at a fundraising event where there were two beers available on tap, Longboard Lager and 805. I do not like 805 at all as detailed in our review of 805 beer. So I opted for Longboard Lager. I have had it a few times over the years and always thought, “this is OK, nothing special, not terrible, not great.” I thought maybe it would be better on tap. Maybe it was a little. Longboard Lager exactly fits the phrase “beer that tastes like beer.” It’s a fine drinkable beer, especially on a warm day or by itself. There is just nothing that makes it stand out or memorable. The Beer Advocate “Okay” rating is spot on, and Kona Brewing’s description is accurate except for pairing with “heartier” foods. I had it with a fried chicken sandwich and a more robust beer would have been a better pairing.
For another beer recommendation, see our review of Franzikaner Weissbier.
For beer nutritional information of all beers we have reviewed see Beer Nutritional Information.
