Kona Pipeline Porter

As the clock struck zero on the Super Bowl and the Baltimore Ravens won the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy, another clock started ticking. The few hours that remained before the first alarm clock went off signaling the beginning of a new semester.

         Thank God for coffee. This review is in honor of coffee and all those who drink it or will need it our first week back to classes. Kona Pipeline Porter is made with 100 percent Kona coffee, which is freshly roasted from the Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s biggest island.

         Kona Brewing Co. comes all the way from Hawaii for us to enjoy. The brewery was established in 1995 and distributes three main beers to the main land including Longboard Lager, Fire Rock Pale Ale and seasonal limited releases such as the Pipeline Porter and the Wailua Wheat Ale.

         Pipeline Porter was set out to be a rich and roasty beer with undertones of chocolate and multiple other malt flavors. The secret inside Kona’s Porter is the Hawaiian coffee. The climate on the Hawaiian Islands is excellent for the growth of coffee beans. According to the United States Census Bureau, coffee is one of the 25 most exported items, making this brew a coffee connoisseurs dream.

         Kona adds eight different malts to this distinct Porter including Pale, Carapils, Victory, Caramel 80, Extra Special, Chocolate Malt, Dark Chocolate Malt and Roasted Barley. While these are traditional malts for a Porter the combination of them all gives Pipeline a dark robust roasted flavor.

         Kona breaks out of more traditions with the additions of three different kinds of hops including Warrior, Millenium and Willamette, which are tasted in Indian Pale Ales and other hoppy beers. The hop addition gives Kona’s Pipeline a prickly carbonated mouth taste.

Most beer enthusiast say a traditional-style pint glass will do just fine for enjoying a Porter, but be sure to give it a nice pour. This foamy head will result in more aromas being released for a better taste.

         Pipeline pours an opaque black with a cream colored collar at the top. The aroma of coffee and chocolate malts stands out the most before each sip. Upon first taste, there is a rush of carbonation from the hop addition, which is followed by the sweetness of caramel and chocolate malts. Kona saved the best for last with the aftertaste lingering full on the Kona coffee.

         Don’t let the coffee play mind tricks on you, there actually isn’t too much caffeine in the beer. At only two milligrams per 12 ounces, you would have to 70 beers to equal an average cup of coffee.

         So cheers to a new year and semester.