Kona Brewing Company's 'Taste of Summer' Wailua Ale Makes Triumphant Return to Shelves with Streamlined Look

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Now in its sixth year on the mainland, Wailua Ale, Kona Brewing Company's Aloha Series beer brewed with passion fruit, returns to shelves with the same great recipe, a new look, and a slightly shortened name. Wailua Ale will be available mid-May in all 36 states where Kona brews are available, including the five newest midwestern markets added earlier this year.

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First brewed in Hawaii as Liliko'i Wheat in 1998, this taste of summer became known as Wailua Wheat in 2007 when demand for it surged and distribution began on the mainland. Now called "Wailua Ale," the beer's recipe remains unchanged with passion fruit and wheat malt as key ingredients; however, its new name emphasizes the beer's profile as a refreshing summer ale. Wailua Ale will be available on draught and in stores now through September 2013 and can be sourced easily with Kona's online Beer Finder.

Named after Maui's Wailua Falls, Wailua Ale has a crisp, refreshing taste that complements many summer foods including grilled mahi mahi and Tahitian vanilla ice cream. Wailua Ale has an ABV of 5.4%, an IBU of 15, and is brewed with generous amounts of Millenium hops.

Wailua Ale is the first Aloha Series beer to be bottled in the new packaging. The new 12oz. bottle is embossed with a Hawaiian island chain and "Liquid Aloha" lettering, and has a slimmer overall shape. This makes shipping more efficient and less taxing on the planet. In 2010, the company reduced the weight of Kona bottles by 11%, which translated to 3,375 tons of carbon dioxide being eliminated from the air, and was equivalent to taking 638 cars off the road for a year. Similarly, the new Kona bottle is 5% lighter and will eliminate another 2,718 tons of CO², which is equivalent to taking 514 cars off the road for a year.

"Although the seasons don't change in Hawaii, I've heard many mainland beer drinkers who enjoy a good light summer brew will often set their summer calendars to when they see Wailua Ale on shelves and taps," said Kona president Mattson Davis. "Passion fruit is a staple in our gardens and Hawaiian farmers markets, and we eat it year-round in jams, as an ice cream topping and as a popular shave ice flavor. It was a great day when we discovered passion fruit also worked so well in craft beer, and I am stoked to share this distinct taste of Liquid Aloha with the mainland."

http://konabrewingco.com

Kona Brewing Co.

Kona Brewing Company was started in 1994 by Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa, who had a dream to create fresh, local island brews made with spirit, passion and quality. It is a Hawaii-born and Hawaii-based craft brewery that is headquartered in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island.

Contact: Sally Murdoch, Email, (503)-735-5943

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SOURCE Kona Brewing Company