Beer Review: Kona Pipeline Porter

Pipeline Porter from Hawaii's Kona Brewing is a limited release coffee porter made with Hawaii's Kona coffee. It follows in a long line of coffee-brewed stouts and porters, and is probably the best of the style. There is only a light head, which quickly fades to lace. The nose is reminiscent of a well-made mocha, with aromas of rich dark coffee and bitter chocolate, from several different chocolate malts. The chocolate melts away in the taste, replaced by a smooth coffee note with just a hint of dark roasted malt. There is no noticble hops bite, at only 30 IBUs, and none of the acid coffee bite typical of most expresso or coffee beers. In fact, it has no real bite at all. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Pipeline is soft and velvety like the foam on a classic cappucino, with a creamy mouthfeel and a round coffee finish. Since it's a limited, seasonal release, it's definitely worth stocking up on this one.