Kona Variety 12Pk

Kona Variety 12Pk is a mixed 12-pack from Kona Brewing Company featuring four Hawaiian-brewed beers ranging from 4.0% to 4.6% ABV. The lineup includes Big Wave Golden Ale — a first-place winner in the Golden Ale category at the Great International Beer & Cider Competition — alongside Longboard Island Lager, Kona Light Blonde Ale, and Mai Time Light Tropical Wheat.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.0%–4.6% (varies by style)  |  Origin: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii  |  Style: Mixed Variety Pack  |  Brewery: Kona Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Kona Brewing Company is headquartered in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island and is currently owned by PV Brewing Partners, which acquired the brand in September 2020. All recipes and beer specifications are dictated by Kona's brewmaster, utilizing proprietary yeast strains along with specific hops and malt selections. A notable production detail: water mineral levels at each brewing facility are adjusted to replicate the mineral profile of fresh Hawaiian water, first treating for impurities and then adding minerals to match the island source. Longboard Island Lager, for example, uses Pale 2 Row Premium and Caramel 20 malts to achieve its clean lager character.

Tasting Notes

Big Wave Golden Ale (4.4% ABV): A light golden ale with a delicate hop aroma carrying grapefruit and tangerine notes. The palate reveals a biscuit-like malt character with hints of honey and caramel, backed by subtle tropical fruit and pineapple. The finish is clean and refreshing with lingering citrus.

Longboard Island Lager (4.6% ABV): A classic, malt-forward lager with a slightly nutty attack on the nose. The palate is smooth and balanced, with sustained sipping revealing gentle lemon notes. The finish is crisp, dry, and sessionable.

Kona Light Blonde Ale (4.2% ABV): A light-bodied blonde ale brewed for easy refreshment. The profile is clean and straightforward, designed to pair well with lighter fare. Kona Light earned a Gold Medal in the Munich-Style Helles category at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival and a Silver Medal at the 2013 Great International Beer and Cider Competition.

Mai Time Light Tropical Wheat (4.0% ABV): The lightest beer in the pack at 4.0% ABV, Mai Time is a tropical wheat ale that leans into fruit-forward, island-inspired character with a soft wheat body.

How to Drink the Kona Variety Pack

Each beer in this pack is built for straightforward enjoyment — poured cold into a pint glass or sipped directly from the can or bottle. Big Wave and Mai Time drink best at 38–42°F to let the tropical notes shine, while Longboard benefits from a few degrees warmer to bring out the malt complexity. Big Wave makes a solid base for a Michelada, where its citrus hop character complements lime and hot sauce. Longboard works well in a Beer Margarita (Beergarita), as its clean lager profile blends seamlessly with tequila and lime. Kona Light pairs naturally with a Shandy, mixed half-and-half with fresh lemonade for a low-ABV afternoon drink.

Best For

• Stocking a cooler for a backyard barbecue or beach gathering
• Sampling multiple Hawaiian-brewed styles without committing to a full six-pack of each
• Gifting to a craft beer drinker who enjoys sessionable, tropical-leaning styles
• Pairing across a multi-course meal of grilled seafood and lighter fare

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Kona Variety Pack taste like? The pack spans a range from the citrus-forward, honey-tinged Big Wave Golden Ale to the clean, malt-driven Longboard Island Lager, with the lighter Kona Light Blonde Ale and tropical Mai Time Wheat rounding out the selection. All four beers share a refreshing, easy-drinking character with subtle tropical and malt nuances.

How does the Kona Variety Pack compare to the Corona Variety Pack? The Kona pack leans more toward craft-style ales and lagers with distinct flavor differentiation between each beer, while Corona's variety pack centers on lighter Mexican-style lagers. Longboard Island Lager occupies similar territory to a Dos Equis in terms of clean lager style, but Big Wave and Mai Time introduce more hop and tropical fruit character than most Corona offerings.

Is the Kona Variety Pack good for casual gatherings? Yes — with ABVs between 4.0% and 4.6%, all four beers are sessionable and crowd-friendly, making them well-suited for extended outdoor events. The range of styles also means there is something for both lager drinkers and ale fans.

Where is the Kona Variety Pack made? Kona Brewing Company is headquartered in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island, and all recipes are developed by the Kona brewmaster using water mineral-adjusted to replicate Hawaiian source water.

What foods pair well with the Kona Variety Pack? Big Wave pairs well with grilled mahi-mahi or fish tacos, where its citrus character complements the char and lime. Longboard stands up to burgers and pulled pork with its malt backbone. Kona Light is a natural match for grilled shrimp, poke bowls, and green salads. Mai Time works alongside lighter fruit-based desserts or ceviche.

What sizes does the Kona Variety Pack come in? The standard format is a 12-pack of 12 oz cans or bottles, with three of each style included.

Is the Kona Variety Pack worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft variety pack, offering four distinct Hawaiian-brewed styles at a per-unit cost competitive with other craft 12-packs. The inclusion of award-winning Big Wave and Kona Light adds genuine quality to the mix.

Why Kona Variety Pack?

This 12-pack is anchored by two award-winning beers: Big Wave Golden Ale, a first-place finisher at the Great International Beer & Cider Competition, and Kona Light, a Gold Medal winner at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival. The mineral-adjusted water process — designed to replicate Hawaiian water chemistry regardless of brewing location — gives the entire lineup a consistent, clean foundation that sets it apart from mainland craft variety packs. For drinkers who want approachable, sessionable beers with genuine tropical character and Hawaiian brewing heritage, this pack delivers variety without sacrificing quality across any of the four styles.