Beer Review: Rivertowne Hala Kahiki Pineapple

Serving Type: Bottle

ABV: 4.8 percent

Appearance: This brew poured a very foggy straw fold. By foggy, I mean almost opaque! It was crowned with a bright white head that was merely a thin layer of foam at the start and continued as such throughout the drink. Still, some decent web-like lacing was left on the inside of the glass as it was gradually consumed. I think the fogginess of this prevented me from seeing any carbonation. What I did see was some pineapple sediment floating around. I also noticed some of it in the bottom of the can.

Smell: Very, very sweet and malty. The pineapple aroma is pretty intense as well as sweet. A little bit grassy.

Taste: The pineapple and grassy flavors complimented each other nicely on the front. The pineapple stayed with me mid-way back and mixed with the sweet malt for an intense sugar rush. I caught just a tad of hop bitterness on the finish. This was more sweet than balanced.

Overall Rating: 

This was very hazy, but I don't think it'd look the same if there was anything transparent about this brew. I didn't enjoy the sediment, but I had to remind myself that it was pineapple in a beer made with pineapple. If you enjoy pineapple you might love this. Still, this sometimes gets a bit too sweet and malty for me. It even gets a little intense. It's a great beer, but I find that I have to be in the mood for the sweetness. Maybe a little more balanced? With all of that said, I love that this beer is a part of our local offering here in Pittsburgh.

All's Common in the Commonwealth

In the quietest way ever, I've accumulated plenty of beer brewed within Pennsylvania's state lines. Cases of Rivertowne Babbling Blonde, Hala Kahiki Pineapple and RT Lager are currently being worked on. I still have half a case of Troegs Sunshine Pils hanging around as well.

This all has led me to one conclusion when I take into account my big-time birthday trip next weekend. As work ends on Thursday night next week a Pennsylvania beer only weekend shall commence.

Or at least that's how I'm planning it as of now. It's certainly not out of the question to visit the Blue Dust coolers and create my own Pennsylvania six pack. Maybe grab some Full Pint, Troegs, Stoudt's or Voodoo? I'd love to get a hold of another bottle of Wynona's Big Brown Ale as well as some White Lightning.

This is all in order to celebrate one of this state's (rather Commonwealth's) greatest and most important historic events as I try to do annually by trudging through woods, creeks, high grass and over rocks to study topography and troop movements. There's even more Pennsylvania beer where I'm going. Some I've had and look to rekindle with. Others are a source untapped. More on that next week.

Only in Pennsylvania.

Flowing Locally

I'm sure that many of us that live here in the Pittsburgh area are proud of the local breweries that offer some outstanding stuff on the market. I'm certainly not the most accomplished in terms of trying as many beers as I can, but there are a few beers that are brewed locally that I always find myself coming back to. It's kind of like that first love of your life. Alright, maybe I'm exaggerating. We still have some great stuff to drink around here. Here are the two I enjoy the most.

East End Monkey Boy

Whenever I get to a Pittsburgh bar, this is one of the first beer's I look for on a tap list. If I see it, I almost always grab a pint of it. Recently, I've started frequenting the new East End Brewing Company digs in Larimer to grab a growler or two of it. Unfortunately, you won't find cases or six packs of this beer. So, keep on the lookout in bars. You can also get the aforementioned growlers at the brewery location and at its growler shop in the Strip.

This is an awesome hefeweizen that's a hazy gold with a  foamy white head. It's nice and spicy and tastes like banana. It also has a very sessionable ABV at 4.8 percent. According to its brewer, this beer doesn't actually have banana in it. That just adds to the luster of this beer. Not only is this my favorite beer brewed in Pittsburgh, it's one of my all-time favorites.

Rivertowne Hala Kahiki Pineapple 

I keep telling you that I really enjoy fruit beers. Pineapple is an unlikely fruit that's used in beer. At least I haven't come across many that use pineapple. This beer also has an ABV of 4.8 percent and goes down nice and smooth.

This beer is somewhat spicy, but it its own unique way. There's a decent hop presence too. Oh and the fruitiness of the pineapple is fantastic. Rivertowne recently just started canning this beer. So, it's very accessible. I'm glad I got myself a case.

There are many more where these came from. We can't forget about other beers such as Rumplepilsen and White Lightning (which recently won a GABF award) from Full Pint as well as Pious Monk Dunkel from Church Brew Works.