Kona Brewing basically bottled Hawaiian holiday energy and turned it into beer.

Started on the Big Island in the 1990s, the brewery became hugely popular through easy-drinking tropical-leaning beers that feel designed specifically for sunshine, grilled food and complete refusal to answer emails for several days.

Big Wave Golden Ale is the one most people know. Light malt, citrus, gentle tropical fruit and barely any bitterness. The sort of beer that disappears incredibly fast when cold. Longboard Lager follows a similar route. Crisp, smooth and very much built for beach drinking rather than beer geek analysis.

What’s interesting is that Kona managed to become globally massive without completely losing the relaxed island personality behind the brand. The beers stay approachable and unfussy instead of trying to chase every craft beer trend going.

There’s definitely a lifestyle element attached to the brewery, but thankfully it doesn’t feel too forced. Surf culture, beaches and Hawaiian imagery make sense when the brewery actually comes from Hawaii instead of a marketing meeting in an office park somewhere.

Not every beer needs to be a complex spiritual experience. Sometimes you just want something cold and refreshing while pretending you live somewhere significantly warmer.