(Kailua-Kona, HI)Kona Brewing Company once again brings a taste of paradise to craft beer drinkers from Hawaii to the eastern shores of the mainland with Wailua Wheat, available now through September, 2012. Now in its fifth year of production, Wailua Wheat is brewed with real passion fruit puree as the key tropical ingredient in this Aloha Series craft beer.

Named after Maui’s Wailua Falls, Wailua Wheat has a crisp, refreshing taste that complements summer foods including grilled mahi mahi, barbecue pork ribs, salads and Tahitian vanilla ice cream. Wailua Wheat won the gold medal in the Fruit Beer category at last year’s US Open Beer Championships, as well as at Best of the Northwest/Pacific US Beer Tasting Championships in both 2004 and 2002. Wailua Wheat has an ABV of 5.4%, an IBU of 15, and is brewed with generous amounts of Hallertau hops.

“Wailua Wheat’s light flavor has won over fans across the mainland who enjoy a good light summer brew,” said Kona president Mattson Davis. “The passion fruit really brings home the taste of Hawaii that first hooks visitors to our island pubs where we serve it on draught year-round.”

Wailua Wheat can be found in stores and on draught by using Kona Brewing’s online beerfinder.

About Kona Brewing:

Kona Brewing Company was started in the spring of 1994 by father and son team 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 prides itself on brewing the freshest beer of exceptional quality, closest to market. This helps to minimize its carbon footprint by reducing shipping of raw materials, finished beer and wasteful packaging materials. The brewery is headquartered where it began, in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. It has grown into Hawaii’s largest brewery, has three restaurant sites in Hawaii and beer distribution reaching 31 states and Japan. It is the 13th largest craft brewery in the country. For more information call 808-334-BREW or www.KonaBrewingCo.com.