The first time I had this beer was at my fiancee's family Christmas gathering last year. One of her uncles brought a variety pack of adult beverages to share, and there were a lot of beers in it that I'd never tried. After debating between a few, Pipeline Porter won out. I grabbed one from the cooler, headed back to the den, sat down, and popped the cap. I was immediately smitten.

Since that first taste, I've been on the hunt for the beer. I spent all year looking for it but never once saw it. For some time, I actually thought I'd made it up. I found other Kona brews in stores (I once bought some Longboad Lager, thinking that was the beer I had) but that mystical Christmas beer always eluded me. Until recently, that is, when Kona posted on Facebook that Pipeline was headed back to stores. I ran out and bought some, and here I am today.