Maui Big Swell IPA

Today's photo features a beautiful Hawaiian sunset along with a can of the great Big Swell IPA from Maui Brewing Company in Lahaina, Hawaii. This photo was submitted by Steve Gitlin, founder of the New Jersey based homebrew club the Brew World Order (BWO). Steve took this photo while vacationing in Hawaii, so its pretty amazing all around. I've had the opportunity to check out a few of the Maui beers before, and I've enjoyed them quite a bit. This also ends up being a timely post, as they just announced yesterday that they will now be distributing their beers throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.

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Maui Brewing's Innovative Recycling

I just received a package of beer from my friends at Maui Brewing Co., and was geekily excited to find how they decided to ensure it arrived safely: USED MALT BAGS! This made me chuckle quite a bit, till I looked closer and realized that there was even a bit of grain left in the bags. Oh, craft beer world, you never cease to amaze me in the strangest ways.

Look for a review of the brand-new limited Maui Flyin’ HI.P.Hay cans coming soon!

Maui Brewing Co. - Mana Wheat and Big Swell IPA

You gotta love when out-of-market beers show up at your doorstep! I had already reviewed the Bikini Blonde Lager a few weeks ago, but this one's a bit different. Maui's Mana Wheat is a 5.5% ABV Wheat Beer made with pineapple juice. Sounds good already! It pours a very clear yet dark amber with a sizable foamy head that recedes completely after a few seconds and leaves absolutely no lacing. Sniffing it, there's definitely pineapple in there! A little bit of banana/clove and a bit of wheat smell as well. Down the hatch! More body than you'd expect based on its appearance. Definite yet surprising malty presence that's pretty sweet - you can definitely detect the pineapple juice. There isn't much in the way of hops but there's still an earthy aftertaste. Wheat really takes the backseat.



The Mana Wheat is extremely drinkable and would be great for a fall evening for when you want something more flavorful than a lager or pilsner.



Another night I sat down with Maui's more hoppy offering, the Big Swell. This American IPA from beautiful Lahaina, HI comes in a 12oz can and clocks in at a drinkable 6.2%. As you can see above, it pours a bright orange and has an ever-so-slightly cloudy appearance. Take a whiff of this sucker and you get a lot of malty bitterness with slight hints of citrus. Then you taste it and you're hit with pine and citrus followed by some bready and malty notes. Its super smooth and hop oily. This one really packs a punch!

Maui Bikini Blonde Lager

Hawaii. I've never been. Would I like to go? Uh, yeah. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about what the ideal drink to be sipping on its sandy shores is something sweet out of a coconut. That's why its awesomely surprising that there's a good brewery on the the island of Maui. And not only are they a good craft brewery, but they CAN their beers! Which makes it even easier for their good brews to make it long distances without having to worry about being affected by the damaging effects of the sun.

So the beer I'm reviewing here is the Bikini Blonde, of the Lager variety. I cracked it and immediately noticed a foaming presence dying to escape the can. I granted its wish letting it flow into a pint glass. Underneath a nice, creamy head that didn't ever seem to fully relinquish laid a bright, clear, yellow and tasty looking beer. Upon sniffage, I got a mix of slight clove, biscuity/breadyness and just a hint of hops. When it hits the tongue it produces a light yet slightly pilsner taste with a creamy finish. I want to exclaim "fluffy" with this one. It also contains notes of orange peel and there's even a bit of spice to it. This is a great summer beer. I think if I ever make it to Hawaii, I'll be ordering this one at the beach.

Maui Bikini Blonde Lager
Lahaina, HI
Munich Helles Lager
4.5%
12oz (can)