Maui Brew News

Mana Wheat, Truly Magical!
Truly Local, Truly No Ka Oi (Lahaina, Maui, HI) - Maui Brewing Co.

(MBC) is proud to announce a Silver Medal win for their Mana Wheat in the Beverage Tasting Institute's World Beer Championship, Flavored Wheat Beer Category. The tasting was held in Chicago on June 10th; winners were recently announced. Garrett Marrero describes this beer as "an unfiltered freshly handcrafted American-style wheat ale infused with Maui Gold Pineapple. Our crisp and refreshing wheat ale is lightly hopped to allow the fruity sweetness of the pineapple to shine. The yeast stays in suspension making the ale traditionally cloudy."

The BTI judges' notes describe this beer as "Opaque cloudy orange color with a wispy head. Aromas of honeycomb and guava follow through on a round entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body with tangy citrus peel, metal ore, and shredded wheat notes. Finishes with a crisp tangy fade." Under the direction of Jerald O'Kennard, a panel of experienced, professional guest tasters (retailers, restaurateurs, or prominent writers that are especially knowledgeable about the beverage category being reviewed) judge the beverages. The Beverage Testing Institute uses a dedicated tasting lab in Chicago which was specially designed to minimize external factors and maximize the panelists' concentration. Tasting is conducted at the same time of day practically every weekday morning, under the same ideal conditions.

Maui Brewing Co. is the only brewer and canner of craft beer in Hawaii as 100% of the beers are brewed and canned on Maui. Additionally, MBC microbrews are officially Hawaii's #1 craft beer. With a strong commitment to the local economy, and deep concern for the environment, MBC microbrews are packaged with the most eco-friendly materials. Although cans and bottles are both recyclable, bottles still break and may pose a risk at beaches. The cans are manufactured on Oahu, designed by local Maui artists and have the added bonus of protecting the beer in the best possible manner - from both light and oxygen damage which can seriously compromise the taste. Plastic rings are dangerous to marine life and therefore, a unique, recyclable plastic carrying device is used to hold the products. The spent grain from beer production is donated to local ranchers for cattle feed and composting; and any cans damaged in production are donated to the Maui Humane Society. MBC also purchased equipment from Maui Land & Pineapple to preserve a piece of Hawaii's canning history.

Founder Garrett Marrero and his wife, Melanie, run a 7-barrel brewpub at the Kahana location as well as the 25-barrel full production brewery and canning facility in Lahaina. Maui Brewing Co. is a truly local beer as 100% of their products are made in Hawaii as opposed to other "Hawaiian" beers.