Maui Brew News

**I so want Maui in Florida!! Congratulations!!**

Maui Brewing Co. Honored

Maui Brewing Co. (MBC) is proud to announce twelve recent honors. What a great start for "beer festival season" and testament that MBC continues to be Hawaii's #1 craft beer producer. At the 4th annual San Diego International Beer Competition, MBC won two medals: CoCoNut PorTer won a silver in the Spice/Herb/Vegetable category and Father Damien Abbey Ale took another award ... this time a bronze in the Belgian Strong Ale category. This year, the San Diego International Beer Festival will be held in Del Mar June 25 through June 27, 2010. This competition is "an opportunity for craft brewers to gain recognition for their skillfully crafted products in addition to exposing the public to this agriculturally and economically important craft product."

Abroad, in Melbourne, Australia, MBC received three medals at the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA). Silver medals were awarded to Big Swell IPA (in the American-style Pale Ale category) and to Bikini Blonde Lager (in the European-style category. CoCoNut PorTer was honored with a bronze medal in the Herb & Spice category. Internationally the AIBA is recognized as a barometer of diversity in beer brewing across the world and is the largest showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific Region. The AIBA has also been instrumental in helping to promote the Australian brewing and brewing-related industries internationally.

On June 5th, MBC was awarded three NABA medals. The North American Beer Awards is a unique event sanctioned by the North American Brewers Association. This competition, now in its 14th year, provides an opportunity for American beers to be judged against the best beers in the world. Maui Brewing Co.'s Father Damien Abbey Ale won a gold medal in category 19D, Belgian Dark Strong Ale; Big Swell IPA won a silver medal in category 6D, American Strong Pale Ale; and SmokeStack Lager won a bronze medal in category 18A/B, All Smoke Flavored Beers.

Four medals were awarded to MBC at the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition in the following categories: Herb & Spice Beer (a gold to CoCoNut PorTer); Smoke Flavored Beer (a gold to Smoke Stack Lager); Specialty Honey Lager or Ale (a silver to Hula Honey); and Belgian-Style Abbey Ale (a bronze to Father Damien Abbey Ale).

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, Maui Brewing Co. 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 and designed by local Maui artists and have the added bonus of protecting the beer in the best possible manner, protecting our beers 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 their 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 purchased equipment from Maui Land & Pineapple, preserving 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.