Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

Brewed by Maui Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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The beer pours with a frothy, three finger thick, pale tan tinged, off-white colored head that leaves some spotty, layered lacing on the sides of my New Belgium globe glass. The beer is a red stained copper color that shows a brilliantly clear, slightly orange tinged, pale copper hue when held up to the light. The beer has more of a dank herbal character in the aroma than the Hi.P.Hay had, this is backed by a bright, Curacoa orange zest character. There is a dusty, dried malt and dried hay like note here as well, though this plays a purely supporting role and there is also a suggestion of golden-toasted crackers. The herbal hop aromatics almost have a peppery note to them at time and while the citrus / fruit character is the dominant note here, it isn’t quite as juicy and ripe as in the Hi.P.Hay. Still this is a very nice aroma, it is actually a bit more balanced than the Hi.P.Hay, but I find that I like it just a smidgeon less.

Big citrus fruit flavors dominate the flavor profile, these are backed by a solid, though not aggressive bitterness, a peppery, dry, somehow dusty herbal character that is a mix of menthol, pine, and “hemp” oil as well as just a hint of garlic chive; this last note is quite subdued and adds to the complexity rather than detracts as this type of note can often do. The beer has a fairly light body, though there is clearly enough malt body to accentuated the hop fruitiness; I wouldn’t say this is on the dry side for an IPA, but it certainly attains the easy / dangerous quaffability that a good IPA should have. The finish really dries out substantially from the bitterness, a biting pine needle flavor as well as a woody, spicy black pepper like note; all of these make you feel like taking another sip so that the touch of sweet malt and big hop fruit character has a chance to coat the palate again.

As the beer warms up it picks up even more fruitiness in the flavor, but this is still balanced by the drier, herbal / bitter character that defines the finish of this beer. This is a very nice IPA, I have been impressed by both IPAs from Maui, but I think I prefer this one for its slightly more complex approach and less focus on crystal malt.

The body is mostly clear yellow with a very tall, creamy white head. Aroma of earthy pine forest and sweet malt. Some sweet floral notes. Well balanced flavor that plays back and forth between the malt sweetness and the hop bitterness. Lightly bitter finish.

12oz can (great artwork!). Pours bright amber/orange with thick white head - decent lacing. Aroma is full of pine resin, citrus, orange peel, and earthy, spicy hop notes, slightly sweet caramel malt. Taste is impeccably balanced for an IPA, the earthy, pine, and tangy citrus hop notes (grapefruit and orange especially) are counteracted brilliantly by the thick caramel malt backbone. Perfect degree of carbonation adds to a full mouthfeel, lasting resiny tongue-coating hop bitterness makes for a lasting and satisfying aftertaste. Can imagine having a couple of these on a Hawaiian beach would be paradise.

355ml can. Poured golden orange with ample, sticky, tan-ish head. Somewhat hazy with a little sediment. Mild aroma with floral and grapefruit citrus hops. Taste is grapefruit hops, malt and some toasted grain, some earthy on the back of the mouth. Finish is very dry. Overall, a very solid IPA.

Can of course. Aroma is nice, get a decent amount of hops, some pine and citrus. The taste is mild, refreshing for sure. Hits you the most in the end with big hops and bitterness which I didn't really care for but is what they were going for so they nailed it. With so many ipas these days I wouldn't go out of my way to get again. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Nice hoppiness... Not crazy over the top hoppiesess, but just enough to make you go "ooo, that's good" ---Posted via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Can. Pours hazy gold with thick, frothy white head; good retention and some lacing. Aroma is oranges, lemons, grassy and floral hops, caramel and toasted malt, and light pine. Flavor is hops forward (medium bitterness) with supporting malt and faint fruit esters; dry finish. Medium body, carbonation, and warmth.

Bottle. Hazy golden beer with a strong but soon disappearing head. The aroma is solidly hopped, and the flavour is very well hopped with a long dry finish. Overall a very nice hopped beer. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Can. Golden color with medium-sized white head. Fruity hoppy aroma with citrus, pine and malt. Flavor is sweetish malt, pine, citrus and bitterness. Medium-bodied, slightly bitter finish.

Pours a cloudy copperish orange. Nice off white soapy head. Aromas of malt, floral, citrus, piney, grapefruit and a touch of spicy hops. More malt then anything though, really. Initial flavor is malty, sweet with a nice bitter backbone. Slight grapefruit flavor, a smooth pine flavor, a touch of lemon zest and a lot of malt flavor. There just seems to be too much malt in this brew. Mouthfeel is sticky and oily. Overall this is an ok IPA, I mean its worth a try if you’re bored.

Originally reviewed: 10/26/10. Can poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark orange with a thick bone-white head on top. Excellent retention; leaves some sticky globs of lace behind. The nose is underwhelming to say the least. Light citrus tones waft out, but nothing is standing out. Not as hoppy as I’d like. Good smooth mouthfeel with a crisp finish. Carbonation level is good. I’ve noticed sometimes that beer poured from a can loses some depth in the mouth, but not this one. Retains a nice firm feel. Great bitter hops right off the bat. A sweet kick in the middle with mango and orange flavors. Finish is slightly bittering as well. The flavors don’t take a back seat to the bitterness though, great citrusy sweetness that I really dig. I’m glad I got a sixer of this. Great beer.