Big Swell IPA
Maui Brewing Co.

Big Swell presents as a classic IPA with a clean, golden hue. The pour is notable for its generous, frothy head and excellent lacing that persists throughout the session.

While marketed as a tropical IPA featuring citrus-forward hops, the nose is surprisingly understated. It provides a pleasant smell, but lacks the "wow factor" or intensity often expected from this hop profile.

The flavor profile is the highlight of this brew. It delivers a rich, tropical fruitiness that is very well-executed. While a touch more bitterness would be welcome to balance the sweetness likely a result of its hazy leaning profile it remains a highly drinkable and solid representative of the style.

Don't expect to much bitterness, unfortunately

 

 

12 oz can from Total Wine and More in Short Pump, VA The ale poured a clear amber with a white foamy head and ample lacing. The aroma of citrus, pale malts, and hints of pineapple. The flavors is typical of WC IPAs, but just not as bitter. The ale has a medium body with average carbonation. It lacked some pine resin.

Surprised I’ve never tried this in the past. What better time than while on Oahu? Well probably when on Maui. 19.2oz can. Pretty standard dank WC IPA. Finished a bit cloying and overly resinous. Can’t tell if it’s old bc there’s no canning date but bought from a small roadside store so it could be old. Solid tropical fruit character. Not bad.

Overly frothy pours emptied entirely the contents of two twelve ounce cans into a clear glass liter mug. The foam is basically stark white and it rests on top of a lightly colored copper-amber liquid that's quite translucent. At least there is a mild aroma of piney hops in the air, or this could easily be overlooked as being a commercial lager. It drinks lightly, but not to a fault and there is a slight hoppy presence. There's enough malt in the mix to provide a decent body and enough earthy counterbalance to the hops to make this a pleasant experience. The finish is clean, relatively wet and doesn't transition to bitter, like a good IPA should. Unfortunately, it's modest at both flavor points. The excessive foam didn't result in something that was overly carbonated, so this goes down nicely. The glass lacing isn't impressive, but at least some is there. The ABV is remarkably included into the overall taste, probably its standout feature. This is a nice, yet unremarkable IPA. Serious IPA lovers will believe it comes up short, but beer drinkers in general should have no problem with this.

 

 

From the small can, it pours a clear golden amber color with a modest, though long lasting, white head that leaves lacing. The nose gets big scents of citrus, pineapple and possibly a bit of banana, The mouth gets a bite of citrusy hops, followed by a medium mouth-feel malty brew with a mild aftertaste.

 

 

 

RB transfer

 

Cloudy, murky, yellow gold with a vigorous central upstream, beneath a dome of sudsy whiteish head. Bona fide lacing and a definite Hop nose is present. Initial draw takes with it a coating of hop resins on the tongue - so noticeable, as to be expected. Flavor is a combo of hop veggie meets pineapple, meets the tropics. Mouthfeel is through the lens of an IPA, mid range. Decent warming off of the 6.8% and includes a carbonated release. The sticky lacing adds serious appeal in the glass. Good brew Maui! Dry finish.

Copper colored with a light haziness. Moderate, soapy lacing. There’s a half inch of off white on top. The aroma is of citrus and mandarin oranges. I’m tasting citrus and lime. The mouth is lightly sticky and dry.

 

Another offering out of their variety 12-pack, this one their IPA. Not as fruity as you would expect bit it does have the haziness you would expect. The mouthfeel has an interesting bite, otherwise, a a solid one.