Big Swell IPA - Maui Brewing Co.

devilben02

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Maui's IPA pours with a hazy, golden, medium-yellow color and a foamy white head, making it look similar to (albeit a bit darker than) the brewery's lager. The similarity stops there, though, with the aroma being packed with a fresh and bold combination of floral and earthy hops. It honestly smells like slicing open a vacuum bag full of hop pellets for a new batch of home brew. The flavor is similarly bursting with a dominant and bold hop bitterness with very little sweetness to balance. The texture is resinous and tongue-coating, letting the hoppy bitterness linger for a few moments. Unfortunately, although the hops are bold and distinct, it comes across as a bit one-dimensional.

I almost expected this to have more pineapple and tropical fruit hop characteristics or even some local botanicals like red ginger or hibiscus, maybe because those kinds of things would have been the obvious gimmicks from a brewery based in Maui. As I noted, though, the hop profile is more woodsy than tropical, and I respect that they didn't give in to gimmicks and chose to make a solid, straight-up IPA instead. In the end, though, I might have preferred the gimmicks to make this one more memorable.

Serving type: can

10-14-2010 20:16:41 | More by devilben02

e30todamax

Virginia

4/5  rDev +5%

06-18-2013 23:52:13 | More by e30todamax

PJTool

Hawaii

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

06-18-2013 09:06:27 | More by PJTool

scomstock55

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%

06-18-2013 04:44:31 | More by scomstock55

Moose90

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned 030413
Tasted 061713

A – Pours a somewhat hazy light orange color with a good sized fizzy white head. Fades quickly but leaves a nice thin coating and laces down the inside of the glass.

S – Lots of pineapple on this one, some mango as well, not very citrusy, get more tropical fruit notes, papaya as well. A little bit of pine is present. Nicely sweet.

T – More citrus comes through on this front, some grapefruit notes mostly. Nicely bitter overall, leaves you wanting to come back for more. Nice sweet notes of pineapple and light caramel malts.

M – Perfectly medium bodied with a finish that is astringent yet nice.

O – Not bad at all, nicely balanced, simple and approachable. The flavors here are great, and this tends towards the juicier side of the IPA spectrum. Very nice.

Serving type: can

06-17-2013 21:47:06 | More by Moose90

delta490

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- clear light gold. No head retention. A little lacing.
S- earthy.
T-similar to aroma. Earthy with subtle pine and malt. Tasted better than I thought it would.
M- easy drinker. Thinner but not bad with its flavor.
O- well above average with an interesting taste profile

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2013 11:43:18 | More by delta490

Lagerquestrian

Texas

4/5  rDev +5%

06-17-2013 00:10:41 | More by Lagerquestrian

ckollias

Maryland

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Enjoyed this 12oz can out of a craft beer glass.

A: Pours a light orange-copper hue with a thick, white, 2-finger head that slowly dissipates, leaving a great trail, and solid persistent lace.

S: Hoppy aroma with a citrus background.

T: Extremely bitter and hoppy flavor - touch of citrus and malt – finishes on the bitter side.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Solid IPA – nice and hoppy.

Serving type: can

06-16-2013 04:28:03 | More by ckollias

djre4orm

Virginia

3/5  rDev -21.3%

06-13-2013 20:04:35 | More by djre4orm

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

06-09-2013 20:10:17 | More by liamt07

snohojimbo

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

06-08-2013 00:04:11 | More by snohojimbo

dmorgan310

Panama

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

06-06-2013 04:06:01 | More by dmorgan310

Amp

Oklahoma

5/5  rDev +31.2%

06-04-2013 01:33:27 | More by Amp

sansho

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-31-2013 04:12:33 | More by sansho

dannydetox

California

2.96/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

revisited this beer today, and my opinion hasn't changed. from the can into the glass, the beer poured a hazy, pale amber with a frothy white head. significant lacing remained on the sides of the glass after each sip. aromas are faint, to say the least; vague pine and floral notes with a background of some malts. on the palate the big swell greats with noticeable sweet chocolate malt and something fruity. bittering hops make a subtle appearance at the finish, but this bear is barely an ipa to me. drinks and tastes like a pale ale, and the 50-something ibu seems generous. while not unpleasant, this offering disappoints for the style, and is less representative of American ipa brewing.

Serving type: can

05-30-2013 02:04:24 | More by dannydetox

carrollmel7

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-27-2013 00:20:27 | More by carrollmel7

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

05-26-2013 19:14:56 | More by mikeincharleston

July2Nov

Hawaii

4/5  rDev +5%

05-20-2013 03:37:04 | More by July2Nov

hilgart1

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%

05-19-2013 02:32:00 | More by hilgart1

Syracuse12

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%

05-16-2013 06:26:27 | More by Syracuse12

jaystooge

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +24.7%

05-11-2013 18:45:39 | More by jaystooge

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5%

05-08-2013 22:43:37 | More by megamass

leftoverburrito

Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -34.4%

05-08-2013 03:42:43 | More by leftoverburrito

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

05-04-2013 23:38:58 | More by Kelp

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

3.91/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy orange color. Big white head with good retention and lacing. Very nice aroma of citrus and piney hops along with some caramel sweetness. Flavor is similarly well-balanced. The caramel malt is a little more noticeable, but really enhances rather than detracts from the hoppiness of the beer. Medium-full bodied and a touch undercarbonated for my taste, but a really very good beer.

Serving type: can

04-30-2013 21:14:40 | More by BeerRefugee