Bikini Blonde Lager - Maui Brewing Co.

kojevergas

California

2.4/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12 fl oz /355 ml aluminum can with a comfortably grippable top served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are below average given the style.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food. Consumed on a full stomach.

A: Pours a one finger white colour head without hardly any cream, of poor thickness, and average retention. Body colour is a predictable clear light copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. A mundane appearance; somewhat dull.

Sm: Clean malts, stale orange peel, rice, stale barley, and hints of creamed wheat. A mild strength aroma, and not a particularly appealing one.

T: Clean malts, rice, stale orange peel, stale cream, hints of wheat, and stale barley. Light hopping contributes light vague citrus. A poorly constructed simple brew with some redeeming citrus character. Badly balanced and built. Not at all complex or subtle. No yeast or alcohol comes through. Boring and bland.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some tingly crystal malt coarseness. Adequately carbonated. Too thick for the lack of body and flavour.

Dr: Drinkable but bleh. A very underwhelming offering from Maui brewing. Certainly the worst brew from them I've yet tried. I won't be getting this again. It hides its mere average ABV pretty well, but that's not much of an accomplishment.

D+

Serving type: can

06-18-2012 04:00:28 | More by kojevergas

snaotheus

Washington

2.58/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz can poured into a little hotel glass

Pours bright yellow with a little beige head. Smells a little of straw and a little of lemon.

Taste is pretty boring, watery, slightly sour, more of the lemon than the straw.

Mouthfeel is light and effervescent. Drinkable, but not exciting.

Serving type: can

10-12-2009 03:09:15 | More by snaotheus

elNopalero

Texas

2.63/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

From Hawaii. So: long distance for distribution, balanced by environmentally-friendly recyclable packaging? I’m not sure the balance is worth it in this case

This looks like a yellow fizzy beer. Very foamy. Low, barely detectable aroma and not a whole lot of flavor either. There is a honey-sweet taste to it, and a sweet finish, but not a whole lot else going on here. Wasn’t horrible but not terribly exciting. I certainly don’t picture myself sitting on a warm, sunny beach and wanting to drink one of these.

Serving type: can

12-11-2011 01:09:57 | More by elNopalero

ehammond1

California

2.9/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Can (2012)

Texas Liquor
Carlsbad, CA

Clear golden with a moderately sized off-white head. Leaves dots of lace down the glass. Appropriate.

Toasted, biscuit, sweet malt, some grass, and mild citrus combine for a pleasant, though unexciting, aroma.

The flavor falls short of the aroma, with the usual bready malt and slight sweetness and grass combining, though unfortunately, there's a very off butter like taste, especially as the beer warms.

Medium bodied with high carbonation.

Good enough at cold temperatures, but this fails considerably more upon warming. I don't need to revisit this one.

Serving type: can

09-19-2012 21:47:25 | More by ehammond1

inlimbo77

Delaware

2.93/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz, 9/7/11 (almost a year old)
Sam Adams perfect pint

A: Pours a crystal clear BMC yellow color. Still good carbonation. Finger of fluffy white head. Lacing is there.

S: Obviously the age might have knocked this down a bit. The hops have really died out. Getting lots of bready malt character.

T: Tip of the tongue, maybe a touch of hop bite still. It's very faint. Then its all bready and biscuity malt flavor. It's kind of blah at this point. Finish is clean and crisp and flat.

M: Light bodied. Bland and flat.

O: C+

Serving type: can

08-24-2012 14:02:04 | More by inlimbo77

rickyleepotts

Arizona

3.03/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I didn’t have this when I was in Hawaii, but we did have the CoCoNut Porter. That beer, which is one of the best porters on the planet, is still one of my favorites. I know Sheryl LOVES that beer. Maybe it was because it was one of the first beers we had on the island… but it still stacks up to anything on the market today. I haven’t had this offering. I wasn’t impressed with their IPA, so I hope their Helles lager is better. I find it interesting that they only can. At the same time, a lot of breweries are going to cans. It’s cheaper, faster, and the beer tends to taste better. We shall see with the Bikini Blonde Lager. Bottoms up, people!

In the Glass: It is pretty boring in the glass. It is light, gold, and looks like a regular domestic beer. I know it’s not… and while it is still made in the United States, is not considered a domestic beer. But it looks pretty boring in the glass. It looks like something I would typically chug.

Nose: It has a typical blonde/light lager aroma to it. Nothing to write home about, but something semi-sweet that makes me want to see what this beer tastes like. I like the design on the can, too. I mean… it’s called Bikini Blonde Lager. There is a bikini blonde on the can. It’s only fitting!

Flavor: The flavor is pretty basic. It’s not overwhelming, and with such a low ABV, is totally something I could see pounding during a football game or on the golf course. I can see why people on the island like this beer. It’s a good, easy drinking beer to have while outside, on the beach, in the hot summer nights.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is thick, somewhat creamy, and provides you with the type of mouthfeel you expect from a craft beer. Having had their porter, this doesn’t even come close. So I might be a little biased. But this is still a solid beer for someone that doesn’t already drink craft beer, or someone that isn’t into thick, dark beers.

Aftertaste: There isn’t much of an aftertaste. What is there is a lingering dryness that keeps me going back for more. Imagine chugging a pint of Coors Light. That aftertaste… only a little bit sweeter and somewhat dry. Again, nothing to write home about.

This beer isn’t something I would order on a regular basis. I also don’t live in Hawaii. I wonder what the locals think of this beer… I am sure it’s popular with the surfer dudes! I like it, but it’s not great. Not their best offering, but something I am glad I got the chance to try.

Bikini Blonde Lager – “The can says: “Cans eliminate light damage and recede the risk of oxidation, keeping that craft brew fresher than in bottles!

“Cans are lighter, chill quicker, and can be enjoyed on beaches and in sensitive environments. Aluminum is the most recycled and more eco-friendly material.

“Bikini Blonde is a fresh handcrafted Helles lager brewed with the finest German hops and barley, not skimpy on flavor… bold, smooth, and refreshing.”

Serving type: can

11-08-2012 05:49:41 | More by rickyleepotts

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I was feeling CANtankerous during my visit to San Diego, so I spent some time (and money) seeking out CANs. I know that my reviews of Maui beers are in last year's notebooks, but they are being transcribed and this was the here and now.

A finger's worth of rocky, bone-whiote head with low retention. Color was a pale lemon-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose was pretty light and generic, more akin to a lot of the substandard CANned beers thst I have been drinking lately. Mouthfeel was light-to-medium, not unheard of, but not terribly compelling, either. The taste was very light and ephemeral. The same way with the finish. In a blind taste test with any corporate made Light (Lite) beer, I might be hard-pressed to tell the difference. My apologies, but when I can get so many really well-made lagers in PA, I find it difficult to pay for a so-so one from our 50th state and at the price that it takes to have it brought to the mainland. Mahalo all the same.

Beach: Sure, as long as I am vacationing in Hawaii. Don't pay premium prices to haul it to a mainland beach. My .02

Serving type: can

07-27-2009 04:02:49 | More by woodychandler

CWiggins

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This was delivered to me by a dear friend who just returned from a terrific visit to Kauai. It pours a bright, translucent yellow, with a one-inch foamy head that dissipated very soon into a lean surface covering. Smells of citrus and light malts are certainly noticeable with a good sniff. Also, a nice floral presence is discernible. The aroma is delightful and seems to predict a particular taste. The flavor is light, with a bit of sweet malts on the front, followed by a dry and biscuity finish. Hops aren't on top here; there is an emphasis on balance with this one. Not much of a lingering aftertaste. Easy to drink, and best served cold.

Serving type: can

08-20-2008 01:37:17 | More by CWiggins

Zorro

California

3.18/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Slightly chill hazed sunny yellow colored beer with a decent white head.

Smell is grassy with a little toasted grain aroma. Herbal hops with a faintly spicy edge, really more herbal though.

Taste starts out sweet for a lager with a good grassy Nobel hop flavor, low level of bitterness. Faint vanilla flavor for some reason.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Drinkability is completely subject to how much you like sweet lagers; I personally don't think this is all that great.

Serving type: can

10-12-2008 04:04:51 | More by Zorro

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.18/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Can. Pours a cloudy yellow with a thick white head. Aroma is fairly nondescript, just some wheat malt. Flavor of sweet wheat malt, slight bitter hops in the finish. Fairly carbonated with a spritzy mouthfeel. Not bad really. Simple and easy to drink.
6/4/6/3/14 (3.3/5)

Serving type: can

01-01-2009 16:38:56 | More by LilBeerDoctor

srandycarter

California

3.18/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Very light and clear, not much head disappears fast some sudsy lace left behind.

S - Nice malt profile, pretty simple and straight forward.

T - Flavor is similar to a macro lager, but better. Deeper malt and nice bitter finish.

M - Medium body with a good balance.

D - Definitely a good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2009 03:11:30 | More by srandycarter

harrymel

Washington

3.18/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Canned 07JUL11
Can indicates 5.1% ABV

A: golden raisins with near excellent clarity under a solid sheet of white foam trailed with fleeting sheets of lace.
S: Sweet grain, corn, some mineral tones. Decent and faint.
T: Nice sweet flavor is simple and soft with near floral qualities. Perfect for hot weather or as a quick session beer.
M: A bit heavy for the style with lower carb creating a velveteen experience. Empty finish. I like this aspect fairly well.
O: Good tasting beer. Although not a standout, definitely worth a try, and likely something I would drink over and over in a bar.

Serving type: can

11-28-2011 05:27:35 | More by harrymel

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Clear gold. Head is bright white and leaves some spotty hints of lacing on the top of the beer. Carbonation is lively and effervescent.

Smell: Straw, grass, and granny smith apples. Bright and lemony. Hints of wheat and other fruit, but I can't get over the apple. Pale malts and the faintest dusting of citrus. Mildly floral.

Taste: Wheat tang and crisp apple flesh. Grassy and pale malts in abundance. Fruity and floral. Lots of almost earthy biscuity maltiness going on. A touch of citrus rind on the back. Straw and grass.

Mouthfeel: Bright, crisp, and a big carbonation. Light body. Finishes very clean.

Overall: Easy drinking and enough flavor to be interesting. Not outstanding, but manages to never fall flat on its face. Carbonation is its downfall in the end.

Serving type: can

03-14-2012 19:17:16 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to davide169 for hooking me up with a can of this straight from the islands!

A-Hazy light golden straw yellow with a medium white fluffy head that reduce to a thin cap and left nice lace.

S-A bit of lemon, bready malt and some light spice.

T-Lemon citrus bite along with a mildly sweet malt, A bit of grassy hops and some spice.

M-VERY light, as in too light. Very crisp, like cold spring water. Although this is supposed to be a light brew it is beyond light and enters the realm of watery.

S-Certainly drinkable and refreshing beer, but too light. It goes down easy, has some flavour and certainly refreshing, but give me a sign that this isnt water (or a BMC light product.)

Serving type: can

10-20-2008 03:30:35 | More by Deuane

Wisconsinality

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Kalei for this one.

A- Pours a light banana yellow with just a slight haze to it. Minimal head that doesn't last very long and leaves no lacing.

S- Pretty typical crystal malts and a little bit of sweetness. There is also some a little coconut and maybe some faint hops.

T- A little more going for it than your common Helles. Some malts and hops but a good sweetness like coconut. There is also something else going on with this beer. The aftertaste is like a butterfinger.

M- A little heavier than expected. Still, decent carbonation and a fair bite from it on the back of the throat.

D- Just an interesting take on a traditional style. Not great but not too bad. Like a few others from Maui, I had my fair share of these while in Waikiki.

Serving type: can

12-05-2010 03:28:10 | More by Wisconsinality

Mora2000

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a yellow color with a white head. The aroma is full of bready malt, with some grass, grapes and yeast thrown in. A fairly complex aroma, definitely more so than I was expecting. The flavor is fairly straightforward, with a lot of bread and biscuit malt as well as some very light spices. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: can

04-10-2012 01:58:45 | More by Mora2000

rawfish

California

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a nice fluffy white inch and a half high head over a slightly hazy straw gold body. Fades rather quickly and leaves some delicate spots of lacing on the glass.

Really nice and malty, bready malts with notes of honey and almonds. Hops are light but slightly herbal with fresh grass and hay. There is a slight fruity note in the back ground from the yeast, perhaps pear.

Hmm the first taste is of alcohol that's a bit off, settles nicely into a rich malt character, cereal grains and toasted bread play a rather heavy hand. Hop character is very subdued, earthy and herbal, flashes citrus but over all very light. Finishes drying w/o much crispness.

Creamy mouthfeel, not very crisp especially when warm. A little heavy body for a lager and maybe under carbonated, still well within the range of being good but not great.

Decent representation of a helles but I would like it to have been more crisp and light. Flavor is well integrated and the alcohol in the beginning of the flavor goes away with some warming. Decent lager but who's gonna be critical on the beach in Hawaii.

Serving type: can

05-20-2011 03:17:34 | More by rawfish

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can with a canned on date of 030311, good on MBC for dating their cans. Pours a lightly hazed gold color with a light tan froth.

Nose is nutty and biscuity and has some yeast esters poking out. I originally thought I misread the label and thought for sure this must be a blonde ale. It smells tasty, just not really like a Helles. Where is the graininess? Grassy hops?

This one does indeed fall somewhere in the netherealm of a lager and an ale. Too sweet to be a refreshing lager with a distinctive bready, nutty yeast presence. And yet it tastes a bit too 'clean' and has a lighter body than most ales. It is a pretty unique beverage and does have some good flavors, but I think 1 six-pack purchase will be enough to satisfy my curiosity.

Serving type: can

05-21-2011 18:48:34 | More by twiggamortis420

illidurit

California

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear gold with a tinge of goldenrod. Nice lasting white head is the only thing differentiating this from a macro lager so far. Aroma is wet grains and a vague perfumey floral hop character. Flavor is cereal grains, a touch of citrus, and a light grassy finish with a modest bitterness that barely tickles the tongue. Mouthfeel is standard, drinkability is pretty good.

Serving type: can

11-02-2009 10:23:21 | More by illidurit

MikeB20

Delaware

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

P: 12oz can into a perfect pint glass.

A: Pours a slightly hazy pale yellow with a nice bright white foamy head. The head dissipates quickly and leaves a little lacing.

S: Hay like grain and yeast, not really a whole lot more.

T: A nice smooth grainy flavor, very easy drinking and refreshing. Hop bitterness is present but the flavors are not. The malt dominates your palette with a slightly sweet finish.

M: Slightly creamy with moderate carbonation, again, easy drinking.

O: While nothing spectacular this is a solid lager. I could see this being a nice everyday summer brew for myself. Easy drinking but with good flavor and a nice balance. This is my first taste of Maui Brewing as a selection of their beer was given to me by a friend who had it while in Hawaii. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the beers.

Serving type: can

01-19-2013 17:31:55 | More by MikeB20

mdfb79

New York

3.43/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From 02/05/11 notes. My dad brought me back a can from Hawaii. 12 oz. can into my Duvel tulip.

a - Pours a somewhat hazy orange color with one finger of fluffy white head and moderate to high carbonation evident. Some light lacing left on the glass.

s - Smells of fruity malts, grains, and some wheat. Not bad at all, but pretty bland in the nose.

t - Tastes of tropical fruits, fruity malts, citrus, grains, wheat, and bready malts. Much fruitier and nicer than the nose, a step up for me.

m - Medium body and moderate to high carbonation. A touch too carbonated, and crisp.

o - Overall a decent beer. Easy to drink and light and crisp, with some nice fruit in the taste. Not as good as their CoCoNut Porter but worth checking out once.

Serving type: can

02-06-2012 21:10:00 | More by mdfb79

devilben02

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The Bikini Blonde pours a hazy, golden lemon yellow color with only a thin foamy white head. The aroma is a bit grainy, but it has an underlying hop profile of earth and citrus. The flavor is light, sweet, and a bit lemony. Not heavily carbonated, it is light on the tongue, making this lager an easy drinking beer that seems to fit perfectly as the light lager option from a brewery based in a small town on the west coast of Maui.

Serving type: can

10-14-2010 20:15:25 | More by devilben02

Cavery

California

3.45/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Can shared with SundaySour, figured we'd give this Maui Brew a whirl.

Canned 6/21/11, poured into a pint glass.

A: Light yellow with some give towards pale oranges. Light soap sud head of about 1 1/2 fingers that did left as fast as it arrived. White bubbles give it a classic American session brew look. Modest but apparent ring of foam hugs the glass wall. Doesn't stand out, but it's inoffensive. Small streams of bubbles in a clear body.

S: Wheat and peanut oils mix for a slightly crispy peanut punch. Lightly salted peanuts mixed with lightly buttered popcorns. The wheat sweetness does its best to escape the snack food notes, but it really runs through a spectrum to do so: corn nuts, raw corn tortillas, and light grease make this an oily nose. Surprisingly potent.

T: Light dustings of salt on a mix of nuts. Almonds, cashews, and peanuts complete a salt-friendly nuttiness. Some crispy wheat breakfast sweetness that suggests breakfast toasts and whip butter spreads. I really like the brief appearance of plantains, wish there was more of that. The volume seems turned down a little bit from the nose, but this is a welcome mellowness. Some unexpected dried apricot fruitiness. White corn in the middle-end, before the flavor drops off a cliff. Mild sensations of hop bitterness in the later flavors.

M: Oily and lightly coating, but not overwhelmingly thick. This is much more of a pleasant glaze than a syrupy nightmare. A slippery coco-butter like feeling in the mouth makes the brew just slip too easily down the throat. Really easy to drink, and a solid medium-full body to boot. A complimentary sizzle on first contact.

O: Really quite decent, but the corn and oil flavors make for a bit of a taxing beverage. It drinks very easy, but the flavor makes me feel like I'm drinking a bag of corn nuts. Some people might really like this, but as a person that likes to have food with beer, I feel like this tastes more of fatty salty fried snacks than I'd like. However, there were some things that made this really pretty good. In the middle-flavors I had visits from plantains and dried apricots. I thought that was a really compelling mix, but it was too short lived. I want to up the fruity characters of this beer, and cut down on the salty nuttiness. There's something worth cultivating in here, but for right now it's just pretty okay.

Serving type: can

08-08-2011 00:48:29 | More by Cavery

Bfarr

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Golden blond foamy white head with decent retention and no lacing. Sweet citrus aroma. Bold but smooth wheat with earthy hops balancing things out. Clean, sweet finish. Fairly crisp but rather heavy bodied.

Easy drinking with a bold flavor but it’s a very filling beer that I really couldn’t finish many of. Very heavy for a lager.

Serving type: can

07-30-2011 02:32:50 | More by Bfarr

UCLABrewN84

California

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Canned on 8/26/11.

5.1% ABV per the label.

Pours a clear golden color with a 1 inch puffy off-white head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Thin broken rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of sweet malt/grains and some fruity aromas. Taste is of sweet malt/grains, light fruits, and slight citrus zest. There is a sweetness that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a crisp carbonation level with a bubbly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good and easy drinking lager but nothing too exciting.

Serving type: can

01-21-2012 05:57:35 | More by UCLABrewN84