After an extensive four-month renovation, Maui Brewing Co. in Kahana Gateway shopping center has reopened cooler than ever.
The recent remodel is dramatic and the brew pub takes on a wide-open, industrial look. The coolest feature is Hawaii's first and only "frost rail," which allows any customer sitting at the expanded rectangular bar to put drinks on a snow bank to keep them nice and cold. This is especially important when you order the one of the various brews made in house or at the Lahaina satellite facility.
Other new features include skylights to let in the natural Hawaii sunshine, ceiling fans, a monster-size booth for large parties and kegs suspended as lights.
Article Photos
Maui Brewing Co.’s owner Garrett Marrero toasts to his renovated brew pub in Kahana. Look to the right of his hand to see the new, white frost rail made of snow that keeps drinks icy cold.
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Lumber used in the remodel is reclaimed from the former design as well. A couple of huge picnic tables made with thick planks beckon to customers to sit down and have a Maui-style party. More flat screen television sets of the HDTV kind and a new state-of-the-art sound system help get you in the sports bar mode.
"Our menu is filled with traditional brewery fare such as pizza, salads, sandwiches, daily fresh island seafood and meat specials. But the old favorites will still be served," says owner Garrett Marrero.
Customers will appreciate the new menu, lower prices and the nod to using local vegetables and other products. There is something for any palate and all dishes complement the handcrafted micro brews.
Salads are made with local hydroponic greens of butter leaf and Romaine lettuces. Prawns are prepared with a Thai chile sauce. Maui onion soup is topped with parmesan and Swiss croutons. Brie is served with guava jelly. And pizzas include the macadamia-nut pesto veggie with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms.
"Maui, particularly West Maui, is lacking a fun and affordable place for residents and tourists alike. With our new menu we continue to focus on using fresh, local ingredients to deliver a high-quality local product at a value price. We're proud to be filling the void by updating our brew pub and offering a great environment to dine and drink with your family and friends," he says.
Maui Brewing Co. produces Hawaiian beers such as the award-winning Bikini Blond and the Big Swell IPA (India Pale Ale) along with the Coconut Porter, the Hot Blonde (with chile peppers) and the Mana Wheat made with Maui Gold pineapples.
Garrett's microbrews are produced and packaged in his 25-barrel Lahaina facility. Scott Freitas and Kim Lutz are former winemakers and brewers using their expertise to make them. "They like making beer. It's faster than making wine and they see quick results."
Seven copper tanks are also on display in the Kahana brew pub behind lit-glass partitions. This adds to the fun feel and is perfect for photo ops.
"When you are drinking a MBC microbrew," Garrett says, "you are guaranteed that you are enjoying an authentic Hawaiian beer and they are the only true Hawaiian beers that are available on the Mainland!"
MBC microbrews are ecologically friendly. Plastic rings on their six packs of canned brews sold in stores are made by Pak-Tech and are universally recyclable.
The spent grain from beer production is donated to local ranchers for cattle feed; and old equipment from Maui Land & Pineapple Co. is utilized, preserving a slice of Hawaii's canning history.
For more details, call MBC at 669-3474.
