The Swill: Bikini Blonde Lager, Big Swell IPA, CoCoNut Porter

The Still: Maui Brewing Company

Maui, Hawaii

http://www.mauibrewingco.com/

The Drill: Bikini Blonde: American-style Lager, 12oz can, 4.5% ABV

Big Swell: American-style India Pale Ale, 12oz can, 6.2% ABV

CoCoNut Porter: American Porter brewed with toasted coconut, 12oz can, 5.7% ABV

The Spill: The Bikini Blonde is light and refreshing, sweet and sudsy, but nothing to really get excited over. The Big Swell is aromatic and somewhat hoppy, but mellow by craft brewing standards when it comes to IPAs. The standout brew is the CoCoNut Porter, which features a light, fluffy mouthfeel and a sweet mocha taste from the toasted coconut that would easily pair it with chocolate cake. It has a rich flavor without a thick texture, making it a good warm weather beer like the first two. All three of these are good beach beers: the lager for the volleyball game in the heat of the day, the IPA for the late afternoon barbeque, and the porter to wash down the smores while you're sitting around the fire pit.

Says Bill: The interesting thing is that the brewer has decided to can its creations instead of bottling them. It's rarely heard of nowadays, but the message on the packaging insists that it's the better alternative, both for preserving the taste of the beer and the state of the environment. Holly and I grabbed a 6-can variety pack when we vacationed on the island of Kauai over my 30th birthday, then I discovered them at my local Bevmo. They're plenty more expensive on the mainland, retailing for $12 for 6 cans. They're not worth the price, which was inflated recently when new shipping methods were introduced. These beers are made to enjoy several at a time, but you won't want to fill your washtub with them unless you're buying them on the islands.

Refill?: Bikini Blonde: 1.5 taps out of 5; Big Swell: 1.5 taps out of 5; CoCoNut Porter: 3 taps out of 5.