(Lahaina, Maui, HI) -In order to support increased demand for their products, Maui Brewing Co. (MBC) is installing new equipment at their production brewery in Lahainatown. The latest phase of expansion will allow for significant growth in production and render Maui Brewing Co. Hawaii's Largest Craft Brewery.
Over the last few months, two, 100-barrel fermenters and two, 47,000-lb. grain silos were installed. Currently being added are four, 100-barrel fermenters and three, 14-barrel fermenters. The 14-barrel fermenters will be particularly useful for experimenting with special recipes. For increased energy efficiency, all of the existing glycol plumbing is being retrofitted with "Coolfit" plumbing; and a new glycol chiller will allow for more effective chilling of beer during the fermentation process. A bulk storage CO2 tank will reduce the need for frequent filling. Given the logistical challenges faced with conducting business in an isolated location, the CO2 storage tank as well as the grain silos will be especially useful. A brewery laboratory is also being built and a new, high-speed packaging line will also be installed to replace the existing 27cpm (cans per minute) equipment.
In all, this expansion project will add 428-barrels of fermentation capacity bringing the total capacity to over 22,000-barrels in brewing. The new canning equipment will be capable of packaging up to 650cpm but it is expected it will be operated at a run rate of approximately 300cpm (or 12.5 cases per minute). With this increase in quantity and quality of equipment, MBC will have the largest capacity brewery in the State of Hawaii.
Maui Brewing Co. is the only brewer and canner of craft beer in Hawaii as 100% of the beers are brewed and canned on Maui. Additionally, Maui Brewing Co. microbrews are officially Hawaii's #1 craft beer. With a strong commitment to the local economy, and deep concern for the environment, MBC microbrews are packaged with the most eco-friendly materials. Although cans and bottles are both recyclable, bottles still break and may pose a risk at beaches. The cans are manufactured on Oahu and designed by local Maui artists; they have the added bonus of protecting the beer in the best possible manner, protecting the product from both light and oxygen damage which can seriously compromise the taste. Plastic rings are dangerous to marine life and therefore, a unique, recyclable plastic carrying device is used to hold the products. The spent grain from beer production is donated to local ranchers for cattle feed and composting; and any cans damaged in production are donated to the Maui Humane Society. MBC purchased equipment from Maui Land & Pineapple, preserving a piece of Hawaii's canning history.
Founder Garrett Marrero and his wife, Melanie, run a 7-barrel brewpub at the Kahana location as well as the 25-barrel full production brewery and canning facility in Lahaina. Maui Brewing Co. is a truly local beer as 100% of their products are made in Hawaii as opposed to other "Hawaiian" beers.