MACC’s Maui Brewers Festival This Saturday

By Vanessa Wolf

A scene from the 2012 Brewfest. Courtesy photo

The 5th Annual Maui Brewers Festival returns to the MACC this Saturday, May 18 from 4 to 7 p.m.

This year, 33 craft breweries from Hawai‘i, California, Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois and Delaware will be present.

This includes first time attendees Golden Road Brewery, Goose Island Beer Co., Iron Fist Brewing and Kaua‘i Island Brewing. The 33 breweries were selected for their commitment to making craft beer with an emphasis on quality, flavor and locally-sourced ingredients.

Your $50 ($60 the day of the event) admission ticket grants you a commemorative glass from which you will be able to sample eight four-ounce pours from a vast selection of 68 craft beers. This seems like an insufficient amount considering the array of options, but we suppose they don’t want to have the lot of you stumbling drunk in the MACC amphitheater.

To further that effort, there will also be island-style dishes and appetizers available from over 20 popular restaurants and food trucks such as Fleetwood’s on Front St., Food for the Soul, Fred’s Mexican Cafe, Just Wing It, Kalama’s Local Grinds, Sumo Dogs, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers and Three’s Bar & Grill.

Logo wear will be available for purchase and there will be prize giveaways, as well.

Apparently the Brew Fest is a BYOC(hair) kind of happening. Courtesy photo

From 4 to 7 p.m., there will be live music from local bands Nuff Sedd, Lia Live & The Kryptones, and Simply Twisted.

A special VIP package is available for $95 and includes early entry at 2:30 p.m. for the Rare Beer Tasting.

It showcases seven rare or specialty craft beers from a select group of brewers. VIP ticket holders will also receive a logo shirt and reserved parking, as well as a sample of beers that can’t be purchased in retail stores. During the Rare Beer Tasting, brewmasters and representatives will discuss the production of these exceptional craft beers in the Yokouchi Pavilion.

The festival is a fundraiser for the MACC with net proceeds benefiting arts and cultural programs for students, seniors and the Maui community.

Find a sitter, because the Maui Brew Fest itself is limited to adults 21 years and over.

Have an idea for a fun or thought-provoking story or topic? Get in touch: we want to hear from you. -Vanessa (@mauinow.com)