By Vanessa Wolf

This Saturday, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea presents its 3rd Annual Brewhaha.

This year’s theme is “Blondes vs. Brunettes” as light beers compete with dark beers on the Resort’s Ocean Front Lawn.

The resort claims to have “tirelessly scanned the globe to find the best of the best so critics can put an end to this classic debate once and for all: summery pale ales and citrus-kissed lager or hand-crafted chocolate brews and robust hazelnut stouts?”

“The lineup is the best yet,” says Lobby Lounge Manager Nick Martin, who was tasked with hand-picking the 14 specialty brews. “It’s not often that a selection of this quality, rarity and variety of hand-crafted brews is offered in one setting.”

Featured beers include:

• Coronado Orange Avenue Wit
• Don de Dieu
• Ballast Point IPA
• Deschutes Chainbreaker
• Maui Brewing Co. Bangerang Imperial Wheat
• Maui Brewing Co. Hula Honey Golden Ale
• Maui Brewing Co. Pau Hana Pilsner
• Clown Shoes Sombreo Chocolate Ale
• Clown Shoes Blaecorn Unidragon Ale
• Rouge Chip Ale
• La Fine Du Monde
• Tres Pistoles
• Rouge Morimoto Hazelnut Stout
• Rouge Oatmeal Stout

This year, the resort has partnered with Maui Brewing Co. They will be showcasing three of their more unusual beers, including the Bangerang Imperial Wheat Ale, brewed with local watermelon and pink peppercorn and the current favorite of Brewmaster Garrett Marrero. “The Bangerang was brewed by one of our lead brewers Kaiao Archer. He integrates local ag into the beers well and the result is an awesome innovation in craft beer.”

It’s not just about booze.

From left: Assistant Banquets Manager Angela Bliss, Executive Chef Roger Stettler, Maui Brewing Co. Brewmaster Garrett Marrero, and Marketing & PR Coordinator Crissa Hiranaga. Courtesy photo.

Four Seasons Executive Sous Chef Sam Faggetti and his talented culinary team will be presenting dishes specifically paired with the featured beers.

Chef Faggetti’s menu includes Short Rib Loco Moco with a jasmine rice cake, sous vide egg, black truffle gravy, and BBQ tako.

There is also a Tempura Spicy Ahi Roll with unagi sauce, Sriracha and wasabi aioli.

Carne Asada Tacos feature grilled prime skirt steak, fresh avocado, cilantro sour cream, and tamimi farm tomato pico de gallo.

For those looking for comfort food, enjoy Double-Double Cheeseburgers with American cheese and In and Out sauce.

Vegetarian?

That’s just fine because there is Vegetarian Grilled Flatbread made with cranberry and caramelized onion relish and Surfing Goat cheese.

Also available is a taste of New Orleans with Fried Oyster Po’boy Sliders with caper and gherkin remoulade, Haiku tomato, and Maui onion.

Rounding out a veritable trip around North America, enjoy Cedar Plank Salmon with blackberry ginger gastrique and herb salad.

Offering individual Pork Belly Rilettes with chimichuri sauce is really just gilding the lily, but Chef Fagetti is doing it anyway.You can take this up with him yourself on Saturday.

The cost of the 3rd Annual Brewhaha: Blondes vs Brunettes is $89 plus tax and gratuity.

Contact the concierge for reservations by calling (808) 874-2201.

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know if you hear of any new restaurants opening or reopening, total menu overhauls, or simply know of a hidden treasure you want to share. Have a restaurant you want reviewed (or re-reviewed)? Drop us a line – Vanessa(@mauinow.com)