Submitted for your approval: Maui Bikini Blonde. Is it the Budweiser of Maui? I don’t say this in a derogatory sense mind you. It’s just that the beer is crisp, malty, and easy drinking, popular, and certainly ubiquitous. It was on tap just about everywhere I went in Maui. Six-packs abounded in convenience stores. It was served in cans at a dinner I attended, and on tap at a Luau. It was even in the batter of the Fish and Chips I ate at Kimo’s seafood restaurant.
Maui Bikini Blonde is truly seductive in the warm, humid Hawaiian climate. I enjoyed it each time I drank it, especially at the Luau where it went so well with a brimming plate of Kahlua Pork, Asian Shrimp Salad, Island Fish, Beef Stir Fry, Macaroni Salad, and a tangy Cucumber Salad.
Maui Brewing says about Bikini Blonde:
A clean, crisp & refreshing Helles, perfect any time.
Maui may have an economy of words when describing their beers, but they’re on the mark here. This is a simple, clean refreshing Helles lager with an alcohol content of 5.2% by volume with 18 IBUs. I saw it as low as $9.99 a six-pack and it was running $8 a pint on tap.
Maui Bikini Blonde pours a pale blonde color with a medium head of fluffy foam and a soft malty nose. Taking a sip, the beer is crisp with biscuity malt, clean of esters, smooth and refreshing with a balanced gently bitter finish. That’s about it. A Helles should emphasize the soft malty notes and this one does.
I love to drink local wherever I go, and you can certainly do that with Maui Bikini Blonde. A tasty local beer that’s easy to get and easy to drink. While I won’t suggest it exclusively (you’ll need to work harder to find their wonderful Pineapple Mana or Coconut Hiwa Porter), it is worth trying, and you should.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft