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Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

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Maui's flagship IPA named after Maui's legendary winter surf swells. Centennial, Chinook and Simcoe hops deliver citrus, tropical fruit and resinous pine with a firm bitter finish. Big Swell is Hawaii's most respected craft IPA.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycitrusyresinous
hoppy
citrusy
resinous
tropical
piney
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with vibrant citrus notes from the Centennial hops, complemented by distinctive tropical fruit aromatics.
also:fruity,orange
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

◎ Appearance

Big Swell presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity, characteristic of a well-crafted American IPA. The beer forms a substantial white head that demonstrates good retention, with lively carbonation visible throughout the glass.

goldenclearwhite headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with vibrant citrus notes from the Centennial hops, complemented by distinctive tropical fruit aromatics. Resinous pine and herbal undertones create depth, while subtle floral characteristics add complexity to this hop-forward bouquet.

citrus-forwardtropicalpineyherbal

◐ Taste

The palate opens with crisp citrus and grapefruit notes that dominate the front, transitioning to tropical fruit flavors in the mid-palate. A balanced malty sweetness provides foundation before the signature firm bitter finish from Chinook and Simcoe hops takes over, delivering resinous pine and herbal complexity.

citrustropical fruitgrapefruitbitter

◑ Finish

Big Swell concludes with a dry, lingering finish that showcases persistent hoppy bitterness and resinous pine notes. The aftertaste remains crisp and clean, leaving a pleasant bitter edge that invites the next sip.

drylingeringclean
83
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
81
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

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About American IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar American IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, citrusy, resinous character as Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all American IPA beers in hopIQ →New to American IPA? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →