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Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

Maui Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · American IPA · One of 356 American IPAs in hopIQ

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
See all American IPA alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very dry and assertively bitter.

The grain stays in the background so every note the beer offers can come from the hops.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another American IPA.
Hop character
citrusy
hoppy
piney
resinous
tropical
orange
Fermentation & yeast
clean
fruity
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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
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA

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.

Other American IPAs in hopIQ

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

WHERE TO BUY

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