beer lovers paradise found

Getting excited for the 5th annual Maui Brewers Festival this Saturday, May 18th, 2:30pm at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC). This year's event, a benefit for the MACC to support arts and cultural program for Maui's community, features over 30 craft breweries and appetizers from over 20 of Maui's restaurants. Plus, fare from food trucks, and live music by Nuff Sedd, Lia Live! and Simply Twisted.

Here's a quick rundown of the beers topping my list this year:

• Big Island Brewhaus: Mandarin Gold (one of my favorites from last year's event), features Honokaa oranges and mac nut honey
• Coronado Brewing Co.: Hibiscus IPA, a collaboration with Maui Brewing Co. in support breast cancer research is a combination of Centennial, Chinook and Nugget hops, a refreshingly crisp beer, exhibits pronounced floral notes amidst a hint of balanced bitters
• Coronado Brewing Co.: Orange Avenue Wit is bolstered by orange zest, coriander and orange blossom honey, and expected to be refreshing, light-bodied
• Deschutes Brewery: Twilight Ale awarded 2012 World's Best Seasonal Pale Ale.
  A lighter, yet full-flavored, aromatic Ale with a solid malt foundation paired with distinctive Amarillo hops.
• Kauai Island Brewing Company: Captain Cook's IPA was created after the hoppy ales brewed in the 1700’s for the long journey from England to Hawaii, this Ale is one of our hoppiest beers ever using 15 pounds of hops for 155 gallons of beer
• Lost Coast Brewery: Indica IPA a hoppy, full-bodied ale with radical bittering from Columbus hops, then dry hopped with generous amounts of Willamette and Centennial hop flowers
• Maui Brewing Co.: Lemongrass Saison is a collaboration with Lost Abbey, a brewery located in San Marcos, California known for its Belgian-inspired beers that incorporates local Maui-grown lemongrass and White Wheat, Oats, Pilsner malt, Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops
• Maui Brewing Co.: Pau Hana Pilsner is a Bohemian-style pilsner showcasing Czech Saaz hops, known world-wide for their smooth, clean, yet spicy bitterness, and balanced with a touch of malt sweetness
• Rogue: Dad's Little Helper is deep mahogany in color with roasted malt and hop aromas and dense creamy head, entering the palate with intense hop flavor and coating the tongue with a rich maltiness
• Rogue: Original Colonies Mead boasts honey from Rogue's own honeybees, which spend their days sampling the flavors of the farm; from blackberries, raspberries and cherries; to woodruff, lavender and pumpkins; to rye, corn and Rogues 7 varities of GYO aroma hops

Get your tickets here. $50 for general admission, or $60 on event day. $95 for the VIP Rare Beer Tasting.