Marrero

LAHAINA — To meet increased demand for its products, Maui Brewing Co. (MBC) is installing new equipment at its production brewery in Lahaina.

The latest phase of expansion will provide significant growth in production and make MBC Hawaii’s largest craft brewery.

In recent months, two 100-barrel fermenters and two 47,000-pound grain silos were installed at the brewery at West Maui Center.

 Currently being added are four 100-barrel and three 14-barrel fermenters. The 14-barrel fermenters will be useful for experimenting with special recipes. 

For increased energy efficiency, all of the existing glycol plumbing is being retrofitted with “Coolfit” plumbing, and a new glycol chiller will allow for more effective chilling of beer during the fermentation process. 

A bulk storage carbon dioxide tank will reduce the need for frequent filling. Given the logistical challenges faced with conducting business in an isolated location, the carbon dioxide storage tank and grain silos will be especially useful, the company reported.

A brewery laboratory is under construction, and a new high-speed packaging line will be installed to replace the existing 27 cpm (cans per minute) equipment.

In all, this expansion project will add 428 barrels of fermentation capacity, bringing the total capacity to over 22,000 barrels in brewing.  

The new canning equipment will be capable of packaging up to 650 cpm, but it is expected to operate at a run rate of approximately 300 cpm, or 12.5 cases per minute. 

With this increase in quantity and quality of equipment, MBC will have the largest capacity brewery in the State of Hawaii.

Its popular beers include Bikini Blonde Lager, Big Swell IPA and CoCoNut Porter, and Mana Wheat was recently launched.  

Founder Garrett Marrero and his wife, Melanie, run a seven-barrel brewpub in Kahana and the brewery and canning facility in Lahaina. Visit www.mauibrewingco.com/ for information.