For Whom the Beer Tolls
Hemingway may have famously downed a dozen daiquiris in an afternoon, but I’m usually making the switch to beer after a single mai tai. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of original ales, lagers, stouts, and other assorted delights conceived and brewed right here at the very best breweries in Maui.
Maui’s Current Brewery Line-up
In 2023, Maui had four (4) on-island breweries with a total of six (6) locations. The tragic fires sadly destroyed Kohola Brewery’s sole location and one of Waikiki Brewing’s two locations, leaving only three (3) breweries with a total of four (4) locations in 2024. In 2025, Kohola Brewery opened a new location in Wailea, while Maui Brewing Company closed their Kahana outpost and opened a new restaurant in Kā’anapali. So that leaves us with four (4) breweries, each with one (1) on-island location, save for Maui Brewing Company with two (2) locations. Now that we got that sorted out, here’s are your options as of August 2025:
- Maui Brewing Company (Kihei and Kā’anapali)
- Koholā Brewery (Wailea)
- Waikiki Brewing Company (Wailea)
- Mahalo Aleworks (Kula)
In my humble opinion, there’s absolutely no shame in ranking the four Maui breweries according to my own made-up criteria. Said criteria prizes beer quality and originality first, a vague notion of “local-ness” second, vibe/ambiance third, food options fourth, and convenience/location a distant last place. Gone are the days when Kona Brewing made the only home-grown Hawaiian beers worth tasting!
So here’s how my extremely biased Maui brewery rankings shake out for 2025. At the very end, I’ll also share the best spot on the island to grab a Guinness on tap whenever you need a break from all those shiny happy pilsners.
#1 Mahalo Aleworks
Don’t you hate it when blogs do the rankings in reverse and make you scroll all the way down to see number one!? We’re not like that. Instead, we’ll just come out and say that Mahalo Aleworks is our favorite brewery on the entire island of Maui. A big part of its charm is the simple fact that casual tourists have a hard time getting there. But it’s worth the trip!
Drop in for a pit stop on your way down from Haleakala. Or come back from Hana via Kula and make Mahalo Aleworks your last destination before retiring to the condo in Kihei or Lahaina. Better yet, make a special trip Saturday morning to the Upcountry Farmers Market and then stick around well past noon. Mahalo Aleworks is right next door.
We love nearly everything about Maui’s newest brewery, from the sweet clicks of their custom Vestaboard menu to the tangy notes of passion fruit in their Lilikoi Sour. The taps rotate constantly but the originality of nearly every single creation never wanes. From sours to reds, nut browns, ESBs, pales, wheats, and hazies, the freshness of the locally sourced raw ingredients shines through with every sip. The down-valley views from the minimalist second floor hang out area ain’t bad either.
Finally, it’s great to see a bit of humility from a beer maker when it comes to food. So many breweries struggle to deliver food that’s up to par. Mahalo Aleworks doesn’t even try. Instead, you’re welcome to import a high-end pizza from Marlow next door or order up a fresh brat (aka “Ze German”) from Upcountry Sausage Co. It’s nice to see someone still remembers that lesson from 9th grade history class. When you pair competitive advantage with free trade, everyone ends up richer.
- 30 Kupaoa St, Unit 101, Makawao (Kula), HI 96768 | Open 10AM – 9PM daily
#2 Maui Brewing Company
Maui Brewing is the undisputed big kahuna of all things beer on Maui. Founded in 2005 as a small brew-pub in Kahana, Maui Brewing now cranks out 50,000 12-oz cans of beer per day. They’re so big and so popular that they now find themselves (somewhat awkwardly) laying claim to the title of “Hawaii’s Largest Craft Brewery.” Are you allowed to call yourself craft and large in the same sentence? That wouldn’t fly in Germany, but neither would Maui Brewing’s excellent Pineapple Mana Wheat or Coconut Hiwa Porter. Fortunately for all of us, things are a lot more relaxed way out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
IMHO, Maui Brewing makes some of the most crisp and refreshing beers on the planet. Their Bikini Blonde, Sunshine Girl, and Pueo Pale Ale are all go-to favorites that are available year round on Maui (and increasingly common on the mainland too). Personally, I really appreciate seeing a golden and a regular pale ale included in the permanent lineup. Too many breweries neglect these classics in favor of 19 different IPAs. Only an amber is missing.
The flagship Kihei location serves up excellent food including wood-fired pizzas, fantastic kale and caesar salads, and inventive burgers and sandwiches. No one can accuse Maui Brewing of skating by on the quality of their beers alone. Their food menu is a solid step up from usual brew-pub fare and makes either location worth the visit, even for non-drinkers. It’s also worth noting that the Kihei location is super kid-friendly with an expansive outdoor patio and game area. We’ve often spent 2-3 hours here working on our cornhole skills and watching the afternoon slip away.
- Kihei: 605 Lipoa Parkway, Kihei, HI 96753 | Open 11:30AM – 10PM daily
- Kā’anapali: 2525 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina, HI 96761 | Open 11AM – 10PM daily
#3 Koholā Brewery
Kohola’s Red Sand Amber is the beer that first put this one-off Lahaina taproom on my radar back in 2021. With IPAs on the march, ambers are increasingly hard to find and this one does not disappoint with its deep reddish brown hue and malty deliciousness. Founded in 2014 and rebooted with new ownership post-pandemic, Kohola Brewery has ramped up production lately and seems to have recovered from the loss of the Lahaina taproom. The new Wailea location is a full-service brewpub with open air seating, an original food menu, and excellent service.
My favorite aspect of a visit to the old Kohola Brewery taproom in Lahaina was the dark laid-back and unassuming character of the entire experience. Wedged into a corner of a small industrial business park, there was hardly even a sign out front. When you stepped out of the bright sunshine and into the dimly lit space, it felt dark and cool and almost pub-like. Even before the first sip, you knew these beers were going to have some personality. While those days are gone for now, I do hope they are eventually able to bring back something akin to that original taproom.
If you can’t make it down to the Wailea brewery in person, keep an eye out for Kohola’s Lokahi Pilsner, Talk Story Pale Ale, and Lahaina Haze IPA on taps throughout Maui. All are worthy options and (in my opinion) feature more deeply layered flavor profiles than comparable beers from Maui Brewing Co. Give them a try and see if you agree!
- 112 Wailea Ike Dr, Wailea, HI 96753 | Open 11AM – 10PM daily
#4 Waikiki Brewing Company
While their beer selection is extensive and the food is slightly above par, the deck is still stacked against Waikiki Brewing Co in our 2025 rankings. It’s nothing personal, but simply a function of geography. Waikiki Brewing is of course an import from that other slightly smaller and way more populated Hawaiian island a bit northwest of here.
All that said, aficionados of dark beers will be remiss if they depart Hawaii without trying Waikiki’s Black Strap Molasses Porter. Described as “Robust & Roasty” right there on the can, it is indeed both of these things. Unique too. Jalapeno Mouth is Waikiki’s other most-celebrated creation, with both beers having racked up plenty of medals at international beer competitions. If you’re wandering The Shops at Wailea, stop by and be your own judge and jury!
- 3750 Wailea Ala Nui Drive B-25, Wailea, HI 96753 | Open 11AM-9PM Mon-Sat, 7AM-9PM Sun
Something Green (and Black)
Wondering where to tuck into a Guinness and soothe your sunburn with a creamy Irish pint? Try sidling up to the old-school bar at Casanova up in Makawao. They know how to pour it just right.
Best Breweries Maui FAQ
Only Maui Brewing Company has more than one location on Maui, with restaurants in both Kihei and Kā’anapali. Waikiki Brewing used to have two locations but the Lahaina restaurant was lost in the 2023 fire. The Koholā taproom also burned in the fire, and Koholā then opened a new location in Wailea in 2025. Mahalo Aleworks has always been at its sole location in Kula.
Yes. Koholā Brewing is open and serving its award-winning lagers and IPAs at its new Wailea location. The Lahaina taproom may be gone, but Koholā Brewing remains a special treasure found only on Maui.
The Kahana pub was closed in early 2025 as part of a business realignment, but Maui Brewing continues strong at its Kihei headquarters and Kā’anapali location.
Maui Brewing Company is by far the largest, producing thousands of barrels annually and distributing across Hawai‘i and the mainland U.S.
Mahalo Aleworks in Upcountry Maui is the island’s newest brewery, focusing on small-batch creative beers with a local community vibe. It’s worth the drive!