Brewery Visits

In a recent visit to Maui, Hoppy visited the three locations of Maui Brewing on the island. The first visit took place at their brewery location in Kihei. They are the largest craft brewery in Hawaii, and they opened a restaurant at their brewery location in 2018. (They opened their original brewery in Lahaina in 2005 and relocated to Kihei in 2014.)

While he was there, Hoppy quaffed a Double Overhead Imperial IPA, which he drank at all three locations. It is brewed with El Dorado and Amarillo hops and described as having a rich, slightly malty body that provides the base for this generously hopped Imperial India Pale Ale. 8.5% ABV, 85 IBU.

Pictures from this visit follow:

Hoppy next visited THE SNEAKY BEAGLE BREWPUB in Myrtle Beach. Their brewery opened on July 19th, 2024, making them become a brewpub. Prior to this they had operated as a restaurant/bar since 2019. They call themselves, “A little weird. A lot of fun. Always fresh.” 

They had a number of craft beers on tap including six of their own.

While there, Hoppy enjoyed a Sneaky Beagle Something Sour, a Mango Passionfruit Sour described to me as not being very sour. 5.7% ABV, 19 IBU.

Pictures from the visit follow:

Hoppy’s first visit over Labor Day weekend was at Wedgewood Brewing in Middlebury. They opened in May 2016, moved to a larger facility in June 2021, and in May 2022 opened a production facility combined with an event center and concert hall. Their pub is music centered as shown in their decor and beer names and their stated purpose is “to build a brand; crafting high quality beverages while providing memorable experiences for our customers.”

While visiting, Hoppy sampled a Dire Haze Double IPA – Double dry hopped with Citra and Nelson hops. Described as having tasting notes of peach, passionfruit and pineapple. A tropical fruit salad hoppy ale! 8% ABV.

He also enjoyed a pint of Sound Trip American IPA – Brewed with Citra, Simcoe and Amarillo hops. Described as having tasting notes of tangerine, melon and sweet grapefruit. 7.6% ABV.

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Hoppy visited a couple of Hoosier breweries over the Labor Day weekend. One of these was Mad Anthony Brewing in Fort Wayne. They celebrated their 25th anniversary in April 2023. They state, “we stake our claim on the quality and creativity of our beers and food as well as the clean facilities and friendly casual service we are known for.”

Hoppy enjoyed a Mosaic Moon Double IPA during his visit. It is described as an American style single hop IPA and a simple American grown grain bill allowing the hop to be front and center. The real star of this ale is the Mosaic hop which gives off a complex array of tropical fruit, pineapple, herbal and earthy characteristics. Much of the hop was used late in the boil preserving all of the character of the hop without going over the top in bitterness. 8% ABV, 65 IBU.

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Hoppy’s next visit in Michigan was at HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor which opened in April 2017. Their name is an acronym for the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior). Their focus is on hoppy and sour beers, but they periodically venture outside those styles. They serve Asian-influenced street food in their taproom/restaurant.

While visiting, Hoppy enjoyed quaffing a flight of five ales. These were as follows:

Pass Tea Michigan IPA – Brewed with Cryo Columbus and Citra, dry hooped with HBC-638 and Simcoe. Displays a clean crisp hop bite with pine and citrus character from the American hops. 5.4% ABV.

Same Same Different American IPA – This is their flagship IPA, brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops. Displays papaya and mango aroma with notes of tropical melon and citrus. 6.8% ABV.

Mirror Mask 2024 New England IPA – A new and improved version of one their favorite IPAs brewed with all Mosaic and Nectaron (NZ) hops. Described as very tropical with lots of guava and funky tropical fruit character. 7.4% ABV.

Hover Imperial IPA – This is part of their single hop DIPA series, brewed and DDH exclusively with Idaho 7 hops. 8% ABV.

Same Same Same Triple New England IPA – This is Same Same Different with a lot more grain and hops. This drinks maltier than SSD and has huge body with assertive and tropical hop character. 10/1% ABV.

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Over Labor Day weekend Hoppy had the chance to visit a couple of breweries in Michigan. One of these was Ogma Brewing in Jackson. They will be celebrating their three-year anniversary on Saturday, October 12th. They describe their beer and food as, “delightfully different and dangerously delicious.”

While there, Hoppy enjoyed a flight of four ales. These were as follows:

Doom Claw, American IPA – Described as their signature IPA. A heavy metal crusher with citrus and pine. 7% ABV.

Heavy Lies the Crown (collaboration with Wax Wings Brewing – Brewed with Citra Incognito and Cryo Simcoe in the whirlpool. Dry hopped with NZ Nectaron, Citra, Cryo Simcoe and Kohia Nelson Hop Kief. 7.2% ABV.

Soul Whip Hazy IPA – Described as a tropical treat fermented and conditioned on tons of pineapple, toasted coconut and Madagascar vanilla beans. 7.25% ABV.

Honey Tongued Double IPA – Brewed with local wildflower honey from their good buds at Stellar Apiaries. A seasonal, slightly sweet, layered in flavor, citrusy and floral IPA. 9.5% ABV.

Pictures from the visit follow: