(Lahaina, Maui, HI) - Maui Brewing Co. is proud to announce eight medal wins and recognition as one of the "Top Ten Breweries" in the inaugural United States Open Beer Championships. As the event coordinators state, this is another chance for brewers and home brewers to say, "cheers!" This is the first competition to include both professional brewers and award-winning home brewers. This event was open to more than 1,000 breweries from 30 countries, as well as the 29 National Homebrewing Champions from the United States and Canada. In total, more than 500 beers were judged across 55 beer categories.

Milk of Amnesia won a Bronze in the Stout category; Shipwrecked Stout won a Silver in the Oatmeal Stout category; Big Swell IPA won a Bronze in the American IPA category; Father Damien Abbey Ale won a Gold in the Belgian Abbey Ale category; Bikini Blonde Light won a Silver in the Münchner Helles category; CoCoNut PorTeR won a Bronze in the Herb & Spice Beer category, Black Pearl won a Gold in the Wood/Barrel-Aged Beer category and Smoked Hemp won a Gold in the Smoked/Rauch Beer category. As with other championships, recognition received at such events is testimonial to product excellence and provides brewers with strong incentive to continually improve their product! A "Judges Award" was also conveyed for the top six most creative beer names and most creative flavor. MBC's Milk of Amnesia was among the judge's top favorite names for a beer and MBC's Black Pearl was acknowledged as a "most unusual and very flavorful" beer. In total, Maui Brewing Co. was awarded eight medals. "We entered ten different beers, and placed with eight. This is a tremendous achievement given the fierce competition," comments Garrett Marrero. These medals further solidify the fact that Maui Brewing Co. is officially Hawaii's #1 craft brewery." We may not be the biggest; but we are certainly the best," adds Garrett.

Maui Brewing Co. microbrews are the only authentic Hawaiian beer currently available on the mainland as 100% of the beers are brewed and canned in Hawaii. With a strong commitment to the local economy, and deep concern for the environment, MBC microbrews are packaged with the most ecologically-friendly materials. Although cans and bottles are both recyclable, bottles still break and may pose a risk at beaches. The cans are manufactured on Oahu and designed by local Maui artists and have the added bonus of protecting the beer in the best possible manner - from both light and oxygen damage which can seriously compromise the taste. Plastic rings are dangerous to marine life and therefore, a unique, recyclable plastic carrying device is used to hold the cans. The spent grain from beer production is donated to local ranchers for cattle feed; and any cans damaged in production are donated to the Maui Humane Society. MBC purchased equipment from Maui Land & Pineapple, preserving a piece of Hawaii's canning history.

Founder Garrett Marrero and his wife, Melanie, run a 7-barrel brewpub at the Kahana location as well as the 25-barrel full production brewery and canning facility in Lahaina. Maui Brewing Co. is a truly local beer as 100% of their products are made in Hawaii as opposed to other "Hawaiian" beers. Contact Garrett W. Marrero g@mauibrewingco.com for interviews, additional information, media questions, or to order for your retail/restaurant/resort establishment.