Review: Maui Brewing Company Mana Wheat

Author: Jason Harris
August 4, 2011

I am a huge fan of wheat beer. Because of Widmer Hefeweizen was one of my first microbrews, wheat beer is high on my list. With that said, I bought Mana Wheat from Maui Brewing Company with excitement. As you’ve seen, I’m not well into a series of brews from Maui Brewing Company and so far, so good with the beers I’ve had thus far.

Mana Wheat is Maui Brewing’s unfiltered beer. In fact, to give an interesting Maui twist to the wheat beer, the brewers infused Mana Wheat with Maui Gold Pineapple. Because most wheat beers (including hefeweizen) require lemon or something simliar to sweeten the taste of the beer, the pineapple is an interesting move.

Upon the first pour, this ale is very cloudy, which is normal for a wheat ale. To the tastebuds, Mana Wheat starts off as a smooth tasting beer with zero bitterness. Then the pineapple kicks in and provides an amazingly refreshing and not overwhelming sweet taste. There’s is a nice fruity sweetness that makes this a balanced and very pleasing beer.

As the Oregon summer kicks in and we have some hot dry days, Mana Wheat is an amazing brew that gives a full body but refreshingly delivered taste.  Check out Mana Wheat – it’s worth the price.

Review: Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen

Author: Jason Harris
August 29, 2010

Pyramid week continues here at Pints and Steins, as earlier in the week we checked out Curve Ball Blonde Ale.  Today’s brew to evaluate is the Seattle, Washington brewery’s hefeweizen.  Haywire Hefeweizen is the company’s wheat beer offering.

As some might now, hefeweizen is an unfiltered wheat beer that is very popular hear in the Northwest.  In fact, the most popular micro-brew from the Northwest is likely Widmer Hefeweizen, as I see that particular beer on tap no matter where I go in the country.

Getting back to Haywire, Pyramid advertises Haywire as

The standard by which all other wheat beers are judged. Our deliciously deranged American-Style Hefeweizen is an award winning take on this Bavarian classic. This refreshingly unfiltered wheat ale delivers a distinctively smooth flavor worth sharing with friends.

In my opinion, Haywire Hefeweizen is an amazing wheat beer that is not to be missed.  This cloudy beer has enough flavor to light up any summer afternoon.  The initial sip brings you a soft refreshing flavor.  The aftertaste is a bit sweet and fruity, enough to be noticed but it’s not overwhelming.

Pyramid’s Haywire is a perfect summer beer and would go great with any type of meal featuring a white meat or even seafood.