Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Hawai'i Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"
 
I'd be a fool to not pick a regional style this week.  Playing the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors provides a unique opportunity to tap into Hawaiian brewing culture, and discuss some breweries that often get swamped by their mainland brethren.  In the past, however, I had featured Kona Brewing in this series, which was a massive error on my part.  That joint has gone all corporate, joining the InBev-backed Craft Brew Alliance.  Hell, the Kona stuff you find in stores isn't even brewed on the islands; it's from the Pacific Northwest, or even fucking New Hampshire. 

Fuck. That. Shit.


So, I'll have to dig a little deeper this week (not too deep, though).  Let's try one of the other islands, and a smaller, more craft-friendly brewery that actually brews in the 50th state.  Maybe feature a beer that mixes one of my favorite tropical ingredients with a vintage style, and throws it all into a can for your wanton consumption.  Yeah, that'll do. That beer, Maui Brewing's CoCoNut PorTer, is this week's gameday beer-o-the-week.

I love to feature canned beers in this series, because they make for such easy clean up when out and about.  You can even take them more places, as many tailgating and recreation areas frown on glass.

Actually brewed in Maui, CoCoNut PorTer is a lovely canned option for those looking for something on the sweeter side.  Sweet and roasted notes hit the nose before it finishes with a balance between sweet molasses and bitter chocolate on the tongue.  There's also some nice lingering notes of the titular roasted coconut to consider.  Damn fine!

For those interested, you'll be able to find a 4-pack of Maui's finest in most liquor stores with a deeper selection.  It's a hefty 6.0% ABV, so don't go too nuts, but I highly suggest a few of these as you toast the last vestiges of summer this weekend.


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Rainbow Warriors!