Blue Moon Belgian Pale Ale - Coors Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.33/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

snowed in at the inlaws i am stuck working through their fridge so this is what i get along with a slew of others.

the pour was decent, light amber with a head of white on top that seemed to last a few moments before collapsing in on itself. aroma of light spice, hints of lemon and a touch of grain, but very light an muddled together fairly well. flavor is about the same though a decent citrus fruit touch made it somewhat more drinkable and left a decent, and light dry touch to the finish.

overall it was better then most of their offerings but again that is not saying alot. still worked for a quick refresher before more shoveling.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 00:04:19 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear, amber-hued body with a full inch of lasting, off-white foam on the house.

Smell: Simple, humble pale malts with bits of caramel and bread. Mild whiff of citrus hops alongside a drop of orange oil. Meager hint of hibiscus.

Taste: Pale malts, lightly toasty and lightly sweet caramel. A mild flavor of hibiscus -- a stern reminder of the herbal-blend tea bags I always get around to dead last in the assortment box (maybe today will be the day for them). Citrusy touch of orange peel, but also from the use of Cascade hops. Light bitterness. The final half is a mix of light floral, fruity, toasty maltiness hints. Finishes smooth but quick. At no point did I clearly detect any distinct yeast-derived esters or characteristic phenols. Huh.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Nothing here particularly cries "Belgian!" However, it's reasonably likable and certainly more enjoyable than most of the mundane product Coors shuffles out the door.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 18:10:12 | More by ChainGangGuy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.58/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Somewhere deep inside the fine brewery of Coors, there is a very smart man in a very high position that tasted this beer and decided that it was marketable as Belgian Pale Ale. That man should step outside his cubicle and sample a few other representatives of the style before walking this path again.

The beer begins with an appealing, bright copper-amber hue and with a formitable foamstand, at least at first. Quickly disipating the head leaves light traces of lacing, but then still.

Spicy aromas come from a nice blend of citrus hops, orange zest, and other added spices. But no real yeasty esters, phenols, or peppery character that is essential in Belgian varieties. A crisp caramel scent rides in the background and smells very American in the part-malt / part-grain malt profile.

For better, or worse the beer is farily consistent from the olfactories to the tastebuds. Again, a pleasant palate-cleansing citrus spicy character is there, albeit forced. A hint of maltiness persists but not at any meaningful level- just a decoration lurking behind.

The beer needs a malty backbone in the texture but it just isn't there. Partly grainy and partly malty, the beer falls apart as the beer hits the toung. Hops and spices dominate the bittered mouthfeel and sometimes approach astringent levels but the back off for a citrusy and fleeting finish.

Not necessarily a bad beer, but this beer should not be placed in the ring with the Rare Vos or Duvels of the world-- it's out of its class. ....and somebody, buy that Coors guy a real Belgian Pale!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2009 02:57:52 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

Finally finishing my Blue Moon Winter variety pack. Damn, it's been a while... This stuff pours a clear tawny-amber topped by a finger of relatively short-lived dirty-white foam. The nose comprises caramel, biscuit, light greens, and a touch of orange peel. The taste brings in more of the same, though the greens are joined by strong grass and light pine needles to form a gang of bittering hooligans that mess with the already kinda so-so status quo. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly dry finish. Overall, a pedestrian BPA at best, one that tries too hard to be all Belgain-y and pale ale-y without actually succeeding much at either.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 20:22:19 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.53/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a dark golden/amber color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a very nice pale and Munich malt scent along with a mild yeast fruitiness. The taste is decent as well. It has a smooth pale malt flavor along with a delicate hop bitterness and a good yeast fruitiness. The esters aren't as pronounced as a traditional BPA, but the subtle character suits this well. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good starter Belgian ale. It's nothing like the traditional style, but for people who are new to yeast esters it's a solid choice.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 21:31:07 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

2.8/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

not impressed. Beer served in a snifter. This was 89 cents at the local store and I thought, eh...it's probably worth my 89 cents. I was mistaken.

Beer is kind of red, with a white head and some lacing, redder than I thought but looks like beer.

Smells like nothing.

tastes like nothing. Beer is medium to light in body, really thin no flavors at all...nothing...HELLO!!!! Bargh! What a waste.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 03:13:53 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Cavie for sharing this bottle.

This beer pours a clear orange color with a white head. The aroma is strong biscuit malt. The flavor is wheat and some biscuit malt. Light mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A average to below average beer, not something anyone should seek out.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 03:24:09 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Poured out a clear, copper color with a two-finger, off-white head of bubbly foam. Nice retention and it left thin trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of sweet malt and some spice. Not much else and doesn't really seems like a Belgian-style ale.

T - It tasted of spices and caramel. Some yeasty bite with a bready backbone.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is okay. Maybe it could convert some one to craft beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 02:13:01 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.18/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer is clear reddish amber and has a moderate to high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high off white head that died down, leaving a patch of bubbles on the surface and a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: Aromas of orange peel and wheat are present in the nose along with notes of hibiscus.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, except that the hibiscus seems to be a bit more prominent and there are also some notes of malty sweetness. A slight amount of bitterness from the hops is discernible.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The finish is slightly dry.
O: This beer seemed to be a bit too malty and sweet for the style and could have used some more hop bitterness. It’s definitely not as drinkable compared to the Blue Moon witbier.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 19:27:51 | More by metter98

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as an amber color, it has a light tan head on top that leaves a light lacing. The smell of the beer has a decent malt aroma with a touch of spicy hops. The taste was crisp and malty. The mouthfeel was well carbonated and medium bodied. Overall this beer was pretty good surprisingly.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 23:51:46 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.43/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an effervescent orange/caramel with 1+ finger of pearl white head. Zero head retention & not much more lacing

S: Slight orange blossom & apple peels

T: Caramel, appleskins & pears up front. Dryness, appleskins & faint lemon hops as this warms. Finishes with apple peels & citric hop crispness, plus some caramel & more dryness

MF: Medium bodied with slight carbonation & some stickyness

Drinks alright, not a good or great BPA, but would do in a pinch. a touch too dry for my liking

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2008 00:08:16 | More by russpowell

jwc215

New Jersey

2.9/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Best by Apr 05 10 stamped on the neck - poured into tulip glass:

Pours a bright, clear, reddish orange-ish copper with a thin white head that becomes a thin layer of swirl. Some uneven lacing sticks.

The smell has a "Blue Moon" character with floral notes (from hibiscus), a slice of orange peel and a light citric note (presumably from the Cascade hops that states on the label on the neck).

The taste is grainy with some light caramel. There is a blandness to it. They might as well have used cluster hops rather than cascade in the flavour, as they are so subdued... Cascade hops in a "Belgian-style"...well, it's not traditional, but it is an international world, and may have worked well, but here they don't really do much. There is a spiciness to it...
but there is also a wet-cardboard-ish character in the finish.

Light-bodied,carbonated - more prickly than effervescent.

Well - it's a far cry from "Belgian-style". There are mild, "session" Belgian-styles - this is not one of them. It's not "bad", just has a certain blandness, and might appeal somewhat to macro drinkers who have not had true Belgian beers ... but there are mild, sessionable Belgians and Belgian-styles with more character...

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 04:23:16 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

1.83/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a clear amber hue with a quickly fleeting weak off white head with fine sporadic lacing not much for the eye let us smell. Aromtatics are better than expected with some hops flowing mild citrus notes and a very one dimensional artificial sweetness. Flavor is pretty weak with a touch of sweetness and blend of terrible spices, very weak and I wanna be a craft brew but I'm not feel can't really tolerate this brew. Mouthfeel is thin and weak with a horrible spice up after taste, drinkability as a whole rates very low in my book. I'm glad I bought a single to sample this sorry excuse for a Belgian pale.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 21:19:21 | More by WVbeergeek

Jason

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date printed on the neck of the bottle.

Bubbly lace on top of a completely clear brassy amber liquid. Ripe orchard fruit of apples an pears, wild herbs and a hint of sweet biscuits round out the nose. Just as smooth as it is crisp. Wet maltiness, toasty with a slight tiny sugary note. Very fruity ... of fallen orchard fruit. Peppery alcohol, dry biscuity finish.

A half decent try at the mid-range pale ales of Belgium. Its tried to be some where between Fat Tire and De Koninck and Palm Ale but lands somewhere else.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 03:36:00 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle.

The pour is glowing almond amber, under a light tan head.

Head goes to a very thin film, thin collar and some fine slippery lacing.

Dull fruity nose, with just a hint of yeastyness.

Malt up front, mildly hopped and with some continuing floral qualities and light yeast. Barely “Belgian” in character, tastes more like a Coors like take on a very mild winter warmer.

Drinkable yes, with enough sweetness to use in the proverbial marinade for chicken or pork. Would work as an entry level beer for Belgian newbies looking to get their feet wet with a non intimidating new kinda beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 22:19:52 | More by Billolick

DoubleJ

California

3.55/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I thought there was Blue Moon and its seasonals, nothing else. So this was a surprise when I spotted it. Made with cascade hops, hibiscus, and orange peel...is this going to be a hoppy Blue Moon? On to the beer:

Poured into a flute...now I'm thinking they wanted to copy Budwieser Ale. Red, orange, yellow hues, this is a lovely array of color. The head is thick on top and retains adequately. The aroma is sweet and hoppy. There's the hibiscus, but the cascades and faint esters are easier to detect. This could be refreshing.

It's unusual to taste these flavors in a beer of this color, but I'm liking it. Faint esters and orange peel, the beer turns into bready caramel with fruity esters tagging along. A touch of flower pedal, it's sweet. The cascade hops provide some flavor in the finish. This beer is crisp and light in the mouth, and it goes down without a hiccup.

Belgian-style Pale Ale might be misleading for this beer, but who cares if you enjoy it? A welcoming addition to the Blue Moon line of beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2008 06:10:44 | More by DoubleJ

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

2.68/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

I know I keep promising about The CANQuest (TM), bottle be back to it soon, I swear!

From the bottle: "A Belgian-style pale ale crafted with a hint of wheat, orange peel, and hibiscus [!] for a perfectly balanced hop taste and smooth finish."; "Pale Moon is our unique take on a pale ale. It's crafted with a touch of wheat to offer an inviting hop taste with a smooth finish. Pale Moon is brewed with Cascade hops, European malts, and a touch of orange peel and hibiscus - all perfectly balanced in this copper-colored ale. Cheers!"

From the style description, in lieu of direction on the bottle: "They should be decanted properly, leaving the yeast in the bottle." I did not see much (if any) yeast in the bottle, but I bore it in mind as I poured. I am pretty sure that this was filtered, but I was careful all the same, which resulted in mere wisps for head. Win some, lose some. Color was a deep-amber with NE-quality clarity ("CU -colored? Who they tryin' ta zoom?). Nose had a distinctive honey odor - could this be what the hibiscus was adding, if anything? Mouthfeel was actually pretty full, not outright creamy, but close. The taste was bland for all of the adjuncts that they mention. It was pale, all right, pale in flavor. I got a tea-like flavor in the mouth and whether it could be attributed to either the hibiscus or the hops, I do not know. Finish was grassy, somewhat tea-like, but just not a lot happening. This was not bad, just boring.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 20:10:09 | More by woodychandler

kojevergas

California

2.85/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

33cl brown glass bottle served into a generic hefeweissbier glass in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Acquired as part of a blue moon sampler pack.

A: 1.5 finger head of slight but fair cream, decent thickness, and alright retention. Colour is a semitransparent copper.

Sm: Light butterscotch, some bittering hops, and caramelized malt. A moderate strength aroma.

T: The bittering hops are thankfully not overdone, and they mesh well with the light caramelized malt note - which itself rides atop a pleasantly subtle barley foundation. Fairly simply built, but decently balanced.

Mf: Smooth and wet, suiting partially the flavours of the body.

Dr: Pretty drinkable, quite affordable for an import, and decent quality. I'd have it again - especially if it were on draught.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 08:20:35 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

2.98/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a light amber color with what appears to be ample carbonation and a one-finger head into my glass.

Aroma is full of spicy, sweet malt with only a slight hint of hops to be found in the nose.

Taste is full of sweet malt with a light hint of spice and chewiness to it. Doesn't seem to be much else for flavor.

Mouthfeel is definitely not on par with the style. Watery, bland and just uninspiring. Pretty much a disappointment.

I'd look for better examples of the style. It's run of the mill and still a bit more drinkable than other Coors products. It's just not on par with other examples.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 01:07:49 | More by Brad007

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into New Belgium Globe Glass

Color is a clear copper orange. Pours a 1 and a half finger slightly off white head. Leaves some splattered lace. Good retention.

Aroma is of spices, yeast, caramel, earthy hops. The aroma is a little weak for a BPA.

Taste is of a lot of spices, slight alcohol, some hops. It is kind of hard to distinguish the flavors in this beer.

Mouthfeel: is very crisp. Not smooth at all, which is something I may have expected. Medium to full bodied. Highly carbonated.

Overall, not the best Belgium style beer I have had, but I didn't have that high of hopes as it is Blue Moon. I won't be having another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2009 02:44:03 | More by mothman

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Copper in color, small bubbly head fades away after a while. No lace.

Smell: Bready malts and flowery hops.

Taste: Like a hoppy amber ale, decent bitterness, leafy hops with a bit of citrus. Belgian ale characteristics similar to a Dekoninck, very light and faint. All in all, pretty good.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, high level of carbonation, semi dry finish.

Drinkability: The best Blue Moon/ coors product Ive had to date.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 21:33:21 | More by Stinkypuss

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clean orange-ish to yellow color with a off white head. In the aroma, a sweet fruitiness and a faint dry yeatiness. In the taste, dry sugar to a sweet fruitiness. A small bite and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry fruitiness in the aftertaste. It is ok, somewhat pedestrian.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 18:39:37 | More by OWSLEY069

twiggamortis420

Texas

2.93/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle aggressively poured a very clear, light copper color with a huge cap of off-white head. Retention is excellent, as is the lacing. If nothing else, this is an excellent looking brew.

Nose is toasty grains, a little bit musty and devoid of yeasty aromas...a BPA? I cant decipher the bottle dating, it is smudged...but either the beer misses the mark by a wide margin or it is an old sample. I am guessing the former, as the various 'Moon' incarnations have been unimpressive to say the least.

It is not a bad brew on the palate, the toasted malt and light wheat character add an interesting twist, it's just that this is waaay different than any Belgian Pale I have ever had. It seems like it would fare decently well in an Amber Ale category though. The yeast is very weak, barely adding even a modest fruit character...very un-belgian. Its a malt driven beer with a nice creamy body and adequate carbonation. I guess my scores reflect a combo of stylistic fit and plain ol enjoyability...as a BPA it would get a D, but as an Amber Ale of some sort would probably get a B. I didnt have much difficulty finishing my 12 oz sample and we'll leave it at that.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 19:00:25 | More by twiggamortis420

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

2.78/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint, 5.4% ABV, DEC1310 printed on the neck.

A - Strong carbonation rushes through the clear golden tangerine-colored beer to a short-lived white head. Some spots of lace pretty-it-up just a bit.

S - Dry straw and hay with very pale malt in the nose makes way for the citrusy-smelling cascade hops. A touch of resin makes it's way in as well but what doesn't find it's way in is any sort of Belgian influence. It smells of a very weak American pale.

T - Still lacking any sort of real Belgian influence, this American pale ale is about as weak as the nose. The malts seem more like hay and grainy straw than malt but the mild cascade hop spices it up a touch. A subtle citrusy character from the hops pulls through too. This one doesn't seem to have hibiscus or orange peel in that which the label claims.

M - Light-bodied and very carbonated, the mouthfeel seems the be the only similarity to a Belgian pale I find. Thin in flavor and particularly in the feel, this has a very mildly bitter finish, almost not noticeable really.

D - Cha-ching! Here's what they can take straight to the bank: drinkability. It's lacking everywhere else but it certainly does have drinkability! I, however, find it to be empty calories with no flavor so I'll be handing this pint to my brother.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 12:10:12 | More by BeerFMAndy

FosterJM

California

3.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

81st review on BA
Bottle to Pint

App- Dark amber in color with a busy first pour carbonation. Little head was left and didnt retain well.

Smell- Faint spice note with another small touch of some mild citrus.

Taste- A simple sugary taste with a bit of flower notes on the tounge. Had a muted underlying citrus of orange peel or lemon.

Mouth- It's a bit thin and lacking in bite. It is crisp which is what I am assuming coors was going for.

Drink- Just wanted to try it. Probably wont have it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 03:14:42 | More by FosterJM