Moon Man - New Glarus Brewing Company

WolfsbaneBloom

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a clear golden yellow with three fingers of fluffy, bubbly off-white foam.

Smell: Softly pungent fruity hop aroma consisting of pineapple, mango, and apricot. Little bit of pine and some earthiness as well.

Taste: Pine, grapefruit, semi-toasted malt, and a nutty finish. Great balance between hops and malts.

Mouthfeel: Fairly light bodied, crisp, well-carbonated, and refreshing.

Overall, Moon Man is yet another well-executed beer from New Glarus. Nothing too unique but at a sessionable 5% this APA has quite a lot of flavor. They're not trying to reinvent the wheel here and that's ok. What they've done instead is created a tasty pale ale that's extremely well-balanced and incredibly smooth. I'm a huge APA and IPA fan but for some reason I prefer New Glarus' lagers and maltier ales to their hoppy beers. Still, this is a really enjoyable brew and a solid take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 21:23:47 | More by WolfsbaneBloom

TriageStat

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to ElderPuma for putting this in as an extra.

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Golden straw color, clear, not hazy at all. Fine amount of carbonation. Nice off white, one inch head. Dissipated quickly. Lacing lingers around entire glass.

Aroma: Very clean and pleasant piney scent with some floral aromas. Hints of grass. Well balanced with the malt.

Flavor: Hop flavor is quite intense. Pine flavor is predominant, hints of a toasty flavor. Balanced nicely with the malt. Not bitter at all, very smooth. Finishes clean with no lingering hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium bodied. Moderate amount of carbonation.

Overall: A well executed pale ale. A definite summer time session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 21:09:51 | More by TriageStat

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.44/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to Lukaski for opicking thius brew up for me on his last trip North.

Pale and clear brass color. Ok bubbling. Quick one finger head that recedes to a super thin, half moon of foam.

Faintly sweet orange zest hop aroma balanced by some medium toasted malt aromas of bread crust.

Citric hop flavors balance with toasted cracker malts and some unmalted barley flavors. The finish is very thin, almost watery palate it seems. Still a very drinkable, sessionable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 12:00:10 | More by scruffwhor

Braseltonage

Missouri

3.79/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, poured into a tulip

A: Deep golden straw in color. Fluffy, craggy cloud of white head. Noticeable carbonation cascading through a bright and clean beer.

S: Subtle American hop aromas. Pleasant, tangerine, mint, hints of pine. Some bready background, a little honey.

T: Little more citrus bite than the aroma, but subtle. Soft grain presence. A little shortbread. Nice balance of hops with a just sweet enough malt.

M: Effervescence holds throughout. Hops just dry it out just enough. Solid mouthfeel for the style.

O: A really easy drinking pale ale. Like most of their offerings, seems to have something really nice about their malt profile. Not as bold as I’d typically look for, but a nice pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 00:43:08 | More by Braseltonage

Naters333

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into my New Glarus pilsner glass from a 12 oz bottle

A-Pours a nice straw color with nice 2 inch head. Good carbonation. Nice looking body to the beer. Leaves some nice lacing as I drink.

S-hops, engine oil, tropical fruit, pine

T-pine resin, tropical fruits, bread aftertaste, bitter, sour.

M-Very nice beer. Crisp, clean.

O-This beer probably lost some of its hop profile due to it being brewed at the beginning of December. Still is a really nice beer. Really notice the nice bready aftertaste. This is probably a tad more pronounced since it is an older beer. Overall not too bad. Would be a nice pale oil to enjoy on a summer day. Not as harsh on the palate...as say a zombie dust.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 07:33:05 | More by Naters333

marcobrau

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours clear gold with what at first seems like minimal carbonation but with a more vigorous pour a pretty, white head forms and never really goes away. Each sip seems to leave more and more lace on the sides of the glass. Hugely citrus aroma. I especially get lemons and a bit of grapefruit. The taste is full of citrus as well, suggesting a fresh leafy hoppiness that I quite like. The bitterness from the hops is somewhat muted but definitely there; it's just not as assertive as some other American pale ales. The mouthfeel is very soft and the finish is quite fruity and a touch dry. The citrus aroma and flavor in some ways reminds me of Three Floyds Gumballhead. All of these qualities make Moon Man an exceptionally drinkable ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 04:16:22 | More by marcobrau

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This pours a clear, golden amber color with a slight off-white head. The scent is rich with bitter hops and that’s about it. The taste is fairly light and smooth. As far as the hops go, this is a very easy drinking pale ale. Moon Man is good the way it is, but boy it should would be amazing to see this beer with a little thicker volume and hopped up. Clean, refreshing, and delicious; just the way New Glarus makes ‘em.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 04:13:16 | More by Lemke10

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

a great great session beer, drinkable in every way. pours a relaxed pale color with a little more than an inch of white foamy head. the nose is balanced between american pale malt and bittering hops, nothing to distinct about the hops here. ale yeast is obvious, providing some toasted biscuit notes. the flavor too is quite yeasty for an american pale ale, and i like it in this case. bittering hops on the back end, fresh wholegrain toast on the front end. dry mouthfeel, average carbonation, and just a little thin in terms of body. there is nothing too unique about this beer, maybe the stronger yeast presence, but this is an all day every day kind of session beer, perfect in all seasons, at any time. a delightful beer to drink in high quantities.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 03:00:51 | More by StonedTrippin

barczar

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a brilliant deep golden color with a frothy one and a half inch ivory head that dissipates slowly, leaving sheets of lacing.

Dank hops, cannabis, and grapefruit begin the aroma. Wow, that's a lotta grapefruit! There's some bready malt sweetness in there somewhere.

Yep, there's some grapefruit in the flavor. And some lightly grainy, bready malt in there...somewhere. Man, this would go great with a grapefruit!

Body is moderate, with carbonation a touch toward the high side.

Grapefruit. In a glass. With some toast.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 21:10:19 | More by barczar

wyatt13

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brought this back from Christmas break at my parents' house in wisconsin. I've had it before on tap, but never out of a bottle. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass.

A - Pours a lush goldenrod color with a slight haze and a two finger head. A few columns of quickly moving bubbles ascend to the top.

S - Strong pine and citrus scent, with maybe a hint of more tropical fruits. Very nice.

T - Starts crisp with some acidity and citrusy-bite, but finishes with a nice malt backbone. The aftertaste is a lingering breadiness that reminds me of a half-toasted English muffin.

M - Medium, with some noticeably energetic carbonation.

O - Great beer. A solid representation of the style across the board if you ask me. Very drinkable, but not boring.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 02:58:09 | More by wyatt13

Gotti311

Wisconsin

2.7/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

I have been encouraged by people all over WI to try this brew. The first time I ever had it was on tap. I proceeded to have it in the bottle and then a third time on tap so I feel pretty comfortable with where I am at with this beer. I even submitted this beer to a blinded APA taste challenge since I am known to be anti-New Glarus. As soon as nose gets anywhere near the glass you instantly get a really impressive hop aroma. One of the better noses of any APA I have had recently. As soon as the beer hits your lips, so does the disappointment. You get a tiny bit of flavor waaay up front, but that is most likely the nose spilling over into the mouth. Instantly the taste fades and you are left with nothingness in the mouth. Nothingness.

In the blinded taste test, the beer finished third behind Three Floyd’s Zombie Dust and Half Acre Daisey Cutter while ahead of Hopalicious and Pearl Street Pale Ale. This is a 3.0 beer if I have ever had one.

A side note - I refuse to rate appearance so every beer gets the same score as overall. Smell, taste, and mouth are the only things that truly matter when rating a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2013 21:51:20 | More by Gotti311

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a sixer at Casanova in Hudson, WI. New Glarus calls this a session beer, and while I like my session beers less than 5% ABV, this is close enough. The flavor and aroma are very juicy with mild floral and tangerine. The finishing bitterness is relatively mild, really on par with some blonde or amber ales. The body is a touch light for a pale ale, but this is supposed to be more drinkable (and it is). Check it out next time you're in 'Sconie

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 23:37:00 | More by tempest

Erdinger2003

Iowa

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased at the Piggly Wiggly in Prairie du Chen, WI.

Time Stamp:
2972
16:39

I poured the head high and it fell into a thin layer on top of the beer. The lacing is good and sticks to the side of the glass a little bit, but not really good (I can't see a ring every time I take a drink).

Appearance is golden yellow completely transparent and clear.

Smell is great, it's the first thing I noticed just while pouring. Smell is hoppy with the sharp citrus smell like Galaxy or Citra hops, not green and astringent but altogether hoppy like grapefruit.

Taste is very hoppy with little body behind it, but the body that is there is very good. A nice even and smooth protein profile doesn't leave the flavor on its own to whither and die. Even with such good filtering the protein is so even and small that it can survive. It's a very simple pale ale where the hops are the main attraction, but the malty body even though there isn't much holds everything together so you don't just taste astringent green hops at the end.

The mouthfeel is very good, light, but still there holding the beer together. It is a little harsh at the beginning, but then the body covers that up. It could be a side effect of aging on the shelf. When I had it on tap in New Glarus it wasn't so harsh, just smooth protein filling out the body and creating the beautiful head.

Overall this is a great pale ale that rivals the west coast pale ales and IPAs. The body being small only helps it be a great drinker. The body and the malt character is a great platform that allows the hops to stand out in the delicate dance of malts and hops.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 05:57:39 | More by Erdinger2003

TheSSG

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice, soft head that is resiny and fizzes loudly. Amazing aroma; soft pine and a touch of grapefruit. Lustrous golden-straw color. Starts off with a grapefruit bitterness and a little tartness, builds into a very pronounced grapefruit hop flavor, then the malt starts to come through into the end, but with the hop bitter lingering further. A very well balanced finish.

Pouring the bottom bits into it makes it a nice, hazy-straw color. Pouring the bottom bits makes a HUGE difference in the flavor (I think it's a hop residue). Flavor becomes much more assertive, and a touch more pine in nature.

Overall, this is just masterful. It's a great, hoppy bier, but it's not overwhelmingly bitter, so it doesn't wreck the palate, and it really allows the malt to still show through in a positive way.

I can't believe I can buy this is a 6-pack for $7.37 with tax. That just blows my mind. I've had bombers that cost more than a 6'er of this, and they can't even come close to this level of awesome.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 04:16:41 | More by TheSSG

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tall New Glarus Signature Pilsner Glass.

Appearance: Pours a bright copper golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid three finger white head which slowly fades into a thin layer. Leaves a good amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: A hop forward aroma with a good mix of citrus esters. Upfront are good hints of orange, lemon, grapefruit, mango, and tangerine. Some herbal earthy hops and a light hint of pine. Hops smell clean and not overly bitter. Bready malts and wheat grains in the background with hints of biscuit and caramel.A very solid hop lead aroma.

Taste: Hoppy and juicy like the smell leads. Solid citrus hop presence upfront with a taste of citrus orange peel, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, and mango. Herbal and floral hops add to the bite along with a touch of pine. Hops are fairly sharp and drying. Decent presence of bready malt and grains with some notes of biscuit, cracker, and caramel. Taste leans heavily to the hops and citrus. Very good.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Very crisp and clean with a nice juicy bite. Pretty smooth.

Overall: A very good version of an American Pale Ale. Very nice use of hops. Great option for a lighter feeling hoppy beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 08:16:29 | More by MattyG85

kojevergas

California

3.2/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap acquired courtesy of the gracious crewfan16 in a trade. Thanks again, buddy! Served into a Bell's pilsner glass in me sister's gaff in low altitude Minneapolis, Minnesota. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; I've really enjoyed everything I've had from this brewery so far.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger disappointingly thin head of no real cream and bad retention (<30 seconds). Colour is a pale copper-gold. Transparent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Floral hops, soap, bubblegum. Hrm. Too long in primary? A mild strength aroma. No yeast or alcohol is detectable.

T: Pale clean malts and floral hops. Hints of soap. Tasty but simple. Fairly balanced. A bit lacking in complexity and subtlety. Clean wheat/grains on the finish lend it a pleasant crispness.

Mf: Clean, smooth, wet, a bit too coarse on the finish. A touch too thick. Carbonation is a touch high.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable, but a bit underwhelming considering the brewery. I wouldn't have this again; there are far better beers to be had from this brewery at the same price point. The soapy character brings it down.

C+

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 20:41:18 | More by kojevergas

iSip

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Visiting the folks back in Wisconsin, I picked up a six of Moon Man. Not sure what Moon Man is all about, but hey, I'm in it for the beer. Nice citrus aroma, odd for a pale ale. The hops are up front in the flavor, some nice malt follows, then comes a watery finish. Overall, an easy drinking beer, but not up to the pale ale's available in the Colorado front range.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 23:44:09 | More by iSip

Beerlover

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this for the first time about six to eight months ago, ive been keeping beer notes since before then. I gave this a 10 outta 10 in my personal notes from when i first tried it and was looking forward to trying again.

the appearance and smell of this beer is great and couldn't smell better, hints of citrusy hops and a well balnaced pale reinforce this beer.

there is medium carbonation and great well balanced mouthfeel in this beer.

the taste is... well... indescribable. perfect balance when it comes to the hops, malts and wheat-barley. my go to pale ale is summits e.p.a. most pale ales are either not hoppy enough or too hoppy and should be classified as an i.p.a. this is PERFECT in every aspect not only as a pale ale but as a easy to drink - everyday - sessionable brew. AWESOME. if there is a better pale ale out there... SHOW ME! I LOVE THIS BEER, wish i didn't have to visit my inlaws to get it, also wish that i could get this in a 12 pack instead of just a six! sooo gooody goooosh good!!! (whatever that means?) buy it! try it! love it!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 01:09:39 | More by Beerlover

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Tasted 30 October 2012, reviewed from notes.

Pours a bright pale orange-yellow. I love the color. Completely clear, with a thin stream of bubbles in the center of the glass. One finger of white head, dense but not long-lasting. Pretty good lacing on the edges.

Smell is delightfully hoppy. Loads of bright citrus, lemon and grapefruit with a touch of orange. Hint of pine, some warm grainy malts providing backing. I really like this. A bit tingly.

Taste is quite nice as well. Smooth, balanced, a decent chunk of hop flavor without much bite. Citrus again. Malts come through more strongly, light grains, a little earthy.

Light body, tingly carbonation that gradually fades out. The feel and the flavor disappear around a bend together, drying out, right when I want them to. Very nice.

I really like this beer. Happy I finally tried it - I could drink a whole lot of it. Smell is the definite highlight, but everything else works together quite well. Refreshing, smooth, and clean.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 05:13:28 | More by zeledonia

Boto

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle: This one pours a crystal clear golden color. There was a bit of an off-white head on it that didn’t linger long. Some lacing to it. The aroma is nice. Mainly a lighter pine and grapefruit hop nose. It has a very nice taste to it. a nice upfront flavor of pine and grapefruit hops, but not too strong or overly bitter. Medium bodied. Clean and refreshing. A good choice.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 20:44:40 | More by Boto

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours light copper, cloudy, with 1/4 inch of white foam. Hoppy nose. Swirling blend nose. Taste is a thin non-nonsense malt with a subtle hop bump. One of the lightest pales I've ever had. Simple, yet elegant. Quite good, actually. Simplicity counts for something.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 13:49:48 | More by KTCamm

AJacob81

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Obtained a 6 pk on a recent trip to Milwaukee. 12 oz bottle into a tumbler pint.

A - Gold, clear, and crowned with a slightly rocky head of 1.5 fingers of white foam.

S - Grassy, fruity, and earthy hops. Not the strongest bouquet, but pleasant enough and inviting.

T - Fantastic. The citric and green, almost flowery hops are ascendant, but blend nicely w underlying tones of fresh baked bread and earthier flavors. Finishes juicy and just a hint tart.

M - Thin side of medium body, w lively carbonation that makes this very quaffable. The finish is just dry enough to encourage another sip immediately.

O - Textbook APA w an easy-to-session taste and ABV level. This is an amazing brew, and I hope Wisconsinites don't take it for granted.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 23:01:56 | More by AJacob81

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into an imperial pint glass.

A - Good clarity on a light golden pale ale. I got a medium sized off-white head that receded to a small cap. Small bits of lacing on the glass.

S - Dank piney hops, a little citrus just pouring out of the glass. Light malt deep inside loads of fresh hops.

T - Those light malts hold up a little better in the flavor. Has a citrusy hop flavor that is second to none. There is some sharpness to the bittering that fits perfect. Finishes up pretty dry with that hop flavor lingering for a little while.

M - Light to moderate body, dry to semi-dry, light to moderate carbonation.

O - This beer could use a little better head retention. Piney hops could easily rival the hoppiest of double IPAs. I loved the citrus hop flavor in this beer. For a beer that labels itself as "No Coast" Pale Ale, maybe a little west coast. I thought this beer was super one sided with little malt character to restrain the hops, I mean that in a good way. I have to believe this beer has a lot of Simcoe hops. Thankfully,this will now be my go to beer as I am lucky enough to live in Wisconsin.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 22:59:08 | More by Jparker37

rundocrun

Iowa

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Crystal clear light honey color. About a finger of white head with good retention. Minimal lacing.

S - Huge grapefruit and pine presence in the nose. Lots of american-style hops are evident here.

T - Citrusy and almost tart up front from all the hops. Good malty balance thereafter. Medium bitterness. Just a touch of wheaty dryness in the finish but this beer is largely a big, juicy hop-forward offering.

M - Lighter body with an extremely crisp, refreshing finish. I wish I had gotten my hands on this one earlier in the summer. Low ABV makes this one a perfect session beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 01:00:10 | More by rundocrun

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle with 2122 bottling code (2 months old), poured into oint glass
A- Crystal clear golden/orangish in color, a thick one finger white head- thin layer sticks around
S- Deep smell of citrus hops, floral and grassy
T- Mostly hop forward, Nice citrus with malty sweetness, finish is more balanced, not hugely complex but very good and refreshing
M- Easily the best aspect of this beer, nice carbonation hits lips, tongue and mouth, very crisp and smooth
O- Very easy-drinking and one of the most readily available APAs here in WI, one of my favorites from NG

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 05:30:54 | More by BasterdInABasket