Moon Man - New Glarus Brewing Company

Ek0nomik

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured In: Snifter
Purchased At: Woodmans (Madison, WI)

Appearance: The pour is an amber and deep saffron color with the head coming in at just near a fingers worth. The head doesn't last long; it disappears within handful of seconds and then I'm left with a handful of oily looking bubbles. The beer is crystal clear, and there are just a few streaks of lace on the side of the glass. The beer is slightly effervescent with two lines of bubbles creeping their way to the top of the glass. Even with the very last pour of the beer into my glass there's just a slight haze. It's still quite clear.

Smell: The nose is covered with resinous pine, herbal grass and floral notes. The fruit isn't left out, there's a blend of grapefruit, orange peel, mango and pineapple.

Taste: Some rather bland, pale malt sits in the background to uphold the wave of hops that are about to come ashore. More hop flavors come through just like the nose has predicted. More grapefruit, pine, mango and honey. The aftertaste has a very pleasant citrus flavor and

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with what I'd say is a high amount of carbonation. I would have knocked down the carbonation just a hair.

Drinkability: This is going to be a good Summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2010 01:41:41 | More by Ek0nomik

ronhocker

Wisconsin

3.03/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is very pale yellow, very clear, very small amount of yeast in the bottom of the bottle. Head is ok, not as good as some hoppy bears which benefit from all the hops causing excellent head retention.

Aroma is of a complex mix of hops. I was excited when I smelled it. Very piney and resinous, most likely some simcoe hops and some noble ones in here.

Taste is where things go quickly downhill. I would very accurately describe this as "spotted cow with hops". I said this an my drinking partner immediately agreed. It has a slight aftertaste, similar to spotted cow. Not a lot of malt flavor and very thin tasting.

There is little to no apparent malt flavor, except for a slight corn-like aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is very thin, almost watery.

Overall I am not impressed. I enjoy many NG beers and was excited to see Hop Hearty going away and being improved upon, but now I want hop hearty back immediately. My theory would be that NG decided they wanted to make a pale ale for the masses and this could be it. However, two-hearted is an excellent example of a widely accepted IPA, even among non craft beer drinkers.

If you like spotted cow on hops, this is your beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2010 21:44:30 | More by ronhocker

bound4er

Wisconsin

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

A. Dark straw colored with copious carbonation bubbles rising to a two finger white head with good staying power. Laces as it should. Classic looking APA.

S. Really nice grassy and pine hop aroma. It's somewhat reminiscent of a wet hopped ale - maybe Founders Harvest Ale? Very inviting - I am dying to take a sip of this stuff.

T. A nice blend of pale malt and citrus/herbal hop flavors with a nice tongue prickling finish that immediately invites you back for another sip.

M. Light bodied with perfect carbonation.

D. Off the chart drinkability. I pounded a 6-pack of this stuff two nights ago and never tired of it. It's a good thing I ran out - I would have probably drank another 6-er before passing out. This is going to be a great addition to NG's summer beer line-up - a killer warm weather session beer for sure. Nicely done and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2010 20:39:42 | More by bound4er

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle.

It pours a hazy gold with a big foamy white head.

It has a really fresh hop character in the scent. It is lightly grassy with a bit of tropical fruit and pine. Pale malts are underneath.

It is light tasting, too light, very grainy as per the style, the hops are a bit more interesting here than most but overall just very bland typical APA. It ain't no Pride and Joy.

Overall it is a bit of an oddity but for the most part it is typical low-flavor APA.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2010 21:59:22 | More by crossovert

cokes

Wisconsin

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

Clear, pale gold topped with a tower of white cream, which retains and laces very well.
The nose focuses on the fruity characteristics of the hops. It brings pineapple, guava, grapefruit, along with drier notions of spruce, mint, and flowers.
A pale maltiness hits the tongue first with hay and slightly sweeter notions of shortbread. It's merely a canvas, but it works entirely well here. The hops present slight differently here than in the nose. The floral elements are more pronounced, though it does still carry a significant pineapple/grapefruit persona. Bitterness is minimized. Some mint comes through, then it deliver a long, drying hay-like fade on the finish.
Light bodied with frenetic carbonation. It's altogether easy-going but not vacuous. Simply put, it's near impossible not to pound this.
It's one of the best pure sessioners I've had in a bit.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 06:40:20 | More by cokes

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear golden with a thin white heads that quickly turns into a ring of foam.

S - Flowery and citrus hops with a few whiffs of pine in the background. Lemon, orange, grapefruit and tangerine blended nicely with honey sweetness.

T - Lemon and citrus hop flavors with a touch of pine hiding in the background and a honey like malt sweetness. Very well balanced.

M - Light and refreshing. On the hoppy side but there is a lingering sweetness to go along with the dry hoppy finish.

D - This is going to make for a great summer beer and maybe forget how much I am missing Cracked Wheat. The lemon type hop flavor really fits in nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 00:17:28 | More by brewcrew76

Duff27

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Big head leaves a thin lacing.

S- Aroma of floral hops, big time.

T- Saaz and other noble hops. Reminds me a lot of SA Noble Pils if I am recalling correct. Delicious.

M- Clears the sinuses.

D/O- My claim to fame is to be the man to carry the second 6 pack out of the brewery. Doesn't that win me something like another 6 pack? This is a great session brew and may need to buy in bulk to make my 2010 summer session staple beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 05:34:32 | More by Duff27

Wisconsinality

Wisconsin

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

Poured from 12oz bottle into standard pint.

A- This beer pours a nice golden color with the slightest bit of haze. There was a little sediment at the bottom of the bottle that I swirled to mix it in. After a generous pour, it has about one finger head that leaves a nice little cap on the beer and leaves decent spotty lacing on the side of the glass.

S- A big burst of a combination of piney hops and some citrus hops. No real malt to speak of but I can pick up a little bit of the sweet yeast in there. There is some lemon in there to go along with just a tad bit of orange. Great nose.

T- The hop profile is a little more subdued than in the nose but this is in no way a bad thing. You can easily pick up the lemon and some sweet orange in there. There is also a little breadiness, probably from the yeast and a little pine to round it out.

M- An abundance of carbonation that has just a little bit of bite to it. The overall mouth feel is a little on the thin side but it supposed to be a sessionable beer so the light body works. The finish is a little dry but it works well.

D- A great hop nose and good flavor make for a good session beer and Dan hit it on the head with this one. No palate fatigue to speak of after a few of these and light enough in the body as to not fill you up. I cannot wait to crack a few of these open on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 02:52:56 | More by Wisconsinality

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy peach pour into my tulip

Nice fresh fruit of the nose - mild pineapple, peach and orange

Vibrant hops, pleasant bitterness, and an earthiness that hints at a strange dirt finish - very little in terms of a malt presence

Very creamy, light with a zesty carbonation

Drinkability is through the roof

A very nice pale ale that nails the style and proves that New Glarus can do hops

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 03:55:23 | More by BarrytheBear

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Another brand new NG beer for my perusal. Poured into my pint glass the beer is crystal clear golden yellow. So clear I can see the my tv perfectly through it as I hold it up. Four fingers of white head burst up to the top of the glass like a volcano of foam. A thick lace ring is left after some settling. This is a beautiful beer.

The aroma is a huge boquet of hops. Pine, grapefruit, lemons and hints of honey like a tamer version of hopslam. This is one of the best smelling NG beers I've ever had the pleasure of whiffing.

The flavor is spot on APA. Lightly hopped with hints of citrus but nothing overpowering at all. A mild dry malt sweetness seems to mellow this one out to a point of perfection. About as balanced as I can possibly imagine.

The body seems a bit on the this side. Moderate carbonation.

Overall if I was to think of a session ale this will be my new definition. NG nailed this one for sure. I will have no problem putting back a handful of these anytime.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 01:45:32 | More by beerwolf77

Soneast

Wisconsin

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

Pours a crystal clear, golden color with a 2 finger thick, creamy white colored cap with above average retention, leaving dollops of suds on the side of the glass.

The aroma is hop-tastic! Full of citrus fruit aromas, mostly grapefruit to my nose, with a touch of honey-like sweetness. The malt character definitely takes a backseat in the aroma.

The flavor is a touch more subdued, hop-wise, certainly the hops are the star of the show, but there is a lot more sweet, almost honey-like malt flavors, in addition to the citrus quality imparted by the hops. The finish is somewhat thin and more on the sweet-side than bitter.

I gotta say, I'm pretty happy with Moon Man. I had pretty low expectations, so it certainly surpassed those. That said, the aroma is knockout delicious, the flavor is a clean and hoppy backed up admirably by a sweet honey-like character of the pale malts, with a somewhat underwhelming finish, but a pale ale this is and for what it is, I think NG did a fantastic job.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 19:54:53 | More by Soneast

Skidz

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out light yellow and sits a shimmering gold in the glass with a small, frothy white head. Fades to a light skim with good lacings around the glass.

Bright flowery hops hit the nostrils on first whiff. Hints of tangerine, orange, nectarine, goldenrod, and kiwi float by. Hard to pick up any malts in this rather fruity and flowery bouquet.

Light citrus notes on the palate, with a mild hops presence. There are flavors of orange zest, lemon, and a bit of light pine off in the distant background. Malts are, again, at a minimum, perhaps water-cracker would be the closest comparison--very subdued.

Crisp, spring-clean mouthfeel with mild hops bitterness. This is definitely light and easy-going in the mouth, a true session beer.

I'm decently impressed. Not by any means a beer to be blown away by, but absolutely true to the style and solid beer at that. Just as they suggest, this is one to be consumed at its absolute freshest, and I'd say I've had the privilege of doing just that.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 00:30:08 | More by Skidz