Reality Czeck - Moonlight Brewing Company

trevorwideman

Manitoba (Canada)

4.8/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Toronado and at Zeitgeist in SF during one of the best beer weeks of my life....

Pour has about 1/4 inch of head that recedes to a ring quite quickly, light lacing, medium carbonation. Deep yellow colouring, clear as crystal. The aroma is where this one sets itself apart though. Think of all the aromas that you associate with a good Czech pils: Grass, Hay, Flowers, Peppery Spice, Earth, Grain, maybe even a little nuttiness, but all amped up, well balanced, but still each one distinct from the other.

When it hits your taste buds an eruption of fresh flavours happens. It's like having a garden in your mouth. Floral as all hell, but offset by the spicy pepper notes that are typical of the noble hops. There's a massive hop bill here. A bit of lemon sourness as well. The grassy character is almost like how a sun-baked hillside smells, earthy and dry. Very grainy and nutty as well. Full flavoured is an understatement.

Mouthfeel is maybe a little heavier than the average pils, but barely, and the carbonation is just about right. Dry as all hell. Drinkability takes a hit only because you want to savour every sip. This one isn't a chugger, but it's so enjoyable you have to have more than one.

As far as Pilsners go, this one goes to 11, I'm extremely pleased to have tried it, and it's an essential brew if you're in the bay area.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2007 19:43:54 | More by trevorwideman

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

05-15-2013 19:06:39 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

(on tap at Toronado)

A: real light yellow gold, slightly hazy (dry hopping? dirty lines?).... nice, cloud-like white head, sticks around in collar, lil spatters of lace

S: bright and refreshing.... not the level nor relative richness of malt the taste soon reveals.... mostly a blend of floral and orange-lemon hops, dense yet delicate

T: wonderful smooth butter cookie malt.... lemony grassy hops, lasting bitterness.... mmm, pale and caramel malts really shine....approaching bold yet drinks light and clean.... moreish, as the malt gives way to the spring-like hops

M: starts off with a tease of medium body only to spread and attenuate back over the palate

O: solid overall... great balance, foundation and separation of constituent parts.... tastes like a Czech Pils more than anything else.... probably oughta do a follow-up review ASAP

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2013 04:34:24 | More by Bouleboubier

waddellc2

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -13.8%

05-06-2013 03:17:24 | More by waddellc2

brotherloco

California

4/5  rDev -8%

05-03-2013 21:26:17 | More by brotherloco

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -8%

03-27-2013 22:09:57 | More by strongaf

daysinthewake

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

03-04-2013 16:43:53 | More by daysinthewake

mactrail

California

4.1/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Lovely dark golden color in the tall pint nonic. Perfect head and foam down the glass. Pleasing nose of grain and fresh straw.

Warm tones with a biscuity malt flavor. Resiny and clean sharp flavors, but the mellow malt gives it a pleasurable mouthfeel. Long hoppy aftertaste with just the right Pilsener bitterness.

This is kind of the ideal lager sort of beer. Reminds me of the way Mexican beers used to taste in the 1960s, at least in my mind. On tap at the Trappist in Oakland and a great quaff for lunch.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 20:33:20 | More by mactrail

jadeal

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

01-20-2013 04:12:53 | More by jadeal

Lakemonster

4.24/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I have tasted very few high quality pils. This one blew me away. It was refreshing, light and full of good pils flavor. I was fortunate enough to have this on tap at Toronado with a good friend who was showing me the local brew scene. I won't forget it and would highly recommend you try it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 22:00:53 | More by Lakemonster

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -8%

11-04-2012 04:28:10 | More by t0rin0

jethrodium

California

4.1/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap. Pours a clear light amber with a one finger white head that has good retention and leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma is hay and straw. Quite earthy with bread and biscuit and a bit of grass. The taste is dry and earthy with straw, grass, and biscuit. The finish is drying with a very light bitterness and a lingering earthiness. Medium carbonation. Medium-light body. A great American Pilsener.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2012 05:40:16 | More by jethrodium

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

10-22-2012 00:03:32 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

cbnz

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

10-19-2012 00:01:35 | More by cbnz

FosterJM

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1551st Review on BA
Draft to Pint

@Toronado San Francisco

App- It's truly a light yellow. Amazingly clear and lite looking in the glass with a small 1/4"-1/2" head. Again like most pils in that there was no cling and lace on this one.

Smell- Damn lagers. Just can't get passed that grassy, butter kinda Heineken thing. However, this seems more dry hopped, less lager and generally more spicy and alive.

Taste- Holy cow! Why aren't all lagers like this. Keeps the pils flavors from the malts, however as with the aromatics the hop additions do wonders for this beer. It's much more complete and clean. The flavors aren't as muddled either as most pils.

Mouth- A lighter medium body which surprised me. Was thinking it would be the usual light body. Again the thicker carbonation was a shock! More pepper and dry hops on the finish.

Drink- Much like Bombay, was hearing the hype but couldn't believe how good this was. Sad I only had one pint.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2012 02:36:33 | More by FosterJM

bostonryan

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -8%

10-05-2012 23:52:20 | More by bostonryan

hayesjw

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

09-25-2012 23:41:11 | More by hayesjw

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I think the defining achievmemt of this beer is its smooth tone. So many pilsners seem to have some aftertaste or lingering tone that is a distraction or detractor. This one does not. Smooth with a mildly grassy tone and subtle hop spicy bits added in. This is extremely drinkable.

Beers like this show why the American brewing scene is now king, and will be so for a very long time.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2012 17:08:41 | More by RblWthACoz

eawolff99

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

08-29-2012 02:40:34 | More by eawolff99

flayedandskinned

California

4/5  rDev -8%

08-22-2012 02:06:25 | More by flayedandskinned

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.13/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Toronado SF. Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance - Pale straw yellow with a white head. Settles to just a ring and some wisps.

Smell - Earthy and very slightly grassy hops. Mild. Biscuity pale malts. Spicy?

Taste - Mimics the smell. Slightly more emphasis on the hops. Hardly what I'd call hoppy, but it's got a presence. Clean pilsener malts. Just a little toasty. Dry in the finish. Exactly what I'm looking for.

Mouthfeel - The finish seals the deal for this one. Yes, it's light and drinkable,nut so are many average pilseners. This one is dry and slightly spicy. Excellent.

Overall - I'm not a lager fan, but so many pilseners are awful. This is an exception. When it's good, it's very good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 04:28:45 | More by Alieniloquium

cletusdog

California

3/5  rDev -31%

06-27-2012 07:03:58 | More by cletusdog

wsucoug96

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

06-11-2012 20:35:27 | More by wsucoug96

bouncepass

California

3.25/5  rDev -25.3%

06-06-2012 21:25:17 | More by bouncepass

MrHirschybar

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

05-18-2012 11:12:31 | More by MrHirschybar