Moonlight Bombay by Boat IPA

Brewed by Moonlight Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Fulton, California USA

Poured with no head, bitterness was out of balance. No depth, just a one note hopbomb with too much bitterness.

Pours medium golden copper color with a thin off white head. The nose is hop filled with citrus and a bit of pine. The flavor is bitter and grapefruit like, with some herbal and earthy influences as well. Bitter finish.

On tap at Flavor. Bronze with a compact head like whipped egg whites. Aroma is earthy and of orange zest. Grapefruit hop bitterness leads into carmel sweet base, with grassy notes. Medium bodied (like 2% milk) and moderately carbonated. Bold (not coarse) hop finish prevails.

On tap at The Red in Santa Cruz. Poured into a pint glass. Clear amber with a foamy white head that leaves some decent wisps of lacing. Aroma is very leafy and raw. Some citrus zest in there too. Flavor is grapefruit oil up front and then a very herbal bitter finish. Perfect non-astringent bitterness, reminiscent of Pliny the Elder in standard IPA form. Another good one from Moonlight.

On tap @ Toronado SF. Darkish golden color with a thin off-white head. Nice musky earthy hop character, slight tannic note, pepper. Robust floral hops on the taste with a robust lingering finish. Another impressive brew from Moonlight.

On-tap at the West County Grill in Sebastopol. Man was I happy to see this beer. Pours cloudy orange amber with a moderate, creamy, offwhite head, sheet lace. Smella very earthy hoppy with a solid malt background. Tastes nice and earthy hoppy as well as grassy hop bitter. Good malt presence in the flavor as well. Full body, good carbonation.

On tap at Flavor in Santa Rosa. Slightly hazy light orange-gold with a fine, thin, lacey white head. Top notes of light grains in the aroma followed by oranges and a touch of vegetal hops and finishing with some yeasty fermentation characteristics. Big, bright bitterness in the flavor that fills the mouth but doesn’t convey much hop flavor--mostly light grainy malt flavors with clean bitterness. Easy-drinking IPA with light, refreshing mouthfeel.

Tap @ Monk’s Kettle. Poured an almost clear copper color with a moderate sized off-white head. The aroma had a decent amount of hops. Citrus, pine and earthy notes with a caramel base. Pine and earthy hop forward flavor with a malty middle. The hops come back to finish it out. Stiff bitter finish. Semi-dry with a medium body.