Moonlight Death and Taxes Black

Brewed by Moonlight Brewing Company
Style: Schwarzbier
Fulton, California USA

I’ve had this on tap several times at Flavor and Black Rose, both in Santa Rosa, over the past 5 years or so. Having had it again today, I can say that this is a nice fairly rich, but still light bodied beer resembling a more full-bodied, tastier dry stout. It is black with a big, dense, brown head that lasts and leaves excellent, rich, even rings of lacing. The aroma is rich, dark toasted malt, nuts, molasses, caramel, and a hint of chocolate. The taste is similar, but without the caramel and with a strongly toasted malt emphasis, hints of chocolate and coffee, burnt toast, with initial sweetness balanced by a zesty, spciy bitterness. It has a long, mellow finish and is satisfying, smooth and fairly light while having fairly full body and flavor. It is not especially complex, though, and is ultimately fairly straightforward.

Tap. Aroma starts with heavy malt notes of molasses, burnt, strong coffee and dark bread, light hop smell of herbs and light yeast of leather, with soy sauce and cola in the background. Head is a creamy/bubbly off-white and has excellent thick lacing and is mostly lasting. Flavor starts lightly sweet and acidic and finishes lightly acidic and moderately bitter. Palate is watery, light to medium and has a lively carbonation. The depth of the aroma sets this beer above similar styles.

On tap at the Magnolia Pub. Pours jet black with thin mocha head. The aroma is big with toffee, burnt malts and dark roasted coffee beans. The taste is inviting rich malt complexity. A solid burnt charred maltiness hits first with lighter roasted malts, dark roasted coffee beans, a hint of toffee and some licorice. At the finish a mild astringency enters to linger with the burnt malts and coffee notes. It smells more like toffee than it tastes.

On tap at the Beachwood BBQ. Pours a dark black color with brown sugar edges and a firm head of tan foam. Loads of chocolate saturates the aroma, along with dark caramel toffee, medium roast coffee, and even a hint of prune skin fruitiness. Light bodied, fizzy carbonated mouthfeel. Starts out somewhat sweet with flavors of chocolate and nutty molasses. This dries up mid-palate with some roast coffee bitterness. An almost undetectable trace of butterscotch suggests diacetyl, but is very minor if there. Lots of herbal, minty hops round out the finish nicely. Impressive malt flavors and complexity for the low ABV and hopped generously, yet appropriately.

On tap at Toronado in San Francisco. Deep walnut brown, almost black, with a thin brown pad of a head. Chocolate aroma with an interesting smoked-cork aroma too. Again chocolatey, with figgy/fruity elements and a well-hopped bitter finish. Only faintly smokey. Medium mouthfeel. More porter-ish in my mind, but awesome nonetheless.

Draught, Toronado. Body is dark brown. Aroma is moderately to heavily malty (roasted grain, coffee, caramel, nuts). Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery/velvety texture, lively carbonation. Delightful...a very tasty malt-bomb.

Many times. From tap at Lanesplitter in Oakland, Berkeley and at Vapariso.. Varies sometimes, but pretty consistent. Coffee, roasty, smoky aroma and flavors. A good hop punch too. Great flavor from what appears to be Nugget hops? Drinks so much like a quaffable ale I sometimes forget this is a lager. Very enjoyable, and my personal favorite of all dark beers in this alcohol range. A great beer. Thanks Brian!

Weak aroma in the beginning continued by a welcoming nice cereal taste. It just looks wonderful, so dark in the pint glass. unexpectedly wonderful to accompain with mac and cheese and bbq ribs.