Moonlight Twist of Fate Bitter Ale

Pours reddish amber with a beige head. The aroma is hoppy with tropical fruits and grapefruit. The flavor is herbal and bitter with vague hints of mango, papaya and a nice sweet middle before a very bitter end. Another excellent brew from moonlight.

Pours a honey color with beige head. Aromas of brown sugar with some funkiness and spiciness. Palate is a bit thin. Sugary start, then grass, leading to a bitter finish.

Draft @ Flavor. Pours a hazy amber color; fluffy light tan head with excellent retention and medium-bubbled lacing; great texture, beautiful show. Solid presence of red fruits, basic wet malts, and a very light earthy bitterness in the aroma; slightly reserved. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: lots of earthy bitterness coupled to a slightly vegetal / green apple note that detracts; nice citrus / mineral bitterness, but the off note really complicates things; a touch misguided. Funky bitter (at least that’s what my notes say). Lengthy finish: earthy bitterness, fruitiness; nicely dry and bitter end.

From tap at Flavor. Pours clear and golden amber with a small and nicely lacing off-white head. Aroma is crisp grapefruity and light orange fruity. Mild fruity flavoured with a good dry roasted malt base. Smooth and nicely balanced flavoured finish with a lasting malt flavoured impression into the far finish.

Cask at Toronado during RBSG09. Copper brown color with a creamy beige head. Lots of resiny and herbal hops in the nose with some dark toast as well. Caramel and toasted malt wit lots of spicy and piney hops. This is really hoppy for the style, but has a nice balance. Toronado does cask right and this has a perfectly smooth mouthfeel. Its getting to the point where I don’t even have to ask what kind of beer it is, if it’s from Moonlight it’s going to rock.

Draft. A hazy amber beer with a lazing orangey head. The aroma has notes of citrusy hops and a bit of malt. The flavor is sweet with notes of hops on a lightly malty caramel back ground, leading to a bitter finish.

Interesting. I think this was a fine beer but it caught me a bit by surprise at how West Coast it was. Sweet edge, with some British fruitiness, including cherry. Then layers of caramel. Not bad, though more bitter than a bitter should be, in my palate’s judgment. (hand-pulled tap at the Toronado)

On tap at 515 in Santa Cruz. Coppery amber color with a long lasting, creamy, tan head. Nice lacing. Aroma is nutty with caramel and maybe a little bit of orangey hop influence. Flavor is deep dark caramel and maple syrup up front which melts into a piney resinous hoppy finish. Moderate bitterness. A little heavy on the palate for the style. Pretty good beer overall.