Moonraker Zymatore
J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd

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From:
J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
7.9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 13.51%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
17
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 27, 2014
Added:
Jun 29, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by DrBier:
Photo of DrBier
Rated by DrBier from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

Jul 27, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by BitterOldSalt from Maine

Dec 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by beernads from Florida

Aug 22, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by Eighty from Washington

Jul 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Jan 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by macrosmatic from Florida

Dec 05, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by mdillon86 from Pennsylvania

Aug 16, 2012
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Tap at Ebenezers

Big fluffy head fades slowly with nice lacing, slightly clear caramel brown color.

Nose molasses, hint of caramel malts, light whisy barrel, some dark fruits, fig, brandy soaked raisins, etc. light dry toasty reddish malt.

Taste starts semi sweet with darker reddish malts, light toasty and some caramel. Fruit brings plenty of fig, date, light brandy raisins, etc, with a light tartness. Very light whisky flavor with a touch of wood ester flavors. Finish is quite dry, a light tart fruits lingering, hint if reddish caramel malt and dry bready malts lingering.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb.

Overall pretty nice, good tart fruits and malts, but barrel and whisky flavors are very light.
Jul 09, 2012
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Served in a tulip glass, a dark, nearly opaque chestnut brown color, with a small but rather creamy cap of off-white head; minimal retention and just a bit of lacing. Aroma of dark fruits, citrus, toasted grains, and I'm pretty sure a bit of tobacco jumped out at me too. The bartender described this to me as a "sour brown ale," and while that fits the bill to a certain extent, I wouldn't exactly have labeled it as such. There was a definitely sour twinge to this beer, but much much less than you'd get in say, a RR Consecration. Grapefruit and grape were easily the dominant flavors here, lesser notes of apple and cherry, with a toasted bready malt base keeping everything decently balanced, and preventing the sourness to fully take hold...which is good or bad, depending on your taste. Personally, I liked this one a lot. Medium body, moderate carbonation, not too boozy for a higher ABV beer. Quite good overall. If you like sours but are in the mood for something a bit less intense than the big boys, this is a good one to try.
May 31, 2012
Photo of shleepy
Reviewed by shleepy from California

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Writing based on 2-week-old notes. Served on tap at The Refuge in San Carlos, CA. Tulip glass.

A: Dark amber / reddish brown, but not hazy. Medium/big, creamy head.

S: Very sour, oaky, some fruitiness (cherry?).

T: Like a less acidic Rodenbach / Flanders ale. Oaky, with some sourness and not much else.

M: Very light and drinkable.

O: A refreshing, very oaky beer, but not too complex or flavorful.
Apr 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Swervine44 from California

Apr 18, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Ralphs66 from New York

Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by DoctorB2B from Virginia

Nov 20, 2011
Photo of CHickman
Reviewed by CHickman from New York

3.44/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
On tap at Taproom 307 in NYC; pours hazy chestnut brown color with a small creamy tan head that faded quickly and left basically no lacing; this settled quickly and looked like a very dark iced tea.

Smells of dark fruit, apricot, raspberry, yeast, sweet malt, caramel, grains, herbs and fruit punch; this is a very sweet smelling beer with earthy tones like herbs and tea leaf.

Tastes of fruit like apricot, raspberry, sour apple and pear, yeast, sweet malt, caramel, grains, herbs, grass and a sour grape taste at the end, which is almost like red wine and grapefruit juice mixed together. This is a sour brew, but not that sour that it's offensive, and there were just enough spices and carbonation complexities to keep it from being like a cider.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, with light carbonation, a light body and a sour finish that leaves a fruity pucker. This beer hid the alcohol quite well. Low to average drinkability, this was decent, but not my favorite style so I would not rush back to drink one.
Aug 12, 2011
Photo of glid02
Reviewed by glid02 from Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a very hazy brownish-amber color with a light tan head that leaves decent lacing.

Smells of dark malts with large amounts of cocoa powder and smaller amounts of tart pears and green apples. Also present are mild amounts of brown sugar and nutmeg.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Dark malts with equal amounts of lightly tart pear and green apple flavors. Midway through the flavor profile darkens with the addition of light cocoa powder and leafy hops. Nutmeg, allspice, and various other spices come into play near the end, fading out into a mildly bitter ending. Mouthfeel is good, with smooth carbonation.

Overall I wasn’t a big fan of this beer. There was a lot going on, but it didn’t seem to meld together very well. This has a distinct medium fruit – green apples mostly – influence I see a lot with high-ABV English beers, so if that’s your thing this is worth a go, otherwise there are better beers out there.
Jul 26, 2011
Photo of ATLbeerDog
Reviewed by ATLbeerDog from Georgia

4.12/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2008 on Tap at the Brick Store Pub’s Sour Christmas in July. Pours dark brown with red hues. A two finger beige head crowns the beer and quickly recedes. Smells of fruit with an unmistakable mint aroma thrown in the mix. Heavy thick lacing clings tightly to the glass. First sip is strange with dark fruits and spice hitting first, then a gradual bitterness grows ending in a sour very dry finish. Amazing range of flavors from start to finish.
Jul 24, 2011
Photo of Viciousknishs
Reviewed by Viciousknishs from Virginia

4.17/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- pours a dark dark garnet ruby tinged amber with a minute tan head that quickly recedes into nothing in a matter of seconds.

S- Starts off with a dry cake malt character that transitions into a Tannic acidity with a sour Brett charater. Spices come through with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Finnish dry with a black currants note.

T- starts out with raisin character with a astringent acidic character that blends with some cinnamon like spices. Cakey malts and currants in the middle. Funky Brett character on the finish with a honey sweetness and a delicious port quality. This is one hell of a beer.

MF- slick tart acidic mouthfeel with a medium body and and lower average carbonation.

D- this is a incredibly complex beer and the acidity makes it. Take some time to drink it in.
Jun 29, 2011
Moonraker Zymatore from J.W. Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 17 ratings