MoonShot Beer
New Century Brewing Company

MoonShot BeerMoonShot Beer
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From:
New Century Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Light Lager
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
57
Avg:
1.62 | pDev: 31.48%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
21
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 24, 2012
Added:
Jun 30, 2004
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  3
All-malt light lager w/ caffeine; reformulated recently.

According to New Century: "Moonshot has ceased production due to an imposed ban by the federal government."
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Rated: 2 by birchstick from Colorado

Jul 24, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by KiltedCulinarian from Georgia

Feb 10, 2012
 
Rated: 1 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Dec 20, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

1.37/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
not sure if i should thank the ba that sent this to me or be mad at him (just kidding matt)

poured a dull pail yellow just as i had expected with the traditional white cap of foam that fades as quickly as it forms. more it the realm of light corn and grain in the aroma with a little something else in there, not sure what. flavor is muted, stale, and just odd. not really sure how to describe it other then off. clean and quick with no aftertaste it is soon gone.

overall i def felt the kick in about 10 minutes, but i am just not really a fan of these drinks. i just think its a bad idea overall.
Mar 05, 2011
Photo of beerprovedwright
Reviewed by beerprovedwright from Georgia

1.42/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
I don't know about the caffeine, more marketing I think. Not more than a finger of quickly evaporating head. Color is a 4 on the SRM beer color chart. Smell of cereal grains. Taste is a little of nothing, some corn and wheat, very light on the hops. Might as well have water in my mouth. I am pretty sure I won't buy another one of these.
Feb 14, 2011
Photo of nhindian
Reviewed by nhindian from Pennsylvania

1.38/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
12oz bottle poured into a Sam Adams Red Lobster Perfect Pint. Generously provided by apollokim in the 'You Aint From Around Here?' BIF, thanks Kim! (She wrote "If anyone asks, you didn't get this from me" on the wrapping, but it had to be said. Sorry!)

So actually getting into the beer... it's not good. At all. Rhonda's story is unfortunate but this beer sucks.

A - Pours the lightest beer I've seen, like some dirty tap water or piss after drinking a ton of water. It actually builds a really good white, 2-fingered head, but the retention is bad and the lacing (there isn't any) is even worse. Moderate streams of carbonation rise from the glass.

S - Smell is nearly non-existent and what little I can discern from it is merely grain and bread. Slight hops and a bit of alcohol but that's it.

T - Taste is much of the same. There are little distinct flavors here and more like hoppy water. The best thing I can say about it is that it's unoffensive I guess. Masks the caffeine well?

M - Mouthfeel is light with pretty much no finish or aftertaste. Moderately carbonated.

D - Drinkability is low. No smell, little flavor, almost clear... this may just be caffeinated and alcoholic water. I suppose it does do the job, but with pretty much a cup of coffee in each bottle, I'd be afraid to get the jitters from a few of these. Thankfully, this beer isn't good and the temptation to have another is just above the temptation to jump off of a cliff.

Honestly, I'm truly glad I got to try this beer just to see what it was about, but after drinking it, I'm not heartbroken in the least to see it pulled from shelves. Unfair or not, I don't think many will miss it besides Rhonda.
Jan 08, 2011
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

3.03/5  rDev +87%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #43 (Aug 2010)

Finally got around to do a re-review as they reformulated the beer.

This brew is a clear golden-yellow color with thin lacing. Very faint citric hop is all that comes to the nose. Its big smoothness surprises, but it's light bodied. It has a quick flash of hop oil, but the graininess is on mute and stays ultra clean. There is perhaps some dry biscuit, middle to end. There's not much in the end, but that is expected here. There is also roughly the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee in each bottle of this clean, light lager--it seems its sole purpose is keeping you up while you drink. It's good for a light lager, but how much caffeine do you really need?
Nov 12, 2010
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

1.82/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
This one got some bum reviews, but I have to give it a fair shot. Well, it starts out badly - pouring an uninspiring straw yellow with a thin head that dissipates more quickly than fog in the morning sun. Aroma is crisp and malty and a bit yeasty, but wan and watery. Flavor does not impress, either - it is malty and a touch fruity, but not particularly enjoyable. Texture is flat and barely fizzy. Forget this one!
Aug 06, 2010
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

1.7/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a pale gold color, with a very thin white head that fades very quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of light malts, grain and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is starts with an adjunct and light malt sweetness that is quickly followed by a mild grain breadiness. The hops presence is very mild even for the style, which prevents the sweetness from getting balanced out thus leaving a sweet after-taste.

M: Not very smooth and a little crisp, light body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Not very tasty, goes down very easily since there isn't much to this beer and not filling at all, very mild kick, not a good representation of style, even some of the more criticized beers in this style are better than this one. The caffeine might be a good gimmick to sell the beer but the beer itself isn't one worth drinking.
May 23, 2010
Photo of mostpoetsdo
Reviewed by mostpoetsdo from Rhode Island

2.28/5  rDev +40.7%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
A lot of people are complaining about this, but I don't think it's directed toward the BA community. After watching "Beer Wars" I've seen it around at a couple stores, but just decided to throw it in a six recently.

A: Looks like your standard macro lager. Clear gold and minimal fizzy head.

S: Probably the worst part of the beer, not really much of a smell, maybe a lil fruit.

T: Call me crazy, but it is not "F" worthy. It's better than the other light lagers out there. It has a citrus taste. Kind of like Red Bull...but beer.

M: Heavier than I expected. Not too watery, and not insanely carbonated.

D: I'm going middle of the road here. If they were at a college party, I wouldn't mind drinking them. I'm curious about the "caffeine" aspect. Wonder how many of these you need to have to really feel it...
Jan 05, 2010
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

1.73/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
12 ounce bottle - $1.49 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia. "All Systems Go!"

Appearance: Pours out a very clear, bright yellow body with a thin, white head.

Smell: Sweetish vapid nose of very light pale malts stirred up with crushed up caffeine tablets. Yeesh.

Taste: Bland light maltiness with a bit of sweetness. Again, there's the medicinal background taste of finely ground caffeine tablets. No real hop character or bitterness. Simply put, the finish is downright icky.

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: All Systems Gack! With or without the caffeine, it's a woefully unpleasant beer. Swap out one of the O's in Moonshot with an I and that's a bit more accurate.
Nov 24, 2009
Photo of thesyko56
Reviewed by thesyko56 from Georgia

1.41/5  rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
A: Light golden color.

S: Somewhat fruity. Typical light lager smell

T: Real coppery taste. Bitter but it the worst possible way

M: Very heavy considering it is a light beer.

D: The taste makes this beer almost undrinkable.

I bought this beer in a pick 6 pack and thank god because I would not drink a second. Combines two things that do not belong together.
Sep 27, 2009
Photo of ShogoKawada
Reviewed by ShogoKawada from Pennsylvania

1.31/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
This beer is 'meh', all the way around. its' hook is the caffiene added, but I doubt you'll drink enough of this to get any measurable amount of caffiene in you.

Pour is unimpressive. Smell and taste are chock full o' grain. Honestly, the temperature comes through stronger than any flavor of the beer, which is a bad sign. Very watery mouthfeel, too.

Drinkability- nope. I finished 1, and won't drink another one. This is a gimmick beer that doesn't work. It's a light lager, but it tastes closer to 3/2 beer. This gives light beer a bad name, as others like Sam Adams are able to do wonderful things with their lights.
Jun 01, 2009
Photo of erosier
Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

1.09/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Pours a pale yellow from the bottle with a short and thin white head. The aroma is not very good at all. Pale scents of malt and hops but mostly skunky. The taste is just awful. Skunky, dry, and pungent really. It tasted like water, but worse. The mouthfeel was not very good and it was not drinkable at all. The only reason I got it was because it was $2 for a 6pack and it is supposed to have 69mg of caffeine. I was thinking of Buzz Beer from the Drew Carey Show and that it might be interesting. It sucked. Do yourself a favor and don't get it.
Jan 30, 2008
Photo of drinknewbelgium
Reviewed by drinknewbelgium from Pennsylvania

1.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
i dont know where to begin with this trainwreck had a bottle of this the other day poured out of bottle dull golden with little head smelled of no real beer smells but just of sour and faint wheat took one sip and that was enough it seemed flat no taste but that of flat soury plain wheat but without hops and certain malts no alcohol presence tasted severly thin and watery very drowned and water down flavors

i tried but i honest couldnt get past sip #2 hey i never put down a beer and say dont get but seriously stay away from this one i can see why she left sam adams yuck!!
Nov 15, 2006
Photo of jcdiflorio
Reviewed by jcdiflorio from West Virginia

1.27/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Served into a pint glass from a 12oz. brown bottle twist off cap.

Light golden color,white head fizzled out quickly.sounded like Rice Krispies,snap crackling and popin.
A clean smell,sugary,earthy,caramelly,a cheap cola kind of smell.No hop presence detected. Did not even smell like a beer to me.
The taste had no appeal at all. It was sour, metallic,a wet cardboard like taste,a sweet aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was slightly cloying,thin,but not watery.The finish was like having a dirty dishrag shoved in your mouth.
Could not drink another one.No more of this,please.Almost drank 3/4 of the bottle.The little kick I got from the caffeine was the best part. Stick to coffee.The label says Premium.By who?
Oct 31, 2006
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

1.57/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
I feel like I'm betraying the nice lady at the table who shoved this in my bag as the LI beerfest imploded like the overcrowded, incredibly poorly planned event that it was, but I strongly suspect that this brew is going to suck. Not only does its appearance have no redeeming features whatsoever but I happen to think beer and caffeine should never be mixed. I learned this lesson in Leeds, UK a few years ago on a red bull and vodka bender. Details are extremely sketchy but I'm told I tried to throw a good friend of mine out a fourth story window and then broke down in tears apoligizing for about an hour until I mercifully passed out. Yes, a good time was had by none. However, this was free so review it I shall.
Pale, golden color. Flat with no head and a grainy sniff with a hint of something sweet and sinister I can only assume is the caffeine or something containing it. Its not so much that this tastes terrible as that it tastes like nothing at all. Vaguely grainy but neither malt or hop is in the building. Like drinking rusty water. Yuck. Advertising this as a premium beer is like advertising our VP as a premium quail hunter.
May 15, 2006
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

1.61/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
I picked up a bottle of this light and lifeles beverage at the Brewtopia fest, thank god I didnt have to pay for it....new graphics, they have a "69" on it now and its says brewed in Utica....anyway this is light, lame, next to flavorless and in general a waste of time. Cardboard nose, nasty aftertastes, you get the idea, gimicky brew, pass it on dont waste youre $ or liver.
Nov 20, 2005
Photo of Southernbrew
Reviewed by Southernbrew from Georgia

1/5  rDev -38.3%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
So, a friend and fellow BA bought a six pack of this and gave me one. Man am I glad I didn't pay for this. This looks like, smells like, tastes like and feels like Bud Light. There is absoulutely no redeeming quality about this beer. Instead of the relaxation you would expect from a beer, you get a caffeine buzz. This is probably the crappiest beer I've had in a while. If you've had a Bud Light lately, think of that mixed with the caffeine of a stout cup of coffee. Thankfully I had a Bigfoot waiting for me to balance out the caffeine. Terrible.
Sep 28, 2004
Photo of UncleJimbo
Reviewed by UncleJimbo from Massachusetts

2/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
This caffeinated beer poured a clear, yellow color with thin, white foam that settled. The smell was lightly sweet with a corn-like aroma and a bit of maltiness. The taste had a corn flavor with a light sweetness and a touch of malt. Very thin on flavor overall. So light that perhaps the caffeine even adds a touch of bitterness. The mouthfeel was smooth and very, very thin on body with modest carbonation. This was a rather bland and unremarkable light beer.
Jul 02, 2004
MoonShot Beer from New Century Brewing Company
Beer rating: 57 out of 100 with 21 ratings