Death & Taxes
Moonlight Brewing Company

Death & TaxesDeath & Taxes
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From:
Moonlight Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
European Dark Lager
Ranked #1
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,547
Avg:
4.18 | pDev: 9.09%
Reviews:
160
Ratings:
384
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 23, 2024
Added:
Oct 11, 2003
Wants:
  112
Gots:
  39
A very dark yet surprisingly light-bodied Lager beer, crisp and refreshing with no heaviness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beerswag:
Photo of Beerswag
Rated by Beerswag from California

4.01/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Apr 20, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.48 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Jan 23, 2024
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Apparently clear dense black pour with rich two plus fingers of tight bubbly reddish brown head with a creamy cap.
Nose of rich roasted malt - coffee, dark chocolate; I get a hint of caramel and a touch nutty.
Taste follows with robust and roasty malt, coffee, cocoa. Again a bit of nuttiness and a formidable piney hop bitterness.
Light medium mouthfeel with bright carbonation and a smooth and creamy finish. Not a style I gravitate to but this is exceptional.
Dec 23, 2023
Photo of Braunmeister_1943
Reviewed by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania

4.51/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Pours an almost black, but actually reddish dark brown with a dense, rocky head. Charred oak aroma with some roasted malt and coffee. Slight bitterness dark pumpernickel bread and black coffee flavors. Moderate mouthfeel with some oaky tannins. This is a really unique and delicious beer!
Nov 18, 2023
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

4.01/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
pours dark with thick head slight malt smell nice dark malt taste - clean malty finish
Oct 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Aug 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by HungarianCount from California

Aug 05, 2023
Photo of Iamaskier
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Thiiiiiick two finger head with great lacing. Walnut black body.
S: Malty, roasty. Light nuts, a hint of cola and peanut brittle.
T: Roasty malt upfront, quickly becoming piney hops with a lasting bitterness. Flavors of nuts, cocoa, and unsweetened cola. The bitter pine needle flavors seem to build through the finish.
F: Smooth and creamy.
O: I love black IPAs and lagers, and this is why. Even hoppier than expected, but still retains the lightness of a lager.
Jul 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.53 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Jul 27, 2023
Photo of Bitterbill
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Canned May 8th, purchased from Bine and Vine.

It pours black but with reddish hues, nice 2 finger head of off white foam, impressive lacing.

The smell is cocoa, roasted malt, coffee, milk chocolate, some hoppy notes of pine.

The taste is cocoa, coffee, a bit of smoke, bitter notes of pine and dark chocolate.

Smooth mouthfeel, easy drinking, a real joy just to sip on.
Jul 09, 2023
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Brownish black opaque body with a full tan head and waves of lacing. Aromas of brown bread yeast and roasted malt star, dried dark fruit, cocoa and slight pine poke through. In the taste an earthy yeast drives, nice toast added to the roasted malt, slight pine and faint chickory round out with deep kisses of cocoa and date. The feel is exceptional: dry and roast meets frothy breadiness in a darker setting, smooth and light without ever being thinned out. Bravo!
Jun 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by BarrelAgedG from California

May 04, 2023
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Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is an absolutely amazing dark Lager and I would be drinking it no stop if it was sold in my area. Dry, bitter, yet balanced, and with an amazing mouthfeel for a lager. What a delicious brew.
May 03, 2023
Photo of sweetbrew82
Reviewed by sweetbrew82 from California

4.34/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Smells like a chocolate biscotti in a glass. Tastes like a chocolate biscotti in a glass. Really delicious! Full of chocolate, coffee, toasted biscuit, earthy hops, a little honey sweetness, very mild roasted bitterness and a clean finish. Crisp carbonation and a light-medium body is perfect for the drinkability. Did I mention this is delicious? I usually go for all the ales all the time but this lager is great! Well done Moonlight!
Apr 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.32 by not2quick from Missouri

Apr 24, 2023
Photo of Anders91
Reviewed by Anders91 from California

4.22/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look: dark brown with a dark cream head

Smell: very malt heavy, little bit of bread, hint of chocolate

Taste: very malty, nice bread and chocolate notes

Feel: smooth
Mar 30, 2023
Photo of gamepete
Rated by gamepete from California

4.88/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
A expensive beer for me that's worth the price...
Dec 31, 2022
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown pour that appears black in the glass; huge, frothy and long lasting tan colored head. Fantastic aroma of coffee and dark roasted grains; notes of cocoa and light milk chocolate. The taste picks up from the aroma; sweeter, more chocolate flavor infused with a nice coffee bitterness. Medium-light body; a nice bit of mildly phenol dryness offsetting the residual sugar feel.

This absolutely beautiful beer is a sheer joy to drink. Rich, malty, yet amazingly smooth and easy drinking.

Pouring temperature: 45 °F; canning info: 09/23/2022
Source: @dimidiata (NBS BIF #16)
Dec 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Ajlvt from Washington

Dec 15, 2022
Photo of o29
Reviewed by o29 from Texas

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with a hint of brown and a khaki, creamy head that lingers and leaves good lacing. Nose is dominated by roasted malts expressing themselves as charred coffee and chocolate with a hint of smoke. The taste follows the nose with roasted malts dominating with notes of charred tobacco, chocolate, and coffee. Earthy hops are present as well and provide a nice balance for the malts. Each drink invites another sip. The mouthfeel is excellent -- it's soft and creamy, while remaining light and drinkable. Overall, very good to excellent.
Nov 23, 2022
Death & Taxes from Moonlight Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 384 ratings