Mooncusser
Cisco Brewers

 

 

 

In honor of Chatam's 300th anniversary. Mooncusser Ale – a hoppy East Coast IPA. The ale is aptly named for the legend of the “Mooncussers,” Chatham’s pirates of previous centuries. They would lure ships in on stormy nights with their lanterns, seemingly into a safe harbor, only to have its sailors surprised when they crashed into rocks along the shore. The Mooncussers would then overcome the sailors and loot their cargo. It didn’t always work on clear nights when the moon was bright on the ocean because the sailors could see the rocks ahead, hence making the pirates “cuss the moon.”

Nice creamy 2 finger head fades fairly slowly with some lacing, over a quite hazy, with many bubbles rising up, honey orange red colored.

Nose has some nice hops at first, juicy and light citrus and candied orange hops, hint of pine, some sweet malts, reddish caramel malts.

Taste starts with malts, sweeter light toasty reddish makes with caramel and light toffee, very slightly nutty and creamy malt a hint of fruity yeast flavors. Then hops, fruity hops with a slight spicy pine, light candied orange, with a decent bitterness. The hops build quite a bit and get quite bitter with more earthy spicy hops and borderline astringent but not quite. Finish is quite bitter with long lingering spicy hops, light caramel malt flavors, hint of candied orange hops but mostly dry.

Mouth is med to slightly fuller bodied, good carb.

Overall pretty good, like an imperial red ale without the over sweetness or booze and borderline dipa. Nice hops and malt balance, tasty but fairly drinkable. The hops get a bit too into the earthy spicy range and less citrus and fruit, with a big malty balance more of what used to be called "east coast" IPA, but less like that these days.