Moon Rocks
Oxbow Brewing Company

 

 

Hazy pale straw, moderately effervescent, with a fat finger of white head. Heavy sheets of lacing. Refined aroma — lightly soapy and grainy. Nice stanky, funky flavor — lightly tart with a sour apple flavor and kiss of soap — and a strong mineral element in the finish. Slightly bitter and medicinal, too. Relatively light bodied with strong, prickly carbonation. Great complexity to the funk and sourness here. Very enjoyable.

Pours golden. Some lemony aroma on the nose. This doesn’t have the finesse of a Hill but hits some of the tart expressive Brett notes. A really nice drinker from Oxbow.

sometimes great complexity can be found in such simple beers, and this is a great example of that. the multigrain base is on display really nicely in this, mainly because the whole thing is so light and delicate, for me i get the spelt and the oats along with the wheat and pils type malt, very much a traditional grisette base, to me, and the classic oxbow funky culture shows through brilliantly, going back and forth with the more interesting elements in the mash as i drink it, tart at times, than citric, then downright funky and bretty and farmy and rustic, but the whole thing is quite clean and tidy, dry and effervescent, freshly hoppy, and remarkably refreshing for something in this style. melon and lime notes, even white wine fruitiness from the hops, but very little bitterness, and the oak on this is delicate but unifying, bringing all the elements together and holding them together. overall this has wonderful depth of flavor and mouthfeel, and is exceedingly interesting for being so small and old school, i think this beer exemplifies what oxbow is all about as much as any other, at least for me. this is of the finest quality, and i could drink it by the gallon!

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Vermont Tap House, Williston, Vermont.
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a nice light looking yellow color with a sturdy transparency about it. Carbonation could be seen rising at a moderate pace to fill a cap of a little white foamy head, not much lace.
The aroma had a nice semi-sweet to refreshing gin botanical/clean vegetable/leafy/grassy sort of blend up front. Light lemon, some earthy hops, and a touch of sweet wood rounded out the sides.
The flavor had a nice mesh between the gin botanical freshness running over some tartness from the lemon and added in a little sweet wheat balancing nicely. Nicely done aftertaste of the gin botanicals, sweet to dry wood, lemon and wheat.
The mouthfeel was between light and medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt appropriate. Finish was smooth, fresh and gin-like.
Overall, I liked this one perhaps more for me as I am a fan of gin but as a saison, it seemed to not have as much as those qualities. Still, I'd have again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On draft.. Pours golden yellow w/ white head. Aroma of tart lemon, slight funk, wheat,oak. Flavor follows aroma w/ moderate tartness, light, earthy hops, more oak, a light musty funk and a touch of sweetness. The feel is med-light with high carbonation. Good Beer.