Moon's Haunted
Ascension Brewing Company

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, no can dating. Pours nearly opaque ruby red/purple color with a small dense pink head with great retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of huge sour/tart/tangy black currants, fruit skin/seeds, strawberry, raspberry, orange, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, light peppercorn/pine, wheat, white bread dough, light toast, lacto funk, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of black currants, citrus/fruity hops, fruity/acidic yeast, and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of huge sour/tart/tangy black currants, fruit skin/seeds, strawberry, raspberry, orange, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, light peppercorn/pine, wheat, white bread dough, light toast, lacto funk, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness, fruit tang, and light pine/zesty bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of sour/tart/tangy black currants, fruit skin/seeds, strawberry, raspberry, orange, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, light peppercorn/pine, wheat, white bread dough, light toast, lacto funk, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of black currants, citrus/fruity hops, fruity/acidic yeast, and bready malt flavors; with a fantastic malt/bitter/sour/tart/tangy balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering sour/tart/tangy/tannic notes. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very a very smooth, moderately creamy/silky/grainy, acidic/tangy/tannic, and lightly sticky/resinous mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.4%. Overall this is an amazing fruited sour IPA. All around amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of black currants, citrus/fruity hops, fruity/acidic yeast, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish. Nicely soft, and not overly lactic/tannic. Amazing balance of juicy/jammy currants, and vibrant/earthy Barbe Rogue hops; with a nice sized bready malt backbone against acidity. Mild residual sweetness with lingering acidic/tangy dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing top tier style example.