Moonlit
New Trail Brewing Company

 

Moon Lit (2025) from New Trail Brewing. 16 fl oz can, purchased 26/02/26 from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. $ 3.25/$ 0.203/fl oz. In reefer at distributor, stored at 40 degrees F at home. Reviewed 12/03/26, review 3704. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can clearly stamped “CANNED ON 10/29/25.” Served at 54.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 57.3 degrees F.
Appearance – 4. Very stout-ish with an excellent head.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lit, same but deep amber at the edges.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.7 cm, aggressive center pour). Biscuit, high density with rocks, short retention; the head drops to a 0.25 cm crown fed by spotty carbonation, and a thin rocky cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4 – Roasted malt. No hops, no alcohol.
Flavor – 3.5 – Moderate, slightly bittersweet, roasted chocolate malt. As it warms in my mouth, weak coffee. No hops, no alcohol (9.1 % according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Weak gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium: Just edging from watery into creamy: Soft carbonation.
Style: Fits BA description.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 Uncredited label art. The body seems a bit light for a stout but the flavors and aroma make this an easy drinker with an excellent price point – one I’ll buy again.

Pours an opaque dark brown, mahogany around the limb when held up to the light. Foam is moderate, mocha colored fading to the smallest ring. Smell is genuinely roast coffee and a bit of milk chocolate, as the label says. There is another, faint "clean" smelling note, which others label anise. I can see that, although I could also see fennel or some types of mint. Flavor starts with malt, joined quickly by roasted notes. Chocolate comes on last and carries through the aftertaste. Body is a little light for an imperial stout, but mouthfeel is smooth with minimal carbonation and surprisingly little alcohol feel for a 9.1% ABV. Overall, this is a very pleasant tasting and drinkable stout, just lighter and less complex than the best of this style.

On draught. A dark pour with a decent khaki head and spotty lacing. The nose is a little disappointed compared to the pallet.
Delicious roasted malt flavors with chocolate and coffee notes. A medium bodied brew, not too sweet.

 

 

Extremely well done and habit forming! Now one of my favs in this style!!

Pours a deep dark black very pitch very traditional with a 1/2 inch of deep mocha foam that fades out slowly to nothing. Smells of mild chocolate coffee roast and as other stated Anise which transitions to me as a top flavor. This is a rather sweet Imperial stout which I do enjoy no tobacco or harsh bitter hops just sweet chocolate and a mocha like finish. Body is smooth and slick drinks a bit lighter because of this a medium to heavy body.

Overall a pleasant surprise and at 5 dollars a pounder a very reasonably priced beer for the style. Recommended@

 

 

 

 

 

 

A thanks to the amazing woodychandler for this beer. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of roasted malts, light anise. Taste is the same as the aroma, some dark fruits and a touch of alcohol is present. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer.

 

16 oz can, no date

pours black, with thick tan colored head that eventually fades. aroma of milk chocolate and a bit of dark fruit. taste is roastier, a bit of dark cocoa. starts a bit sweet but fnishes drier. fuller bodied, pretty smooth feel.

16oz can into a pint glass. NO freshness dating.

Mixed look, head doesn't retain at all, so no lacing. Jet black body.

Roasted malt aroma.

On tasting, roasted malt to be sure. A touch of sweetness. Some strong concentrated dark fruit flavor. Feels very soft and uncarbonated in the mouth.

Mouth right around medium. The strong raisin roasted malt flavor really hangs around, might be with me for hours.

Overall, went back and forth on this beer throughout the drink. Mouth seems thin but there is a lot of flavor. Abv can certainly be felt. The strong dark raisin note starts to head toward soy territory, but never gets there. Wondering about the age on this one.