Moonlight Taproom opening this summer in Santa Rosa

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by mapleneck, May 25, 2013.

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  1. mapleneck

    mapleneck Devotee (382) Jan 2, 2010 California
    Trader

    This is great news!

    from http://www.bohemian.com/northbay/first-crescent/Content?oid=2424117

    Moonlight Brewing owner, brewmaster, quality-control engineer, delivery man and part-time philosopher Brian Hunt doesn't make beer for money. He's been asked several times in the 20-year history of the Santa Rosa brewery why he never signed a distribution deal. "I just don't care," he says nonchalantly. "I'm not in this to make a big pile of money. I do this because I love beer."
    Since 1992, his brews have existed without so much as a bottle to call home. Beers like Death and Taxes, Twist of Fate and Lunatic Lager are like nomads, popping up wherever they can in cafes, pubs and restaurants for extended stays, and there's a waiting list of over a hundred places that would love to have just one of Moonlight's brews on tap. They have never been available to enjoy at home unless one were willing to purchase at least five and a half gallons at once. Hunt says staying small is his way of controlling quality—and keeping the battle of supply vs. demand in his favor.
    "I've been harassed for about 20 years by people who want it at home," says Hunt. "The only place to come pick it up was from me."
    But now, all that's about to change. Hunt recently announced his plans to open a tasting room in Santa Rosa, hoping to open by the end of summer. "It's not a pub," he says. "It's not a place to linger—more of a growler-filling station, and you can have a pint while your growler is filled." The new location on Coffey Lane will also have a couple new tanks for brewing, leading to an increase in production.
    This comes to the delight of fans of his beer, some of whom are so fervent they have mapped out locations that serve it (Flavor in Santa Rosa is the most reliable, with five taps dedicated to Moonlight). "All their beers are the perfect example of the style," says enthusiast Craig Tierney. "He's really careful to make sure the people are drinking beer that's fresh."
    Collin McDonnell, cofounder of Petaluma's HenHouse Brewing, agrees. "Brian is one of the best brewers in the nation," he says. "There's a lot of interest in Moonlight beer beyond the brewing community." McDonnell is excited about the prospect of taking home some Moonlight outside of his own belly. "The ability to go there and see what kind of cool things he has to pull out is amazing."
    Hunt isn't some hobbyist who just likes to make a batch of beer now and then. He earned his brewing degree from UC Davis in 1980 and worked at Schlitz brewery in Milwaukee. His black lager, Death and Taxes, was the first creation he made at home, and is still the brewery's most popular. "I had this taste of beer in my mind, and there was nothing like it, so I had to make it."
    Lately, Hunt has been exploring the idea of unhopped beer, a style sometimes known as gruit (pronounced "grew-it"). About 500 years ago, hops were illegal in England, and Hunt has several recipes that don't contain the cannabis relative. Working for Tips is one example; it's made with redwood twigs from his front yard.
    For Hunt, brewing is about experimentation and innovation. "A brewer's job is to make delicious in a glass," he says. "I want beer to taste like poetry."
     
    #1 mapleneck, May 25, 2013
    craft_shannie, JayORear, chcfan and 6 others like this.
  2. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah

    That is good news! I wonder if we'll be able to get kegs there, having to go through Bottle Barn isn't the biggest deal, but it's a bit annoying.
     
    #2 stupac2, May 25, 2013
  3. nogidrew86

    nogidrew86 Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2010 Nevada

    Efff yes! Going to have to make it up there!
     
    #3 nogidrew86, May 25, 2013
  4. drgarage

    drgarage Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 California

    Freaking finally!
     
    #4 drgarage, May 25, 2013
  5. MiScusi

    MiScusi Pooh-Bah (1,803) Feb 12, 2005 California
    Pooh-Bah

    "All their beers are the perfect example of the style"

    I remember listening to Brian Hunt on the Brewing Network years ago. The guy was adamant (to put it lightly) that not a single beer he brews is to a specific "style." Actually had to turn it off because I couldn't take his logic (and neither could the brewcasters)... just got real annoying. I do love his beer though.
     
    #5 MiScusi, May 25, 2013
  6. DrAwkward82

    DrAwkward82 Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2005 California

    Another reason to look forward to the next time I'm able to make it to Santa Rosa. The last time I had Reality Czeck was the same day I had my most recent glass of Younger, and I adored that simple, classic, sessionable lager every bit as much as PtY.
     
    #6 DrAwkward82, May 25, 2013
  7. afrokaze

    afrokaze Pooh-Bah (1,974) Jun 12, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is amazeballs. I had a Lunatic Lager last weekend at burger. and it was the shit, just like most of the other Moonlight beers I've tried. Trips to Santa Rosa are about to get that much better.
     
    #7 afrokaze, May 26, 2013
  8. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes!
     
    #8 elNopalero, May 26, 2013
  9. oxcitypauze

    oxcitypauze Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2013 California

    I had Death & Taxes last night at Toronado SD and it was one of the highlights for sure. Hopefully the tasting room will be ready when I take the family up north for summer vacation!
     
    #9 oxcitypauze, May 27, 2013
  10. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California


    Makes sense to me. Moonlight beers always strike me as using styles as a basic concept and then moving the beer in a new direction. Each one is recognizable as the style that it is made in yet with a unique twist. It is one of the reasons BH is so good as he defies the beer style while operating within it.

    Stoked to hear that this place is finally coming to fruition!
     
    #10 danscott, May 27, 2013
  11. deleted_user_553489

    deleted_user_553489 Zealot (531) Jan 16, 2011

    holy shit this is awesome.
     
    #11 deleted_user_553489, May 27, 2013
  12. flexabull

    flexabull Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2006 California

    This is GREAT news! One of the first craft beers I ever had was Death & Taxes while I was at Sonoma State. Back then I even wondered why there wasn't a taproom.
     
    #12 flexabull, May 28, 2013
  13. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    I'll believe it when I see it. That place was supposed to open two years ago. Brian recently responded to a question about when the tasting room was going to open by saying "when Russian River brews Procrastination."

    That said, I am completely stoked about being able to get growlers of his beers. They are really damn good.
     
    #13 litheum94, May 28, 2013
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  14. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    Or I could pick some stuff up for you :slight_smile:
     
    #14 litheum94, May 28, 2013
    nogidrew86 likes this.
  15. nogidrew86

    nogidrew86 Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2010 Nevada

    Then id have to drop a box on your porch and blow out the poor fedex guys back!
     
    #15 nogidrew86, May 29, 2013
    litheum94 likes this.
  16. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    Hey, I don't have a problem with that :wink:
     
    #16 litheum94, May 29, 2013
  17. mjl21

    mjl21 Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2008 California

    I'm looking forward to lingering at the tap room for hours on end later this year.
     
    #17 mjl21, May 29, 2013
  18. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hopefully 'this summer' means this summer.
     
    #18 elNopalero, Jun 11, 2014
    chcfan likes this.
  19. errantnight

    errantnight Pooh-Bah (2,015) Jul 7, 2005 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pretty sure this will happen about the same time as Craftsman finally fires up their bottling line.
     
    #19 errantnight, Jun 12, 2014
  20. opwog

    opwog Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2008 Minnesota

    Finally, a reason for beer geeks to visit Santa Rosa :sunglasses:
     
    #20 opwog, Jun 16, 2014
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