Blue Moon (beer)
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| Manufacturer | Blue Moon Brewing Co. |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1995 |
| Alcohol by volume | 5.4%[1] |
| Style | Witbier |
Blue Moon Belgian White, a Belgian witbier brewed by Blue Moon Brewing Co. in Denver, Colorado, was launched in 1995. Blue Moon Brewing Co. is a part of Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the craft and import division of Chicago-based MillerCoors. In Canada, Blue Moon Belgian White is marketed as the beer Rickard's White and is brewed in Montreal, Quebec.[2] Originally called Bellyslide Belgian White, it was created by Keith Villa, a brewer at Coors Field's Sandlot Brewery (the onsite brewery owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company). The beer is orange-amber in color with a cloudy appearance because it is unfiltered. Blue Moon has a more pronounced orange flavor than many other beers of the style, and also has a slightly sweet flavor. The grain bill for Blue Moon includes malted barley, white wheat, and oats.
Some weiss and hefeweizen beers are commonly served with a slice of lemon in North America.[citation needed] Blue Moon is traditionally served with a slice of orange, as it is said to accentuate the flavor of the brew[by whom?]. Keith Villa admitted the orange slice garnish was mostly for attention-getting when Blue Moon is served in a bar.[3] Many beer drinkers do not prefer fruit slices in their beer, since citric acid can eliminate the beer's frothy, flavorful head, and may prefer to have the brew served in a wheat beer glass instead. Finally, since Blue Moon is an unfiltered wheat beer, it is suggested[by whom?] to leave a small amount of the beer with sediment at the bottom of the bottle, then swirl it around in order to pour it into the glass, creating a thick head on the beer.
Blue Moon is available in cans, bottles and kegs. The brew has 171 calories per 12 US fl oz (355 mL) serving (2,020 kJ/L) and 5.4% alcohol by volume. In Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Utah, the alcohol content of all Blue Moon beers bought in grocery or convenience stores is 3.2% alcohol by weight (approximately 4.0% alcohol by volume). Blue Moon Brews and Seasonal Brews sold in liquor stores are 5.4% by volume.
The back of the label reads, "Brewed with white wheat and oats, Blue Moon features a crisp wheat finish and the perfect combination of orange peel and coriander. Bring out Blue Moon's natural spices by serving it in a Pilsner glass with an orange-slice garnish." The coriander may potentiate the anxiolytic effects of the alcohol, with studies showing anxiety-reduction in mice administered with coriander.[4]
MillerCoors does not actively advertise the fact that the brew is owned by MillerCoors, instead focusing on the Blue Moon Brewing Co. "[5]
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[edit] Awards
- 1995 World Beer Championship gold medalist, White Beer category
- 1996 World Beer Championship silver medalist, White Beer category
- 1997 World Beer Championship silver medalist, White Beer category
- 2008 World Beer Cup gold medalist, Specialty Honey Lager or Ale category for Blue Moon's Honey Moon
- 2008 World Beer Cup silver medalist, Fruit and Vegetable Beer category for Chardonnay Blonde
- 2008 World Beer Cup Champion Brewery - Large Brewing Company
[edit] Naming controversy
In 1999, the Confederation des Brasseries de Belgique (The Confederation of Belgian Breweries) sued the then-named Coors Brewing Company over its use of the term "Belgian White." The CBB alleged Coors' advertising was misleading, and could confuse American consumers into believing Blue Moon was made in Belgium. Coors at first responded by adding "Made in USA" and "Belgian-style" in small print to the bottle labels, but refused to change its advertising or packaging.[6]
Coors eventually settled out of court with the CBB, agreeing to change the labeling to "Belgian-style Wheat Ale." Additionally, the CBB distributes the beer to conglomerates in European countries.[7]
The New Belgium Brewery, which makes Fat Tire Amber Ale, also complied with the CBB's request for name changes.[8]
[edit] Variations of Blue Moon
In addition to their original Belgian White variety, Blue Moon Brewing Company offers Blue Moon Summer Ale, renamed Honey Moon in 2006. According to the bottle, "This ale is brewed with clover honey, orange peel, pale malt, and malted white wheat." This ale was a first place winner in the Specialty Honey Lager or Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival in 2006.[9] Honey Moon contains 5.2% alcohol by volume in a standard 12 fluid ounce bottle.
During the autumn months, Blue Moon provides Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale, renamed Harvest Moon in 2007. This variety contains the flavors of pumpkins and other autumnal spices. Harvest Moon is typically available in bottles from mid-September through December. It contains 5.7% alcohol by volume in a standard 12 fluid ounce bottle.
Blue Moon offers Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale during the winter season. Its name was changed to Full Moon with the subtitle "Blue Moon Winter Ale" in 2007. It is described on the bottle as a "winter seasonal ale that blends three varieties of slow roasted malts and multiple hops to deliver exquisite aroma and taste". It is brewed with natural flavor and a caramel color. Full Moon contains 5.6% alcohol in a standard 12 fluid ounce bottle.
In spring, Blue Moon provides Blue Moon Spring Blonde Ale, originally known as Rising Moon. The back of the bottle reads "Celebrate the end of winter with Blue Moon Spring Ale. This smooth, balanced ale is brewed with three varieties of specialty malts and an infusion of fresh Kaffir lime leaves and lime peel to bring out the freshness of spring." In 2011 the recipe was changed removing the Kaffir lime leaves. The new recipe focuses more on orange and lemon peel to add the citrus flavors.
It addition to its seasonal brews, Blue Moon released a pale ale called Pale Moon in 2008, with filings commenced to create a Pale Moon Light.
Blue Moon released a revamped and renamed set of seasonal beers starting with the Winter Abbey Ale, in 2010.[10] The bottle reads, "This copper-colored ale is crafted with roasted malts, Belgian sugar and a touch of wheat for a rich caramel flavor and a smooth toffee finish."
[edit] Blue Moon brews
- Blue Moon (1995) (originally Bellyslide Belgian White)
- Pale Moon (2008)
- Winter Abbey Ale (2010) (formerly Full Moon (2006), originally Blue Moon Winter Ale)
- Spring Blonde Wheat Ale (2011) (formerly Rising Moon (2007), originally Blue Moon Spring Ale)
- Summer Honey Wheat Ale (2011) (formerly Honey Moon (2006), originally Blue Moon Summer Ale)
- Harvest Pumpkin Ale (2011) (formerly Harvest Moon (2006), originally Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale)
- Spiced Amber Ale (2011)
[edit] Popular culture
Jamband musician and radio disc jockey Keller Williams is sponsored by Blue Moon beer and often announces on air that he is going to go "shotgun a few Blue Moon beers" or "pause for the cause" as advertisement for them.
According to TMZ.com, flight attendant Steven Slater grabbed two Blue Moon beers before making his infamous slide down an emergency chute on a JetBlue Airways plane.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ Coors.com Nutrition Information
- ^ It's Blue Moon in the U.S., but we know better (Montreal Gazette)
- ^ Blue Moon Beer, Reveries.com, November 22, 2006
- ^ http://www.readersdigest.ca/food/cms/xcms/ancient-secrets-of-spice_623_a.html
- ^ Beer Branding and Blue Moon Marketing Neophyte, July 5, 2007
- ^ Belgian Brewers Group Sues Coors; Alleges America's 3rd Largest Brewer Misleads Consumers., Business Wire, November 18, 1999
- ^ Coors agrees to change Blue Moon labeling - Brief Article, Modern Brewery Age, December 11, 2000
- ^ Belgian brewers sue Coors, Realbeer.com, November 19, 1999
- ^ 2006 Winners, Great American Beer Festival
- ^ http://www.millercoors.com/news/press-releases/release/blue-moon-brewing-company-seasonal--re-launch.aspx
- ^ "Slater's Emergency Beer -- Twice in a Blue Moon". 2010-08-14. http://www.tmz.com/2010/08/13/steven-slater-beer-blue-moon-exit-slide-emergency/.
[edit] External links
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