Help me, folks. I’m scared. Here it is, just three days
to Halloween, and I just saw a full moon. Which is scary when you think of
it, though probably not in the way that you think of it. Because the full
moon I saw was a six-pack of Full Moon Winter Ale, from the Blue Moon
division of Molson-Coors. Here it is October, and the winter ales are
already out. Now that’s scary.
It’s fairly common knowledge now that Blue Moon is a division of Coors,
though the company didn’t exactly advertise that fact a decade or so ago
when they first launched the unit. But guess what? My six-pack of Full Moon
Winter Ale was actually brewed in Toronto.
Toronto?
Yep, Toronto. As in Toronto, Canada. That’s because Coors and Molson merged
not long ago, resulting in the odd situation of an American beer being
imported. And if that’s not strange enough for you, just wait. Now
Coors-Molson wants to merge yet again, this time with Miller Brewing
Company, which itself not long ago joined with South African Breweries to
become Miller-SAB. Their hope is, upon combining, to pose a greater threat
to America’s traditional beer behemoth, Anheuser-Busch, which is rumored to
be also seeking a foreign suitor.
And if that happens, you’ll then have to drink a Sam Adams if you want to
support a major American brewery. Which is, after all, always a good
decision.
But back to the Full Moon Winter Ale. Coors-Molson-Blue Moon calls this an
“Abbey Ale”, which is in other words a Belgian style monastic ale. You can’t
call it a Trappist ale, since that term is an appellation controlee
as the French say. Suspiciously, Coors used to do a “Blue Moon Abbey Ale”,
and this one seems to be that beer revived from the dead. But that’s more
Halloween than Christmas, of course. Seems the holidays are becoming as
confusing as where your beer comes from.
Pouring a bottle of Full Moon Winter Ale into a bowl-shaped Belgian
beer glass I get a deep russet colored liquid with a very thick and creamy
head of foam and a soft and subtly toasty malt nose. A thick layer of
Brussels lace clings to the sides of my glass as the liquid descends.
Sipping the beer reveals a decided creaminess, a hint of nuttiness and a
touch of bright crystal malt, though that seems to peter out slightly in the
finish. There isn’t much in the way of hops here, either, just a light kiss,
though I’m not looking for a lot of that anyway. Nor is there much in the
way of Belgian yeast flavor. I do get a hint of chocolate from the dark
malts listed on the label and some definite cotton candy notes from the
addition of “dark” candy sugar. There’s even a subtle spiciness deposited on
the tongue, too. Still and all, I want more body here.
To be sure, Full Moon is fuller in body than most American macrobrew
offerings, but it doesn’t really stack up as an “abbey ale”. I want more
body here for that and some yeast flavors too. Still, I did find it
drinkable enough, and I think it’s a good entry level beer for the novice.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For
reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.