Half Moon Bay Lunacy

Brewed by Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Half Moon Bay, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

Sampled at the second annual Bistro’s West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Fest: Transparent dark amber copper with ruby hues and a thin ring of off-white head. Aroma of tart, light fruity complexity along with some grainy pale malt and Belgian yeast. Body starts fairly rich and doughy earthy sweet with some sticky tartness and grainy Belgian malt and yeast character toward a semi-tart finish. A decent strong ale.

Tasted on tap at the 2007 Bistro West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Festival. This ale pours a dark brown color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is fruity and sweet, some cherries and a touch tart. A medium bodied ale. Malts are fruity and sweet, caramel and cherry. Touch of tartness. There is some port wine and oak hints as well. Nice balance. Interesting beer. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly tart.

Draft at the Bistro BA fest 07. There was no way to drink this and not yell "Wow!" A very bold beer. Garnet color with an ivory lacing. Malty nose with cherries and some funky notes. Big port flavors with cherry notes. Very tart and dry. A very nice beer.

Tap Copper color with a nice head. The aroma is sweet with leather and sweet pitted fruits. The flavor has some resemblance to a Flemish Sour, but not all the way. The aftertaste is dry and bitter. Quite a treat!

Draft. A blend of 3 beers (75% winter beer, with some cherry dubble, and something else and aged in barrels). Ruby mahogony beer with an off-white head. Malty aroma with light cherry and dark malts. Malty, chocolaty, cherry flavor. medium bosy. Lingering chocolate, cherry, and somewhat darker malts.