Blue Moon Brewing, hailing from Golden, Colorado, has long been the gateway beer for many budding craft enthusiasts. Their Belgian White is a staple in bars and ballparks, often sporting a hefty orange wedge as its signature garnish. While Blue Moon has never been the most adventurous brewery, their decision to dip a toe into the non-alcoholic pool is interesting. Given their mass appeal, it’s only natural they’d offer a booze-free brew to appease the sober-curious crowd. But does it live up to the expectations of the OG Blue Moon loyalists?
How Does It Pour? How Does It Smell?
This week, we are drinking Belgian White from Blue Moon Brewing. As a Belgian-style wheat beer, I was expecting the usual suspects—zesty citrus, a hint of spice, and a smooth, creamy body. Right out of the gate, my sniffy holes were greeted with a blast of coriander and orange, a familiar combo that whispered promises of a classic, witbier experience. The cloudy golden pour looked the part, shimmering in the glass like a hazy sunset over Coors Field. But the real question: would it taste like a proper Blue Moon or some over-sweetened imposter?
How Does It Taste?
Right away, the answer became clear—this one leans hard into the orange. Blue Moon is known for its citrus-forward approach, but this version takes it up a notch, almost as if the orange wedge blended right into the brew. The coriander is still present, but the fruit dominates, leaving my tongue holster feeling like it just returned from an all-you-can-eat citrus buffet. The medium-bodied, full mouthfeel gives it some heft, but I found myself wishing for a little more of that classic Belgian spice and wheat backbone instead of an orange overload.
Untappd gives Belgian White from Blue Moon Brewing a 3.5 out of 5. I’m landing at a 2.9—not a bad beer, but one that veers a little too far into the fruity abyss. While it’s a reasonable stand-in for the original, it seems like Blue Moon opted to mask the missing alcohol with an extra squeeze of orange instead of letting the wheat and spice shine. If you love your Blue Moon with an extra dose of citrus, this might be right up your alley. Otherwise, you might find yourself longing for a little more balance in the mix.
HAPPY EVERY HOUR – NA BEERS & 90s: Explore the many options of beers and ciders without the side effects of alcohol. With so many de-alcoholized beers on the market, we’ll organize our reviews by style. Here, you’ll also find non-alcoholic or alcohol-free ciders as well as those beverages classified as hop water.
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