We spent the day celebrating my daughter’s birthday at the beach. The beach is a good place for lighter brews, so we brought some Nectar IPA and Alaskan Summer Ale. The plan for the evening was to hangout in front of the firepit and just relax. For this situation, it was time for something a little darker.
I’ve always liked Big Sky’s Moose Drool for the name. It’s rather off putting, but doesn’t that just make you want to try it a little bit more. The name hides the fact that this is a well crafted brown ale suitable for just about any situation.
The beer pours a transparent deep brown, with a thin soda-like head. The aroma is of dark fruit and some molasses. The roasted malts hide behind the sweetness of the aroma. In the flavor, the sweetness takes a back seat and the roasted malts come forward. There’s more of a coffee and unsweetened cocoa flavor which also provides the bitterness in the finish. Not a lot going on in the hop area, but this is standard for the style.
I really like this beer. The fizzy carbonation makes for a lighter mouthfeel in a darker beer. Not too strong, this would go perfectly with a BBQ or camping trip as an all day drinker with flavor and complexity.
