Blue Moon Spring Ale

Available: Nationwide

Well, there's no question the lime boasted of on the label of this amber brew, in both aroma and flavor. But the soft, fragrantly citrusy notes of the nose, plainly the result of the kaffir lime leaf addition, don't translate so well in the taste, with a pronounced lime presence felt from the outset right through to the sour-ish and oily finish. I want the naturally fresh flavor of lime, as is implied on the bottle’s back label, but instead I get a sharpness that seems at odds with the round malt of the body. Perhaps it would improve alongside a ceviche, but I remain skeptical.
- Stephen Beaumont

Pleasant, hazy brew speaks of lime but aroma is mint-like. Citrus lime character is subtle enough and doesn’t suggest itself boastfully; rather it adds a mysterious complexity that is quite refreshing. If there ever was a beer to replace stale Mexican beers with a needed lime squeeze, this is it. It has the freshness and lime zest if that’s what you are looking for — if you like a bit of malt flavor in your Mexican-styled lime-adjudicated brew. Light body with subtle complex character. Very mild aftertaste. Pass me some fried cactus leaves with a side of beans and a tortilla!
- Charlie Papazian

Intriguing — lime leaves and lime peel, a Belgian concept via Asian cuisine by a Canadian-American mega-brewery? The beer has a hazy orange color and a cream-colored head. The aroma is inviting — some underlying malt, but largely a citrusy zing in the nose, more acidic than sweet. There is brisk hopping on a light palate, wheaty acidity through the center, a dry finish with limey flavors lingering. A creative and refreshing beer, excellent with Thai spring rolls.
- Garrett Oliver

Stephen Beaumont
Stephen Beaumont boarded his first plane at the age of 15 and hasn’t looked back since, obsessing about travel to the point that he gets nervous if he doesn’t have a ticket or two stacked on the corner of his desk. When he’s not running around in search of new taste experiences, he makes his home in Toronto, where a new cultural experience is only as far away as the next neighborhood.

Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.

Garrett Oliver
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.

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