Moonlight Brewing Company

The Moonlight Brewing Company is a brewery founded in 1992 by Brian Hunt in Santa Rosa, California, USA.[2] It is known for its flagship beer, Death & Taxes, which is popular in Sonoma County, California.[3] In 2008, it received the Best Brewery award at the 17th annual Santa Rosa Beerfest.

Moonlight Brewing Company
IndustryAlcoholic beverage
Founded1992
Headquarters
Santa Rosa, California
,
USA
ProductsBeer
Production output
2700 barrels
OwnerBrian Hunt[1]
Websitehttp://www.moonlightbrewing.com/

History

Founder, brewmaster and abbot Brian Hunt started the brewing company in 1992, not for profit but to "support his habit".[3] With a degree in Fermentation Science from UC Davis,[4] and years experience as a brewmaster and beer consultant, Hunt saw the brewery as a chance to become self-employed. At the age of 35, he rented an 1,000-square-foot (93 m2) tractor barn in Windsor, California and bought 200 used beer kegs. In 2003 the brewery was moved to a building designed specifically for the purpose of brewing beer and was designated an Abbey through the Universal Life Church. Moonlight Brewing cultivates a large field of hops for its seasonal Homegrown Ale on the old property.[2] In 2018, Moonlight opened a small taproom with limited retail sales in Santa Rosa.[5]

Production

Due to its relatively small production, 2,700 barrels in 2017, beer is limited mostly to kegs served almost exclusively in the San Francisco Bay Area.[3] In 2018, Moonlight began selling the flagship Death & Taxes in cans.[6]

Beer

Currently, the brewery produces a large variety of beer, including frequent seasonals. The five year-round production beers includes Death & Taxes (black lager), Reality Czeck (Czech-style pilsner), Lunatic Lager, Misspent Youth (Dry) Pale Ale, Bombay by Boat (IPA), and Twist of Fate (bitter ale). Homegrown is a fresh hop ale that is produced using hops that are solely from the brewery's quarter-acre hopyard[7] and harvested in mid-September. Working for Tips Ale is brewed with Springtime Coastal Redwood branch tips around late May. Bony Fingers is a seasonally produced black lager, brewed specifically for Halloween. Toast (Slightly Burned) Strong Lager is made for New Years.

References
  1. Bustamante, Lou (September 5, 2018). "Moonlight, the craft brewery that's stayed true to its roots for 26 years". SF Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved August 19, 2019. Hunt was careful not to sell a majority interest so that he can maintain control.
  2. "About the Brewery". Moonlight Brewery. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  3. Wollman, Cynthia (January 10, 2003). "Sonoma County brew master produces beers with attitude". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 14, 2004.
  4. Fish, Tim (6 September 1995). "Good Brews Windsor Man Makes Beer With Character". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  5. Pereira, Alyssa (June 5, 2018). "Beer in the Bay: Moonlight's new taproom opens and Napa gets a beer train". SF Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  6. Bustamante, Lou (September 5, 2018). "Moonlight, the craft brewery that's stayed true to its roots for 26 years". SF Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  7. Melnik, Peg (30 August 2006). "It's Time For Sonoma County's Other Beverage-Related Harvest: Hops". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2008.

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