Blue Moon is a well-known Belgian-style wheat beer that has garnered a loyal following since its creation. Known for its smooth, citrusy flavor and cloudy appearance, Blue Moon has become a staple in the world of craft beers. However, for many beer drinkers, the question remains: what beer is similar to Blue Moon?
In this article, we’ll explore beers that share the same characteristics as Blue Moon, helping you find alternatives that offer a similar taste, texture, and experience. We will break down the similarities and differences, focusing on aspects like flavor profiles, ingredients, and brewing techniques.
Introduction to Blue Moon
Before we dive into its look-alikes, it’s important to understand what makes Blue Moon so distinct. Founded by Keith Villa in 1995 and originally brewed by the Blue Moon Brewing Company in Colorado, Blue Moon is a Belgian-style wheat beer (also called a witbier). It’s known for its cloudy appearance, which comes from the use of unfiltered wheat in the brewing process. Additionally, Blue Moon is often served with a wedge of orange, a signature touch that enhances its citrus notes.
What Makes Blue Moon Special?
Blue Moon’s popularity stems from its refreshing, smooth taste with hints of orange peel, coriander, and a mild spiciness. Its flavor is balanced—neither too bitter nor too sweet—and it’s light enough to be enjoyed on a hot summer day but with enough complexity to be appreciated by craft beer enthusiasts.
Its smooth mouthfeel, hazy golden color, and citrusy aroma contribute to its appeal, making it a go-to beer for many drinkers. Blue Moon’s versatility in pairing with food also makes it a favorite. The combination of flavors in Blue Moon often prompts beer lovers to seek out similar beers that offer the same enjoyable qualities.
What Beer is Similar to Blue Moon? Key Characteristics
When looking for beers similar to Blue Moon, it’s important to consider several key characteristics that make Blue Moon unique. These include:
Belgian-Style Wheat – Blue Moon is a Belgian-style wheat beer, often using both barley and wheat in the brewing process.
Citrus Notes – A defining feature of Blue Moon is its citrus flavor, typically derived from orange peel.
Mild Spice – Blue Moon is flavored with spices such as coriander, which adds subtle complexity.
Hazy Appearance – As an unfiltered beer, Blue Moon has a cloudy, golden hue.
Light Body and Smooth Mouthfeel – Blue Moon is typically easy to drink, with a light body that doesn’t overpower the palate.
With these qualities in mind, let’s explore other beers that can offer a similar drinking experience to Blue Moon.
Hazy Belgian-Style Wheat Beers
1. Allagash White
Overview: Allagash White is one of the most popular Belgian-style wheat beers on the market, and it’s often compared to Blue Moon due to its similar flavor profile. Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, this beer offers a hazy, golden appearance and a refreshing, citrusy flavor.
Similarities to Blue Moon:
- Citrusy Flavor: Like Blue Moon, Allagash White incorporates orange peel, lending a bright citrus flavor.
- Mild Spice: Allagash White uses coriander, which is a hallmark of many Belgian-style wheat beers, similar to Blue Moon’s spiced notes.
- Smooth Mouthfeel: With a light body and smooth texture, Allagash White feels very similar to Blue Moon in terms of drinkability.
Differences from Blue Moon:
- More Subtle Flavor: While Blue Moon’s flavor is often considered bold, Allagash White offers a more subtle, balanced taste.
- Slightly More Wheat: The wheat content in Allagash White is slightly higher, contributing to a more pronounced cloudy appearance.
2. Hoegaarden
Overview: Hoegaarden, brewed in Belgium, is another iconic Belgian-style wheat beer that offers a similar drinking experience to Blue Moon. Known for its smooth and crisp taste, Hoegaarden is another example of a witbier that combines wheat, orange peel, and coriander.
Similarities to Blue Moon:
- Belgian-Style Witbier: Hoegaarden and Blue Moon are both traditional witbiers, showcasing similar ingredients and brewing styles.
- Citrus and Coriander: Hoegaarden also incorporates orange peel and coriander for a citrusy, spiced flavor.
- Cloudy Appearance: Like Blue Moon, Hoegaarden is unfiltered, giving it a hazy, pale color.
Differences from Blue Moon:
- Less Sweet: Hoegaarden tends to be less sweet than Blue Moon, with a more pronounced herbal note.
- Lighter Body: Hoegaarden is lighter in body compared to Blue Moon, making it a more refreshing, easy-drinking beer.
3. Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Overview: Sierra Nevada’s Kellerweis is a German-style Hefeweizen that shares some characteristics with Blue Moon. While it leans more toward the German wheat beer style, it has a similar smooth texture and citrusy flavor that can appeal to fans of Blue Moon.
Similarities to Blue Moon:
- Citrusy Notes: Kellerweis features hints of citrus, especially lemon, and offers a fruity, zesty profile.
- Hazy Appearance: Like Blue Moon, Kellerweis has a cloudy, golden hue due to its unfiltered nature.
- Light Body and Drinkability: This beer is light and easy to drink, similar to Blue Moon’s smooth mouthfeel.
Differences from Blue Moon:
- Different Yeast Profile: Kellerweis uses a German yeast strain, which gives it a different flavor profile, including more banana and clove notes.
- More Spicy: While Blue Moon is milder in spice, Kellerweis tends to have a more pronounced clove flavor, which might appeal to fans of Hefeweizen-style beers.
Fruit-Infused Wheat Beers
4. Shock Top Belgian White
Overview: Shock Top Belgian White is a direct competitor to Blue Moon, offering a similar Belgian-style wheat beer experience with citrus and spice elements. Brewed by Anheuser-Busch, this beer is widely available and known for its fresh, crisp taste.
Similarities to Blue Moon:
- Citrus and Coriander: Just like Blue Moon, Shock Top Belgian White uses orange peel and coriander to provide citrusy and spicy notes.
- Hazy, Pale Appearance: This beer has a cloudy, pale appearance that is reminiscent of Blue Moon’s look.
- Light and Refreshing: Shock Top is designed to be refreshing and light, making it an easy drinker for those who enjoy Blue Moon.
Differences from Blue Moon:
- Slightly More Bitter: Shock Top tends to be a bit more bitter than Blue Moon, which might make it feel slightly sharper on the palate.
- Less Complex: While Blue Moon has a bit more complexity due to its malt profile, Shock Top has a simpler, more straightforward taste.
5. Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss
Overview: Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss is a wheat beer brewed with honey, creating a unique but similar flavor experience to Blue Moon. This beer combines the maltiness of wheat with the sweetness of honey and a light body, making it a solid alternative to Blue Moon.
Similarities to Blue Moon:
- Wheat-Based: Like Blue Moon, Honey Weiss uses a significant amount of wheat in the brewing process, providing a smooth and refreshing mouthfeel.
- Citrusy Undertones: While Honey Weiss doesn’t feature orange peel, it has subtle fruity notes that resemble Blue Moon’s citrusy characteristics.
Differences from Blue Moon:
- Honey Sweetness: The presence of honey gives Honey Weiss a sweeter, smoother taste compared to Blue Moon’s more crisp and citrus-forward flavor.
- Lighter Body: Honey Weiss is lighter in body than Blue Moon, giving it a different drinking experience.
Other Wheat Beers with Similar Profiles
6. Dogfish Head Festina Pêche
Overview: Festina Pêche from Dogfish Head is a Berliner Weisse-style beer, which is typically a tart wheat beer brewed with fruit. This beer is made with peaches, giving it a fruity and refreshing flavor that’s somewhat similar to Blue Moon’s citrus notes.
Similarities to Blue Moon:
- Citrusy and Fruity Notes: While Festina Pêche has peach flavors instead of orange, it offers a similar fruit-forward profile.
- Wheat-Based: Like Blue Moon, Festina Pêche uses wheat in its brewing, which contributes to its light, smooth body.
Differences from Blue Moon:
- Tartness: Festina Pêche is more tart compared to the sweeter, citrusy taste of Blue Moon.
- Peach Flavor: The peach flavor gives it a distinct fruity sweetness that differs from Blue Moon’s more traditional orange peel flavor.
7. Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer
Overview: Boulevard Brewing Company’s Unfiltered Wheat Beer is another excellent option for those seeking a beer similar to Blue Moon. Brewed in Kansas City, this beer is unfiltered and features a combination of wheat malt and citrusy hops.
Similarities to Blue Moon:
- Cloudy Appearance: Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer has a hazy, golden color, like Blue Moon.
- Citrusy and Light: The beer features citrusy notes from the hops, providing a refreshing and zesty flavor profile.
Differences from Blue Moon:
- Hop Forward: Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer has a slightly hop-forward character, which makes it less malty and more bitter than Blue Moon.
- Lighter Flavor: The flavor profile of Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer is a bit more straightforward and less complex than Blue Moon’s.
Conclusion
While Blue Moon is a unique and well-loved beer, there are several alternatives that share similar characteristics. Whether you prefer Belgian-style wheat beers, fruit-infused varieties, or other wheat-based brews, there are plenty of options that mirror Blue Moon’s citrusy, smooth, and refreshing flavor profile.
Beers like Allagash White, Hoegaarden, Shock Top Belgian White, and Sierra Nevada Kellerweis offer similar drinking experiences with subtle variations in flavor. These beers can serve as excellent alternatives to Blue Moon when you’re looking for something new but with familiar qualities.
So, next time you find yourself reaching for a Blue Moon, consider exploring one of these alternatives. You might just discover your new favorite brew.
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