- Moonlight Brewing Company
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Moonlight Brewing Company Industry Alcoholic beverage Founded 1992 Headquarters Santa Rosa, California, USA Products Beer Production output 1000 barrels Owner(s) Brian Hunt (independent) Website http://www.moonlightbrewing.com/ The Moonlight Brewing Company is an American microbrewery founded in 1992 by Brian Hunt in Santa Rosa, California, USA.[1] It is known for its flagship beer, Death & Taxes, which is popular in Sonoma County, California.[2] In 2008, it received the Best Brewery award at the 17th annual Santa Rosa Beerfest.[3]
Contents
History
Founder, brewmaster and abbot Brian Hunt started the brewing company in 1992, not for profit but to "support his habit".[2] 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 purchased an 11,000-square-foot (1,000 m2) tractor barn in Windsor, California along with 200 beer kegs. In 2003 the brewery was moved to a building designed specifically for the purpose of brewing beer and was designated an Abby. Moonlight Brewing cultivates a large field of hops for its seasonal Homegrown Ale on the main property.[1]
Production
Besides its relatively small production (1,000 barrels per year), the production of beer is limited solely to kegs. The brewery refuses to package its beer in bottles or cans as Hunt believes the process of bottling beer "is cruel for the beer and a logistical nightmare".[2] Due to the limited production and self-distribution, Moonlight products are generally available only in Sonoma County, and the San Francisco bay area, though on occasion, it is found further out.
Beer
Currently, the brewery produces nine varieties of beer, two of which are seasonal. Year-round production includes Death & Taxes, Reality Czech, 20 to Life, Lunatic Lager, Toast, Bombay by Boat, and Twist of Fate. Homegrown is an ale that is produced using hops that are solely from the brewery's quarter-acre hopyard[5] and harvested in mid-September. Bony Fingers is a seasonally produced black lager, brewed specifically for Halloween.
References
- ^ a b "About the Brewery". Moonlight Brewery. http://www.moonlightbrewing.com/pages/about.html. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
- ^ a b c Wollman, Cynthia. "Sonoma County brew master produces beers with attitude". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/10/NB80866.DTL. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
- ^ "Sonoma County is Beer Country Too!". Santa Rosa Beerfest. http://www.sonic.net/~newton5/default.html. Retrieved 2008-12-04.[dead link]
- ^ Fish, Tim (1995-09-06). "Good Brews Windsor Man Makes Beer With Character". The Press Democrat.
- ^ Melnik, Peg (2006-08-30). "It's Time For Sonoma County's Other Beverage-Related Harvest: Hops". The Press Democrat. http://www.moonlightbrewing.com/pages/sr_pd_2006.html. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
External links
Categories:- Companies established in 1992
- Beer brewing companies based in California
- Companies based in Sonoma County, California
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