Tasting Notes: New Glarus Moon Man No Coast Pale Ale

Appearance: Pours a somewhat dark, orange-gold, with a thick, but light bodied head, with decent retention and definite lacing.

Aroma: Floral and grassy, but a decent malt balance on the nose.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied.

Flavors: Balanced, but hoppy.  Mostly grassy, earthy, hop flavors.  A light floral note, and just a touch of pine.  I didn't get much, if any, citrus hop flavor.  More malt balance than a traditional American (read: West Coast) Pale would have.  Enough hops that they are the first and last thing you taste, but between them being more aromatic, and less bittering, and the smooth maltiness that comes mid-palate, still manages to be balanced and not overwhelming.

Overall: Very interesting and unique beer.  I am far from a hop head, and tend to favor other styles over American Pales and IPAs, but this beer is one I would order if I saw it on tap.  In a way, hoppy enough that it could please an IPA drinker, but because the hops steer away from the citrus and bittering varieties so popular on the West Coast right now and because of the smooth malty backbone, much more approachable than many West Coast IPAs, or even pales, even for the non-IPA drinkers among us.