MOONLIGHT’S SUBLIMINAL “SUBLIMIMMNAL ALE”

This new offering from Brian Hunt of MOONLIGHT BREWING is his “fresh hop” ale, right in time for the fresh hop harvest season. At least that’s what I understand. My take on any of these fresh hop ales that you encounter on tap is that you’d better grab them while you can; we’re talking about a several-week shelf life, at least if you want to get the taste benefits of the hop being a young green pea in a pod rather than a wizened bittering agent. SUBLIMMMINAL ALE certainly has a different taste than your run-of-the-mill pale ale or IPA. It took some getting used to. It’s very hoppy for sure; what I found a bit surprising was how thick and “chewy” the beer was, sort of like a rich, orange-colored English beer that just happened to be hopped to the gills. I’m no expert on types of hops, but SUBLIMMMINAL ALE’s variety either was a hop I wasn’t familiar with or this fresh hop thing really does have something to be said for it. Get it on tap in California if you’re out here and you see it, otherwise banish it from your mind thusly. 7/10.