Blue Moon almost had a different name entirely. The brewers at the original Sandlot Brewery in Denver called their new Belgian-style wheat ale “Bellyslide Wit” until someone tasted it and said a beer this good only comes around once in a blue moon. The name stuck, and Blue Moon Belgian White went on to become one of the best-selling craft beers in the US, orange peel and coriander included.
A Brewery That Moved Around a Lot
Before it settled anywhere permanent, Blue Moon bounced between breweries for over a decade: Utica, New York from 1995 to 1997, then Cincinnati until 1999, then Memphis until 2001, then both Montreal and Golden, Colorado at the same time from 2003 to 2008. Since 2008 it’s been made in Golden and Eden, North Carolina, and in 2016 MillerCoors opened a dedicated Blue Moon brewery, which is basically an admission of how big the brand had gotten.
I still think the Belgian White is the one worth ordering on tap over the bottle, mostly because most bars actually give you the orange wedge, and the citrus works with the wheat and coriander base better than people expect from what’s technically a witbier. If you’re into that side of the flavor spectrum, my fruity beer roundup and beer that doesn’t taste like beer guide both dig into why citrus-forward styles like this one work so well as a gateway beer.
Allagash White is the other bottle I’d point people toward if Blue Moon’s citrus wheat style is what they actually like, it leans more traditionally Belgian and less sweet, and it’s the one a lot of craft drinkers graduate to.
The Rest of the Lineup
Blue Moon’s Current Core Lineup
| Beer | Style | ABV | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgian White | Belgian-style witbier | ~5.4% | The original, orange peel and coriander |
| LightSky Citrus Wheat | Light wheat ale | ~4.0% | Lower-calorie spinoff, citrus-forward |
| Summer Honey Wheat | American wheat ale | 5.2% | Started as Summer Ale, renamed Honey Moon in 2006, then Summer Honey Wheat in 2011 |
The naming history on the summer seasonal is a little messy, honestly. It launched as Blue Moon Summer Ale, got renamed Honey Moon in 2006, then landed on Summer Honey Wheat in 2011 at 5.2 percent ABV in the standard 12 oz bottle, and that’s the name that’s stuck since. If you want to see how it stacks up against other fruited wheat styles, I ranked it against similar beers in my watermelon beer roundup.
How I’d Actually Serve It
If you’re serving Blue Moon at home rather than ordering it at a bar, skip the standard pint glass and use something with a slightly wider mouth, it helps release the coriander and orange peel aroma that’s the whole point of the style. I’d pair it with something citrusy or a little spicy rather than anything heavy, grilled shrimp, a Thai-leaning salad, or even just orange segments on the side work better than the classic burger-and-beer pairing most people default to. The beer’s carbonation and citrus character are built to cut through fat and spice, not stand up to a heavy steak.
What’s Actually Worth Buying
Blue Moon is also a good entry point if you’re trying to figure out where witbier sits against other wheat styles. It’s not a true German hefeweizen, and it’s a lot sweeter and more citrus-driven than a traditional Belgian witbier from Hoegaarden. My German Beer Purity Law explainer covers why German wheat beers taste different, and if you’re curious how the calorie side compares to other fruity styles, check my low-calorie fruity beer rankings.
For serving it right, I always reach for a proper wheat beer glass rather than a standard pint. My beer glass buying guide has the shape that actually helps hold the head, and if you want to trace where witbier fits into the bigger picture of beer’s history, my full beer history timeline covers the Belgian brewing tradition it comes from.
More Witbier Reviews Worth Reading
If Blue Moon’s citrus wheat style is your thing, here is the wider witbier family I have reviewed:
FAQs
Is Blue Moon a Belgian beer?
No, it’s brewed in the US by Blue Moon Brewing Company, a MillerCoors subsidiary, in a Belgian witbier style. It has never been brewed in Belgium.
Why does Blue Moon come with an orange slice?
The orange peel used in brewing gives the beer a citrus character, and bartenders started serving it with a fresh orange wedge to echo and boost that flavor. It’s a serving tradition, not part of the official recipe.
What’s the ABV of Blue Moon Belgian White?
Blue Moon Belgian White is about 5.4% ABV, a bit above the typical light American lager range but standard for the witbier style.
