(Courtesy Blue Moon Brewing)

In 2020 it took a gold in the GABF’s “Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale” category and it’s rolling out everywhere next week.

Here’s the deal…

Last year, Blue Moon’s new hazy pale ale, Moon Haze, beat out 136 competing entries from breweries across the US and named the best in one of the GABF’s most competitive categories. Yakima, Washington’s Bale Breaker Brewing took a silver and Charlottesville, Virginia’ Random Row Brewing took a bronze. But the gold went to a beer which is produced by Molson Coors, the second largest brewer in the US.

Moon Haze was first conceived as a collaboration between Blue Moon and Terrapin Beer Co. (another Molson Coors property) in 2019. Then, last year, the recipe was tweaked during the Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day between the city’s female brewers at Blue Moon’s small batch brewery in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood.

The beer was put into rotation at the RiNo brewery, and proved popular, John Legnard, Blue Moon’s brewmaster told Beer & Beyond. So he and his Denver team entered the beer into last year’s (virtual) Great American Beer Festival, where it beat all comers becoming Blue Moon’s first GABF medal-winning beer since 2016.

“Any medal is well-earned at GABF, so to win a gold is truly special, especially in a highly competitive category,” Legnard. “I am very proud of this medal, as it shows Blue Moon continues to innovate and be a leader in the craft beer industry.”

Dosed with a late addition of hops in the boil and dry hopped with a special blend of hops, Blue Moon’s Moon Haze is a 5.7% ABV New England Style Hazy IPA with a creamy mouthfeel, a slight bitterness, and a hint of juice that lingers.

Legnard calls the victory “a great team win. This beer had so many collaborators and helpers to get it to the medal podium that I can’t possibly thank them all.”

Moon Haze’s gold medal is the latest in a line of “amazing wins for Blue Moon RiNo,” says Mara Schaefer, senior marketing director at Molson Coors, who oversees the Blue Moon brand.

“It’s a true testament to the history of innovation and experimentation for the Blue Moon Brewing Company. We could not be more proud of John and the entire RiNo team