Blue Moon Brewery was founded in 1995 by Dr. Keith Villa at The SandLot Brewery inside Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Originally named “Bellyslide Wit,” the Belgian-style white ale was rebranded after a colleague remarked that a beer so good “only comes around once in a blue moon”. It was developed to offer a craft-style, refreshing beer with a unique, subtle sweetness using Valencia orange peel.
By 2009, Blue Moon Belgian White had become the largest craft or “pseudo-craft” brand in the United States, popularizing the Belgian-style witbier nationwide.
The brand grew rapidly and later opened a larger facility in Denver’s River North (RiNo) district in 2016, which produces a wide range of, and not just the signature Belgian White. While it is the #1 “craft” brand by sales, the Brewers Association does not officially consider it a “true craft beer” because it is not independent (subsidiary of Molson Coors).
Blue Moon Extra Belgian White is a bolder, 8.0% ABV version of the classic wheat ale, launched in 2025 to offer a higher-alcohol option. This version blows the doors off of their “Light” Citrus Wheat (like drinking a watered down Emergen-C Super Orange), and is heads and shoulders above their standard Blue Moon Belgian White weighing in at 5.4% ABV.
About Blue Moon Extra
- Style: Belgian style wit-bier
- ABV: 8%
- IBU: 9-13
- Profile: Features a subtle, low-bitterness hop profile designed to complement its signature Valencia orange peel and coriander flavors
- Color: Golden hue and hazy
- Hops: While the specific hop variety is kept proprietary, the focus is on a mild, fruity, and citrus aroma that complements the orange peel
Hopinionated Rating 4.5/5.0
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Explore Similar Beers To Blue Moon Extra
- Allagash White: Widely considered a superior, slightly more refined alternative
- Hoegaarden: The classic Belgian, featuring a crisper, less creamy palate than Blue Moon
- Shock Top: Very similar in flavor profile with a slightly more pronounced, slightly different citrus note
- St. Bernardus Wit: A highly rated, traditional, and refreshing Belgian wit
- Blanche de Chambly: A high-quality Quebec-based, light-bodied option
Let us know what you think of Blue Moon Extra.
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