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Moonlight

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Lemony, with dark fruits and a copper colour: Moonlight began in 2003 as a special for Peter Arkell's 80th birthday. The name recalls his low-level flights over France in 1943, landing by the light of the moon to pick up agents, and the Lysander on the bottle label is a plane he actually flew. Now back as an Arkell's house beer at 4.1%.

ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
dark fruitcitrusyfruity
dark fruit
citrusy
fruity
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with bright lemony notes that cut through a foundation of dark fruit—plum and raisin—and soft Malz undertones.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Moonlight

◎ Appearance

Moonlight presents a warm copper hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a gentle cascade in the glass. Lacing clings to the sides with notable tenacity, reflecting the beer's traditional character.

copper, clearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright lemony notes that cut through a foundation of dark fruit—plum and raisin—and soft Malz undertones. There is a subtle herbal quality from the bittering hops, grounded and restrained rather than assertive. The overall impression is balanced, with neither hop nor grain overwhelming.

lemon, citrusdark fruitherbal Edelhopfen

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and approachable, with caramel sweetness and malty texture establishing the middle palate. Dark fruit character—prune and dried apple—runs throughout, complemented by a gentle lemony brightness. The bitterness (28 IBU) arrives measured and clean, never harsh, fading into a dry, slightly astringent close.

dark fruit, plumcaramel maltrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, dry and slightly peppery, with lingering notes of caramel and stone fruit. A subtle herbal dryness persists without becoming tiring.

drymedium length
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Moonlight

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About Ordinary Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ordinary Bitter?

Ordinary Bitter is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Ordinary Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dark fruit, citrusy, fruity character as Moonlight will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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