The name is complicated. Basically, in the 18th century, recruiting sergeants for the British Army used to pop into pubs to “encourage” those with less than peak inhibitions to join their ranks. Thing was, they did this by dropping one of the Queen’s schillings (a coin) into the pint glass of a patron and once said patron let the beer touch his lips, he was “accepting” the schilling and therefore formally enlisting in the army. To avoid from accidental enrollment, taverns started pouring pints into glass-bottomed mugs so the drinker could see the schilling when he just lifted his beer—thus the sight of the coin under the beer with the creamy frothy above coined the saying “Moon Under Water.” The Victoria, BC brewpub with the same name has a slightly less complex story—but an impressive one nonetheless as brewmaster/owner Clay Potter is a microbiologist, Master of Science in brewing and distilling and totes a resume with some of BC’s finest breweries. Potter teamed up with a few friends to buy the then older German bierhaus style brewery and turn it into what Moon Under Water is today—the real deal beer bar.
The Tranquility India Pale Ale is true to its roots as an English-style, copper ale. With 100 percent Canadian malts and aromas of citrus and piney hops, floral tones, fresh bread and roasted barley. The mouthfeel is rich with toffee and caramel malts, backed by citrus bitterness and resin to result in a truly sessionable IPA.
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