Our Beginning

The Blue Moon story begins in the Sandlot Brewery at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, at the beginning of the 1995 baseball season. After earning his Ph.D in brewing from the University of Brussels, our founder and head brewmaster Keith Villa returned stateside with the goal of brewing well-crafted beers inspired by Belgian styles, with a refreshing twist. Amongst the many beers one fan favourite emerged, in true baseball fashion they called it 'Bellyslide Wit'. During a tasting of the beer someone said, "A beer this good only comes around once in a blue moon," and thus Blue Moon® Belgian White Belgian-Style Wheat Ale was born.

Our Twist

Knowing the American palate would appreciate more sweetness than the typical tartness of a Belgian Witbier, Keith brewed Blue Moon® Belgian White with orange peel to achieve the signature, subtle sweetness that we all know and love today.

Our Signature Beer

Initially, Keith faced skepticism for introducing this new style of beer to drinkers. At the time, the American beer market was flooded with lagers, and the cloudy appearance of the unfiltered Belgian White Style Beer was unfamiliar despite it being light and refreshing.

Our Garnish Ritual

He also noticed that bartenders were serving Blue Moon with a slice of lemon, a typical garnish for a tart Belgian Witbier. Keith knew he had a winning beer, so he persisted, hand-selling Blue Moon from bar to bar and adding his unique garnish, an orange wheel, to heighten the citrus aroma and enhance the drinking experience.

Our Brand Today

Eventually, Blue Moon gained recognition, winning over drinkers and inspiring brewers across the states. In doing so, Blue Moon catapulted the craft movement forward, helping to shape the modern American beer scene. Now, over 20 years later, Blue Moon is still the #1 craft in the US* and now delights consumers in over 25 countries across the globe.

* Based on Nielsen xAOC+Conv. Data, 5/29/17-6/30/18.