Moonraker Brewing: Auburn, California

Moonraker Brewing // tahoefabulous.com

For a town with a population under 15,000, Auburn, California has a great beer scene. There's Knee Deep Brewing, which is one of my favorite places to stop on the drive between Tahoe and the Bay Area; Auburn Ale House, located in Auburn's historic downtown with good brewpub food, Crooked Lane Brewing Company, a newer brewery that I haven't checked out yet, but is on my short list, and Moonraker Brewing which I had a chance to re-visit a couple of weeks ago.

Moonraker Brewing is off the beaten path and located by the small Auburn Airport - almost directly across the street from Knee Deep. The set up of Moonraker is pretty cool - there is a big open bar area with a few tables, a covered outdoor space that's dog friendly and has a rotating food truck (last time I got amazing Peruvian food!), and quieter rooms at the front of the building where you can fit a large group.Like many West Coast breweries, Moonraker is heavy on the IPAs and Pale Ales, but they have a large menu that updates often and there are always a variety of styles.

Last time I was there I tried (descriptions by Moonraker):

Wet Hop Willy (4.5/5):ABV 7.0%, IBU 50 - Wet hop IPA trifecta of whole cone "wet" hops. Simcoe, simcoe cryo, and simcoe pellet create bright flavors and aromas of evergreen forest, passion fruit, fresh cut grass and sticky pine sap over a simple bread crust grain bill. This beer is smooth and refreshing.

Puzzle Dust (4/5):Puzzle Dust- sessionable IPA at 4.8%, IBU 35. This beer is like drinking an orange sherbet, with notes of citrus/grapefruit and cantaloupe. Hints of flower essence with a dry breadlines make this beer super crushable.

Diloris (2/5):ABV 7.0%, IBU 50 - NE IPA using Nelson and Citra.

Cloud Castles (4.75/5):ABV 6.6%, IBU 40 - Mosaic, Galaxy, Simcoe, AmarilloOther favorites from Moonraker include Northern Lights - an imperial IPA that doesn't taste as strong as it is (beware!) and Amelia - a coconut IPA that's not overwhelmingly tropical. Moonraker is on my list of must-visit destinations for beer lovers - it's worth a detour on your drive to or from Tahoe or as a short drive from Sacramento.