Over the Moon for MoonPie Stout!
With the recent full moon, I can’t imagine a better time for this pairing. First, I want to tell you a bit about the inspiration behind this post.
PTO Inspired Pairing
Born and raised in the South (southeastern United States) I recognize that there are many things that are uniquely southern. These specialties go beyond just simple traditions, but have evolved into the stuff of legends. The MoonPie and its more than 100 year history, is no exception. MoonPies are more than just a marshmallow delicacy. Starting with a coal miner asking for a treat “as big as the moon,” MoonPies have become a staple of workman's lunch boxes, and sweet delights for children growing up in the South.
Helping to continue this tradition, the MoonPie bakery has been partnering with schools to help them fundraise by selling the freshest MoonPies you can get! The schools in our area have happily started their own MoonPie tradition with these fundraisers. I, being a PTO parent, was not immune. In actuality, I was inspired! Sounded like a brew pairing waiting to happen! Before our order came in, I started trying to decide what I wanted to pair with the sweet chocolatey treat. Scrolling through Instagram, I saw it! Five Points Bottle Shop (in Athens, GA) had posted an actual MoonPie beer! I told you, the stuff of legends! Naked River Brewing in Chattanooga, TN actually makes a MoonPie beer — with MoonPies!!!! I had to try it! I also had to find out more!
Legendary MoonPies used in Legendary Brew
Thanks to our awesome MoonPie rep, I was able to reach out to Jake Raulston, the owner and founder of the brewery famous for the MoonPie stout. I really wanted to know more about how this brew came to be. Much like the MoonPies themselves, this beer has an epic start. According to Raulston, he started brewing beer in 2009. It wasn’t until September 2017 that Raulston took his brewing to new heights and started making the MoonPie stout. My first question was, “Does the beer actually contain MoonPies?” YES!!! Raulston informed me that for his first batch, he used 5 lbs of MoonPies for every 5 gallons of beer!!! Here’s my favorite part of the story, his fiancé at the time (now wife) loves pastry stouts. So for their wedding, the bride-to-be wanted this special MoonPie stout to be served at their wedding. Raulston made his second batch of the special brew for their November (2017) nuptial celebration!
Apparently the special wedding stout was such a hit, the Chattanooga MoonPie bakery actually called Raulston, wanting the beer to “to go global.” They couldn’t believe Raulston was just brewing in a garage! Fast forward a year from his first batch, Raulston brewed his first commercial batch of MoonPie stout in September 2018. The Naked River Brewery opening shortly followed just in time for the couple’s anniversary (November 1st, 2018). Today Naked River Brewing produces their MoonPie stout year round and currently produces “between 900-3,200 gallons a month depending on seasonal demand.”
I already loved MoonPies. Now I was crazy about the MoonPie stout story. So, let me tell you about the beer experience…
On its own, it’s a great stout brew! Though it didn’t last long, the head was caramel color, fluffy and full following the pour. The beer itself was a very dark brown color, even in the sunlight. My first sip impression: I thought the bitterness was very well balanced with the sweet, making it a solid stout. I got more chocolatey malt flavor than anything else (8.5% ABV). UNTIL I paired it with a fresh MoonPie. This beer is excellent on its own, a classic, bitter-chocolate stout (64 IBU), but if you want the experience to truly be elevated, grab a MoonPie (or three)! A big bite of MoonPie and a few sips of this stout will send you soaring. Paired together, the sweetness of the baked confection was scaled back to reveal more than just the sweetness in this treat, but the cocoa and vanilla as well. Same with the beer, the bitterness fell away, and I started tasting more of the flavors these two southern delicacies had to offer. Though the chocolate was clearly the star flavor, hints of vanilla and marshmallow were left twinkling in my mouth. I also went full on dip, with no regrets! The bitterness of the stout soaked into the spongy cookie layers, adding a whole new experience. Almost too much to take in with one bite! If chocolate isn’t quite your thing, I highly recommend grabbing a vanilla MoonPie for this experience. I had never had a vanilla MoonPie before this, and this combo was even better than a donut and beer!
I love this pairing in so many ways, but the history of the cakes and beer really sealed the deal for me. So much goes into brewing, knowing how a beer came to be in my glass adds to the exceptionality for me.
Cheers!
