Moonraker
J.W. Lees in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England 🏴
Strong Ale - English Regular|
Score
6.80
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First brewed in 1950, our malty award-winning Moonraker is dedicated to a local legend. The story goes that farmers close to the JW Lees brewery once fell into a pond, attempting to rake out a reflection of the moon they mistook for a truckle of fine Lancashire cheese. This strong ale should be handled with care, but its fruity aroma and rich, sweet flavour are now the stuff of legends too.
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7/10
This version at 6.5% black colour with a tan head. Roasted and slight sweet. Rich body.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 May 2026
at 16:14
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
500ml bottle. Pours brown with a white head. Aromas & tastes of prunes, raisins, liquorice & malt. Medium body. Moderate bitter finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Feb 2025
at 01:38
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 9.5
Bottle 0,5ltr: Dark brown coloured brew with an great balanced taste of caramel, toffee, burnt sugar and some roasted feeling too. Great brew indeed and not only for the winter its also works well today on an late hot day in May.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Dec 2024
at 11:39
9/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Bottle from Booths. Hazy ruby body with a thick beige head. Steady carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of raisin, treacle and toffee. Flavour of caramel, prune and woody malt. Medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Soft fizz. Rich and complex. Loved this.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Aug 2024
at 15:40
7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle from Booth’s. Bb 11/25. Reddish brown with a beige head that fades to a fat coat. 3+ Nice if shyish aroma of dried fruit - raisins, prunes, some fresh plums too - some roasted malt, citrus, some spices. Tauter than guessed with roast assisting the transition from dried fruit to bitterness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Jul 2024
at 23:31
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle at AndrewC. Dark brown colour no head. Soy sauce. Got some age. Slightly oxidised. Oxidised. It's OK some raisin. Deep malts. Dark plum dark cherry. But over carbonated. As I say once past the aroma it's fine.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Apr 2024
at 21:28
22/04/1996. CLAVERTONS, Lower Bridge Street, CHESTER, Cheshire, England (LEES)
Tried
on 22 Dec 2022
at 08:29
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Creamy off white head stayed on a near black still body. Make, nutty & lightly smoked aroma. Medium bodied, light tingles on the tongue with a fuller creamy back. Malt, liquorice, nutty, caramel & tobacco tastes with a lightly hopped fruity finish. Excellent local beer
Tried
on 02 Dec 2020
at 20:53
7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
26/8/2020. Bottle from Asda, Ipswich. Pours amber brown with a good size off-white head. Aroma of dark, fruits, malt, caramel, touch of spice and nut. Medium sweetness and moderate bitterness. Medium body, slight oily texture, soft carbonation. Above average Lees beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2020
at 22:25
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle from local ASDA Nose of rum and raisin chocolate. #pours a dark reddish brown with a tight cream head. Treacle, parkin, nutmeg, spices, dried fruits, prunes, raisins and a little chocolate in the mouth. A sweet and fruity finish as well. Very nice, but I’d probably appreciate it more in the middle of winter in front of a blazing fire ! PS as others have said is now 6.5%
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Jun 2020
at 17:59