Moon Dog The Artist FKA Black Lung XII

Moon Dog

Published July 15, 2022

There aren't many beers that have been around for a dozen vintages. To achieve such longevity, the liquid and the concept behind it needs to be pretty special – take Bridge Road's B2 Bomber, which turned 12 in 2022 too – and that's the case with Moon Dog's Black Lung, even if it's no longer called Black Lung. From here on in, the smokey stout is to be known just by its suffix, but if the name has become smaller, the beer has only become larger; the first release back in 2011 weighed in at a paltry 7.7 percent ABV, whereas number 12 is almost twice the size.

That's not the only way in which it's larger either; the use of barrels that previously house The Gospel's rye whiskey has left one heck of an imprint. Jeez, those Gospel barrels love to give it up: as with every beer we've had that's been aged in the Melbourne distiller's hand-me-downs, there's a vibrant juiciness – young whiskey, rum-soaked fruits and the marzipan and fruitcake layers of an old wedding cake put through a blender – potentially enhanced by the sweetness that comes with 13 percent ABV of chocolaty malts. The sharpness you can get from peated malts is mollycoddled by said liquid chocolate fudge, leaving you with the sort of beer destined not just to coat your palate but also plaster itself across your lips.

James Smith

Style
Barrel-Aged Smokey Stout
ABV
13.0%
Stockists

They're hosting a vertical tasting of three vintages at Moon Dog OG from 6pm on July 15

Name
Moon Dog
Address

17 Duke Street
Abbotsford
VIC 3067

Open Hours

Brewery bar open
Tues to Fri: 4pm to 11pm
Saturday: Midday to 11pm
Sunday: Midday to 8pm

Tours

Upon request