Brewer’s Name: Jeffrey Moon
How long have you worked at brewery? I’ve been brewing here since the brewery became Restless Moons, so just shy of two years.
How did you get involved in brewing? I started exploring the craft beer world in about 2011, and really started to love the variety and artistry that was being displayed. My wife decided that it was a good idea to buy me a homebrewing kit back in 2013, and that’s when I really fell down the rabbit hole. I began reading everything I could on the brewing process, making small batches in our kitchen and volunteering at a few local breweries around northern Virginia. At some point I decided I wanted to make a career change and pursue brewing as more than a hobby. When I heard that there was a brewery for sale in Harrisonburg, we came down to take a look at it and fell in love with the town. So in November 2017 we took over everything and made it our own, and here we are today.
What’s something people don’t know about your brewery? A lot of people ask us where the name came from. Our last name is Moon, and we like to incorporate family into the brewery whenever we can. Six of our 12 current taps are named after or inspired by family members or close friends – every beer has a story. We’re constantly inspired by the people around us and we use that to help craft our beers.
What’s your favorite food and beer combo? We’ve got a unique beer on tap at the moment called Tapachesaurus Rex, a Mexican lager with pineapple, Serrano peppers, ginger, and cinnamon. It’s weird but really refreshing, and it goes great with pretty much any Mexican dish – tacos in particular.
Tell us about your pets: Three cats, named Mozzarella, Colby, and Lacey. I’ve yet to brew anything they deemed worthy of their attention.
What is your favorite thing to do in the Shenandoah Valley? It’s hard to beat the hiking around here. Most free weekends we’ll head into the mountains and find a new trail to try out.
What’s the best way to spend time in the outdoors in the Shenandoah Valley? Same answer as above – hike, take a picnic, and enjoy the views.
