While a ‘blue moon’ will be seen in the sky on May 31, it won’t actually be blue. The name of this celestial occurrence actually has nothing to do with color, rather that an extra full moon will be seen in May – the result of how our months aren’t evenly spaced to match moon cycles.

The use of the term ‘blue’ in relation to a moon seems to date back to the 1500s when some English speakers utilized ‘blue’ to describe something impossible or absurd – ‘he’d believe the moon was blue,’ for example. How’d that term stick around? Alright… I lied… it is a little bit about color as even seemingly impossible situations can occur from time to time.

In 1883, Indonesia’s Krakatoa volcano exploded, putting ash and dust in the sky that was said to have turned sunsets green and the moon blue for two years. Then, in 1927, Indian monsoons reportedly had a similar effect when dust was pushed up following a long period of dryness, though shorter lived. The moon again turned ‘blue’ in North America in 1951 when smoke from Canadian forest fires had a similar effect.

Given that ‘blue moons’ were determined to be a literal thing – though still extremely rare – the phrase used from the 1500s with a ‘blue moon’ symbolizing absurdity complimented the generational occurrence of an actual ‘blue moon’ and together spawned the phrase ‘once in a blue moon.’

Nowadays, two to three so-called ‘blue moons’ occur each year as a second full moon in a calendar month, none of which appear blue – expect apparently on very rare occasions. With most people unaware of how ‘blue moons’ got their name, this can lead to a bit of disappointment when staying up to spot a ‘blue moon’ only to realize that it looks like every other full moon you’ve already seen.

How does this relate to beer, you might ask? Well, one very popular beer that’s produced by Colorado’s own Molson Coors and was originally created at the Coors Field Sandlot Brewery is called ‘Blue Moon.’ Given the beer’s link to its lunar counterpart, Molson Coors has decided to apologize on the moon’s behalf for how it misleads the public with its deceiving name.

“While the moon owes you an apology for not being blue—you won’t get one,” reads a press release on the matter. “So Blue Moon Brewing Company is stepping in to make things right by turning its beer blue, literally, for one weekend.”

Available from May 29 through May 31, select bars across the country will be serving Blue Moon beer that’s actually blue. The beer is said to have a ‘vibrant blue hue’ and will be available while supplies last.

“We can’t do much about the color of the moon in the sky, but we can do something about the one in your glass. So for one weekend, we’re making Blue Moon, well … actually blue,” said Elizabeth Hitch, VP of Marketing, Above Premium Beer at Molson Coors. “Consider it us making good on a promise the night sky can never quite keep. We wanted to take a ‘once in a blue moon’ moment and turn it into something people can actually experience together over a great beer.”

In Colorado, the blue Blue Moon Belgian White Belgian-Style Wheat Ale variety will be found at the following Denver metro spots, most of which are in Golden:

• ACE HI in Golden on May 30
• Buffalo Rose in Golden on May 30
• In the Zone in Golden on May 30
• Rock Rest in Golden on May 30
• McGregor Square in Denver on May 31

Obviously, this beer is only available for those 21 and up.

Find more information here.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)