Blue Moon occupies such a unique place in the American beer market. It preceded most of the craft beer in existence today, and it brought back a style that was nearly extinct on our shelves and made it the most popular craft style in the US. Regardless of the industry definition of "craft" (quite a recent concept) Blue Moon has done more to create a craft beer drinker in the US than almost any other brewery. And it's all because Keith Villa, a young Coors yeast scientist, went to study for his PhD in brewing in Brussels way back in 1988.