Magic Hat - Howl WInter Seasonal

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Magic Hat - Howl Winter Seasonal
Magic Hat Brewing Company
5 Bartlett Bay Road
Burlington, VT USA
Est. 1994
www.magichat.net

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brown to black in color.
Malt and chocolate (bitter style) dry aromas.
One finger tan head that slowly but certainly vanishes.
Caramel malt creamy taste with zip of a hop finish at the end.
Active amount of carbonation that tingles.
Medium bodied.Very sessionable.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Easy to session, this Schwarzbier is tasty and leaves you wanting more.  It finishes nicely but has just a slight bit too much carbonation, (only drawback I could find.) All in all it makes a great session beer and I could easily see myself drinking a few of these.  The alcohol content is low enough and the taste is impressive to keep you coming back for more.

This winter, pick up some of this sinister looking beer and 'Howl" a little yourself! 

Inside the cap says, "Behold the power of yeast!"

Magic Hat - Hex Ourtoberfest

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Magic Hat - Hex Ourtoberfest
Magic Hat Brewing Company
5 Bartlett Bay Road
Burlington, VT USA
Est. 1994
www.magichat.net

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rusty deep amber color.
Malt sweetness with slight dry nuttiness in aroma.
One finger off-white head that quickly vanishes.
Sweet caramel malt taste with lingering finish.
Minimal amount of carbonation.
Light to medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
I guess that Oktoberfest is still hanging out in the fridge. I found this one on a routine check and decided to drink and review before the onslaught of Christmas beer arrives.

"Ourtoberfest" is a little touch on the sweet side for a Marzen, which is why it is actually classified as an American Amber or Red style ale. Nonetheless, a curious refresher that you can use to introduce your friends to a trade up from their yellow lager beers. A very likeable drinker.

Inside the cap says, "Just say 9" What does that mean? I dunno, but it's fun to say.

Magic Hat - Blind Faith (IPA On Tour)

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Magic Hat - Blind Faith (IPA On Tour)
Magic Hat Brewing Company
5 Bartlett Bay Road
Burlington, VT USA
Est. 1994
www.magichat.net

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Copper in color.
Two finger off-white head that leaves very good lacing.
Hops aromas and slight malt smell.
Average amount of hops 'burn'; not overtly hopped.
Good amount of carbonation.
A light to medium bodied ale.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
An interesting IPA ringing in at a relative 60 IBU's.  I say interesting, because this came in a mixed 12 pack along with Odd Notion (Ginger Ale Summer 2010), their flagship #9 and Wacko.  It didn't fit in with the mellowness of the rest.  It was most likely included because it is from their rotating "IPA On Tour" series, and that made it odd or wacko or mysterious enough.  You know, as we say in the Reaper biz - "Here today, gone tomorrow."

As IPA's go, it was enjoyable, but a bit sessionable.  Maybe that's a good thing, and maybe that's a bad thing, but either way, it wasn't memorable enough.  On the other hand, if I could find it in a six pack, it might be the IPA I occasionally reach for in the beer aisle.

Don't discount it.  Allow yourself to have a little blind faith and you might find yourself enjoying it a bit more than the rest of the twelve pack.  I did.

Magic Hat - Wacko

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Magic Hat - Wacko
Magic Hat Brewing Company
5 Bartlett Bay Road
Burlington, VT USA
Est. 1994
www.magichat.net

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazed golden color with distinct pink/red hue.
One finger off-white head that leaves slight lacing.
Sweet, malty and musky in smell.
Fruity, sweet and fizzy taste.
Lots of carbonation.
A light bodied bubbly beer.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Label says, "A beer with beet juice color." Hmmm.  Either it's going to repulse you  or peak your curiosity.  If it truly is red, let's see it.  I was pulled in by the thought.

It isn't exactly the color of beet juice if you were thinking along the same lines as me, but the color is more like watered down beet juice.  It seems normal enough pouring it out of the bottle.  Then a slightly pink hue shines through the translucent body.

Summer like and sessionable due to low ABV are its hallmarks.  After that, the rest is up to your own opinion. I have two more left from the mix twelve pack. Wonder how long they'll last in the fridge?

Magic Hat - Odd Notion Summer '10

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Magic Hat - Odd Notion Summer '10
Magic Hat Brewing Company
5 Bartlett Bay Road
Burlington, VT USA
Est. 1994
www.magichat.net

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clouded golden color.
One and a half finger off-white foaming head that leaves slight lacing.
Sweet fruity esters and ginger smell.
Fruit and spice taste.
Active amount of carbonation.
A light bodied smooth beer.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
When is a gingerale not a gingerale? When it's a Ginger Ale; that is an ale made with ginger!

Light and refreshing with that sumptin' special ginger added to the batch.  A very light and refreshing ale that will cure your summertime blues. Magic Hat brews the Odd Notion series each season.  So I guess that's four times a year you will see a different 'odd' style headed your way.

I found nothing odd at all with this Summer '10 release.  The ginger was refreshingly good and quite snappy in flavor.  There is a note on the bottle that says you can rate it at oddnotion.magichat.net and as soon as this review is over, I will be reaching for another while casting my ballot.

Vote for yourself.

Magic Hat - #9

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Magic Hat - #9
Magic Hat Brewing Company
5 Bartlett Bay Road
Burlington, VT USA
Est. 1994
www.magichat.net

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazed golden color.
One finger off-white head that leaves dots of lacing.
Aromas of apricot and pear. Barely noticeable malt of hop presence.
Fruity, almost floral taste that is "...not like a pale ale".
Lots of carbonation.
A light bodied beer.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Found under my cap? A toast to Dennis and Justin.  What is that?  And what is the #9 all about?  They have the answers to these questions on their website under the FAQ's section.

What I can tell you is that I was expecting something more like a pale ale, due to the comment on the bottle label.  But there was none of that.  Instead there was an unexpected apricot taste that was actually quite pleasant.  I would consider a #9 as a beer alternative to a cider or some other type of malted fruit drink.  Mrs. Reaper quite enjoys this beer, so it will find its way into the garage chiller on a more regular basis.

Still confused?   Go see their site for more details.