Magic Hat Jinx

Formerly brewed at Magic Hat Brewing Company
Style: Smoked
South Burlington, Vermont USA

have had the pleasure of visiting Magic Hat Brewing in South Burlington, VT. The taps flow freely at the brewery’s combination gift shop/tap room. A steady stream of regulars fill growlers of their favorite Magic Hat beers to go, and of course have a few samples to decide what beer will go into those growlers. I spent a very happy hour or so during my visit, talking to one of the brewers, and trying all their offerings. I too filled a growler to go, and it was their strong ale called Jinx. Magic Hat is a ringwood brewery. They use a distinctive yeast strain that originated in England, that has a very earthy aroma, and produces a by product called diacetal. Diacetal gives a beer a very "buttery" flavor, and when used in proper amounts, it is welcome in many British beer styles. It gives a beer more character, and an added dimension. Magic Hat brews some authentic, outstanding British beer styles, but often throw caution to the wind and do something a little different. Examples would be their Feast of Fools Raspberry Imperial Stout, Ravel Vanilla Porter, #9 (pale ale brewed with apricot), etc, etc. Jinx is based on a "Belgian strong ale", and a portion of peat smoked malt is added to this brew as well. I have had this beer on draught, and in bottles on many occasions, once at a beer fest where the diacetal butter character was extremely high and was like drinking butter! But I have to say, those many samples at the tap room, and that growler to go are my fondest memories of this beer. Jinx Strong ale pours to a beautiful garnet color, with a nice tan head, and a good carbonation. The nose is very interesting on this beer. Very earthy, yeasty aromas, mingle with that "burnt turf" peat smoked aroma, ans some good sweet malt aromas. The palate is as complex and rich as the nose. Really a nice malt back bone, flavors of caramel, toffee, peat, and buttery esters from the ringwood coat the tongue. The body is fairly hefty, slightly viscous, really a satisfying mouth feel. This beer finishes with more sweet maltiness up front, some more peat smoked malt flavor, and ends with a slightly warming burn. Hop presence in this beer is only at the balancing threshold. This is a really unique, rich, and flavorful beer. Lots going on here, and a beer you can really savor. I would match this beer with Vermont smoked cheddar cheese, and cold cuts. This beer would also work well as a night cap.

(12 oz bottles: Obtained in trades with shadey and pineypower, thanks Shane and Dean!) Thank God I picked up two bottles of this in trades because the first bottle I opened tonight was horrible. As strongly afflicted with the flavor and aroma of apple skins (acetaldehyde?) as I can remember in any beer. Just awful. But the second bottle does not seem to be similarly contaminated. The problem is, the beer is still not very good. It’s sweet and fruity, some apple, very lightly malty, gently bitter, hints of light roast, but the promised smokiness is barely perceptible. The nose is very fruity, a bit apple-ish, somewhat sweet, but no smoke that I can detect. Light-medium bodied, certainly nothing substantive for the palate to grab onto. Carbonation is average. Light brown in color with near perfect transparency, but the smallish off-white head fizzled away quickly. Boring, plain, one-dimensional, and just not very enjoyable.

Ive sampled enough I think to know when something just isn’t right. This beer wants to reach out and grab me, but something falls short. A nice effort, but I am left unimpressed and weeping

Not a good beer at all!! Pours nice (but what beer doesnt) with a nice reddish brown with a sweet head. But the taste I thought was horrible. Oh well I still love Magic Hat

Bottle obtained in a trade with <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?U target=blank>richlikebeer, thanks Rich. Deep ruby in colour, thin dissipating off-white head, some lace. The aroma was of smoked malt, some roast, slightly sweet. The flavour was of light smoke, slightly sweet, some caramel and floral at the same time. Creamy mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes smoky with a lingering bitterness.

Pours opaque copper with an off white creamy head. Smells of cherries, nuts, yogurt. Where’s the smokey smell? Tastes malty with some rasberry and honey elements. Again, the roastiness isn’t there.

Brownish-red color, beautiful tan head that lasts. Strong malty, nutty. Strong nutty, roasty flavor, undercurrents of coffee, finishes with chocolate bitter. Tastes almost like a stout or schwartzbier, but it’s an ale. Really good stuff.

Pours a clear brown color with a thin light brown head. Sweet aroma of smoked malt. Unremarkable flavor of smoked malt with a sweet finish. The body is light with an oily texture and lively carbonation. Decent.