Magic Hat Jinx

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

Not impressed. Not a very smokey flavor, if you ask me. The beer is OK overall, but I was looking for a deeper flavor experience and did not find it here.

Sept. 10, 2005 . . . 12 oz. bottle.

A new addition to my local supermarket shelf. The Magic Hat packaging is pretty busy and tough to read, but I gathered this was a seasonal of some sort when I bought it. Dark copper pour, little head, some lacing. Not familiar with a "smoked" style, but would describe the taste as like a very thin porter. Not bad at all. Raisins, fruit and other candy-sweetness bounce off the smoky flavor and elevated alcohol. While not top-shelf by any means, it makes for a serviceable Autumn-Winter brew.

Tasting of caramel, with some hints of coffee and chocolate, this seasonal goes down easy without leaving any lasting impression. Not bad, not great.

Label says "Peat-smoked seasonal"; website calls it a "SeptemberOctoberNovemberFest" beer. Label says "An ale inspired by the doctrines of medieval chemists." Uses peat-smoked whiskey malt, among many others. Pours a deep caramel, crystal clear with a good bit of bubbles rising to the top creating about an inch thick bubbly head that lasts and eventually fades to a thin cap. Carbonation very sprightly and a good swirl brings the head back quickly. Nose is subtle, but I deteted sweet malt and fruit aroma -- maybe grape and raisin. The beer tastes strongly of caramel and coffee; chocolate; maybe a slight hint of a sweet bourbon bite. Obvious roasted flavor, roasted raisins if that’s possible, or maybe roasted red peppers, with a bitter and very earthy aftertaste. Good mouthfeel, satisfying but not syrupy. Fairly drinkable though the bitter aftertaste does give me pause. A really interesting beer -- subtle and elusive.

A winter is my best guess, as the label says "a seasonal". Pours a dark reddish brown, but is positively clear, aside from a few stray bubbles that rise to a thin, long lasting, head of toasted brown bubbles. Aroma is roasted chocolate and coffee, with smokiness. Taste has an enjoyable consistency from the smooth head. Nutty and roasted flavors are most notable to the tongue. Some smoked almond flavors along with chocolate and vegetable hops. Aftertaste is sweet from the chocolate and dry roasted, as well. Good tasting beer, the best I’ve had from this brewery. Cheers to Trader Joe’s for selling me this bottle for $1.

1/2 pint at MSBF. Orange, clear, tan head. Malty aroma, with a bit of carmel. Malty carmel flavors. Some hops for balance. Medium body.

On tap at fest. Orangey amber in color with a little head. Aroma is hoppy and malty. Malty and hoppy flavor. Smokey. Sweet tasting. Earthy. Finish is sweet. Caramel notes. Decent beer.

Reddish Brown, medium off white short head. Smells of Grapes, malt, smoke and earth. Medium Body wiht Medium testure, light carbonation with a slightly sweet finish. Earth predominates the flavor with hints of carmal and malt. Not bad but the earthy flavor over powers it.