Magic Hat Jinx

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

Deep amber, lightly smoky and hoppy aroma, flavor is very lightly malty with a hint of smoke, watery.

Lightly hazed otherwise clear brown ale with a nice moka head. Sweet malt smeel with notes of apples, and light peat. Some wet dog too. In mouth, the smokeyness comes out, like a fine scotttish malt whiskey, the ,alt is too overly sweet, and a nice little hops in finale. Lighter bodied but very good. Bought at CJs in Potsdam NY, fall 2004.

Appears a deep mahogany brownish red with a nice sticky 3 finger tan head that has nice retention. Settles to a decent ivory collar and leaves clumpy lacing around the glass. Smell is of some smoked peat and bourbon like sweetness minus the alcohol...and now that I read the description from the web site, it claims to have peat smoked whiskey malt. Hehe, not a bad guess. Taste is of a nice blend of the bourbon and smoked peat with some other semi-sweet malts coming through with a mild hop punch and a slight rye taste to spice things up. Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, sweet, and semi dry with a rye taste that lingers and makes you lick your lips. Nice! Drinkability is good. Hides the 6.9% very well. If you’re a bourbon fan, and a beer lover, I suggest checking this one out. It’s a nice mix that wages an unusual battle on the palate.

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.

UPDATED: NOV 20, 2006 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.