Magic Hat Jinx

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

I did not like this beer after the first sip, but it grew on me after a while. The beer was a bit bitter, but is more like a scotch ale.

Great unusual Fall seasonal offering from the ever creative beer makers at Magic Hat in Vermont. I found everthing about this beer to be out of the ordinary but its become one of my favorites and I look forward to this every September until the last of the leaves fall and ghost and witches ride high in the Halloween sky. Great sippin on a windy fall evening when the leaves are falling and the chill is in full force, and then I look forward to more Magic Hat seasonals to follow, GREAT STUFF let it warm for a few mins to really taste all these flavors!!

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.

The aroma is great, the appearance is just perfect. and the flavorful taste is great, and the after taste is not too strong and its great.

pours out of the bottle and amber-brown with a minimal bubbly head. smells of light caramel. tastes of mild hops, almond, caramel and vanilla. slight bitterness lingers in the background. silky and smooth medium-bodied mouthfeel. a real treat.

Draft from Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse. Poured a purplish brown, small to no head. Smells of apricot and annis. Tasted smokey and a little licorice palate. Very interesting beer, and totally recommended.

Red/amber, dense offwhite head. Aroma of malt, some smokiness. Not very aggressively smoky. Medium body. Flavor of malt, dried fruit, some herbal/spicy stuff going on. Not much discernible in the hop department, but really nice anyway. My girlfriend, who doesn’t normally like beer, liked this. I like it too, and so did her rats...

From a 12oz bottle, Best Enjoyed Before Dec. 2003 (Review from Sept 2003) Pours rich amber with virtually no head at all. Not clear but not cloudy body either. Smells mostly of hops with hint of pear. Sweet malt if you breathe deeper. Spicy but not sweet spice. Taste is immediatley hoppy and bitter. Bite of alcohol and then fades out to tones of sweet malt. Spicy finish like ginger and white pepper. Nice hoppy aftertaste to offset sweet malt. Full bodied and lingers on the back of the tongue. Complex ale. Very good for those cool fall nights, warms you a bit.