Magic Hat Odd Notion - Irish Red Ale (Spring 08)

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

Growler fill from New Beer Distributors. Aroma is lightly earthy and spicy, a light nutty maltiness. Earthy and lightly fruity and cherryish; a touch of cinnamon and cardamon over the earthy and lightly bready maltiness. A very light smokiness with some earthiness. There is a bit of soft berryish sweetness. It’s not bad, but it’s not great.

This beverage is awesome. I loved it. It’s so smooth it’s like velvet. To begin it’s not aromatic, but it’s not void either, it’s a bit on the fruit smell, but very, very subtle. It’s appearance is reddish amber. It’s flavor is citric, spice, and minor roast, however all are subtle. It’s feel is so mellow and smooth it’s amazing. Definitely pick this, and enjoy it. It’s a smooth, smooth, smooth brew. Kinda like Miles jammin to Summertime.

Pours copperish with miniscule head. Aroma was predominantly of mellow malt with hints of earth and grapefruit hops. Flavor was a flavorful mix of citrus, spice, and roasted malt. Kind of sharp on the mouthfeel, but mellows out near the end. Quite enjoyed this.

I was unimpressed by this brew. I thought it might have been a dark lager of some kind. Nothing remarkable and really nothing memorable. I’ll pass on this if offered again.

tastes like a porter to me, but i can see why they call it an irish style red ale, just ’cause of the appearance

Deep copper red body, thin buff head. Aroma of brown sugar, grape, and toast, earthy hops and spice. I couldn’t identify the spice but see it is cardamom. The cardamom is the most distinctive characteristic of the otherwise light, bready, cerealy body. I’m not a fan.

Pours a copper color with an off-white head. Aroma is of chocolate, spices, and some roasted malts. Flavor is the same with a lingering flavor. Better then I expected.

Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a dark brown color with ruby highlights and a large light brown head. The aroma was vaguely sour and tangy. The flavor was bitter, tangy and sour followed by a light roasty malt element and a hint of bakers chocolate on the tangy finish. Not an Irish ale at all, and not that good either.