Magic Hat #9 not quite Pale Ale

This offering from the Magic Hat brewery is another example of creativeness that I have come to enjoy about this Company. The beer pours in with a light amber color and leaves you a small white head That lingers through out the tour. The initial nose is earthy but as you will notice that will change over to a fruity mix, aahhhh nice! You will certainly find a sharpness on your tongue initially with a smooth finish. This concoction has strong peach overtones and all I can say is wow. Ales are so vast, each one having its own Chemistry. This #9 defines good chemistry, it will refresh and surprise you and leave you wanting to go for another round. Kudos to Magic Hat, I would recommend this to anyone.    - Matt gives the #9 Ale 4 out of a possible 5

 As beer reviewers, Matt and I try quite a few different beers, some of which don't end up on the blog as sometimes we feel that a brewers effort is not worth your trouble to read about. Then, at the absolute opposite end of the spectrum comes something like this. Magic Hat's No.9 is pure art. This "not quite pale ale" will thrill and surprise even the most jaded palate. As Matt mentioned, there is a subtle bite and then (as angels sing) the aroma of apple blossoms, gentle on a spring breeze, wafts cross your nostrils. There is the slightest hint of apple blossom honey thrown in the mix balanced as perfectly as a lone dandelion seed landing on your fingertip with delicate bittering hops. I am genuinely in awe of this ale and the genius behind it. As I drank it, it quite literally stirred my emotions, filling me with a tranquil and restful feeling. I do not joke about this. If you have stared in admiration and felt drawn into the artwork of Martin Johnson Heade, then your soul is already primed to appreciate this brew. I am humbled by the triumphant combination of clean mouthfeel, frothy head, and subtle flavors that have made No.9 such a joy to review. I promise you, pour this in your favorite nucleated glass, let it sit a minute as you close your eyes and picture sunrise over a storm tossed Atlantic, a sakura fubuki, or even your mother baking pie with the apples you picked that afternoon. Now swirl this amber gift in your glass as you lift it to your nose. Roll the liquid back and forth in your mouth before swallowing. Your worries are gone, the long day complete.
-Zech gives No.9 by Magic Hat a 5 out of 5-

Abita S.O.S.

This special offering from one of mine and Zech's beloved brewers, is quite distinct. As I poured this I noticed a white fluffy head with a unfiltered yellow beer. The nose had a classic pilsner aroma with light lemon undertones. As I partook I discovered the wheat malt stood out above the Pilsner malt, but not so much that it lost its balance. Yes definitely light lemon in the flavors also. The bittersweet flavors stay on your palate and melt away slowly enough for you to enjoy.
Abita has failed to dissatisfy with any of their beers so far. And you do your part for charity for each bottle of S.O.S. you purchase Abita will donate to the victims of the oil spill in the Gulf. This is a limited time beer so get yours soon if you'd like to give it a try.      - Matt rates it with 3 out of 5

What do ya'll think? Leave a comment and tell us your favorite!


 Abita pulled no punches with this weizen pils. It is unfiltered, 7% abv, refreshing goodness. There is a strong citrus nose and an incredibly fluffy head. You will probably have to find this in a liquor store, at least in TN because of the high abv.
    The Sterling and German Perle hops used in this pils balance the sweet of the pilsner and wheat malts perfectly, so that the flavor dances the knife edge between sweet and bitter and at the same time the two opposing sensations are simultaneously noticeable. When I experience this in a brew, it highlights, in my mind at least, the artistry of the brewmasters involved.  The mouthfeel is lighter than most hopped beers and leaves a cool, refreshing feeling on your palate. This would make an excellent brew to cleanse the palate after a heavy meal. I sincerely hope Abita brings this brew back and makes it a regular.
-Zech gives Abita S.O.S. a 3.5 out of 5-

P.S. - Did you notice the Hurricane lamp in the photo?

Terrapin Hop Karma

 

  Looks like a brown ale doesn't it? Well you would be half right. Terrapin Beer Co. out of Athens, Georgia (home of REM by the way) has successfully created a brew that is the love child of an IPA and a malty Brown ale. And it is good. Holy Monkeys it is good. There is a distinct malt smell of caramel and as the beer warms it actually seemed to me as if I had a brown ale and an IPA on my tongue at the same time. If you enjoy either of these styles of beer, you will probably love this stuff. The light khaki head is fluffy and aromatic and its color was just slightly lighter than a traditional brown, this being the only clue as to its mixed ancestry. the mouthfeel is medium bodied leaving a pleasant IPA aftertaste that  is smoothed out by the malt sugars. My only complaint about this brew is that I don't have 5 more to...uh, help me review it better. I will definitely be serving this to my friends who enjoy IPAs. I have to also mention I loved the way the beer roils when poured into the glass. Makes me think of Guinness' little illegitimate brother. Buy This. You Won't Be Sorry.

 -Zech gives the Hop Karma a 4.5 out of 5-

My First intro to an IPA was several years ago and I can't recall the brand but I couldn't get past the dry hoppy flavors and the dry aftertaste, That was then this is now. Maybe it was bad beer I first tried or my tastes have become more in tune, who knows. I still think the average light lager beer drinker will not be ready for it. But, I digress, this Brown IPA could be one you might want to start with. The hops pop on your tongue with that classic dry aftertaste, but does not leave that aftertaste sticking around like you've been accustomed to with most IPA's. With the inclusion of a wee bit of sweetness, the Hop Karma truly will surprise you. Very nice!            -Matt gives it a 4 of 5

Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

Abita was a large contributor at the Beer fest, and I thoroughly enjoyed they're offerings there. They have done an excellent job with their pecan harvest. Made from Louisiana picked pecans, the initial aroma is earthy with a nutty overtone (surprise, surprise). The head goes away quickly, but you almost want it out of the way so you can get to the beer. You definitely taste the pecans but with alot of malty goodness soaking around it, almost a coffee like malt. Not alot of hoppy bitterness or bite, but undoubtedly there is a smidgeon of hop flavor that hangs on the tip of your tongue reminding you its an Ale.This to me should be tried by any newbie craft beer drinker who would like the Ale experience without the bite but with plenty of flavor.                                     Matt gives The Abita 4 out 5


 Matt is so right on this one. Give this stuff to your friends who are just starting to try new beers and they will like it. When I first saw that Abita had a pecan ale, I thought that they were just trying to compete with Lazy Magnolia's Southern Pecan, but I was wrong. This brew stands on its own, and though it is possible that the Southern Pecan inspired this idea, they went a whole different direction. This brew almost has some similarities to a Scottish Brown ale with its malty smoothness and low bitterness. It is not nearly as sweet as say, Innis & Gunn, but it also is not so bitter as to alienate the new comer. In the Jackson, TN area you can get this at the gas station with the Church's Fried chicken in it at the corner of Whitehall & North Parkway. Enjoy.
 -Zech gives Abita Pecan Harvest 4 out of 5-

Point Brewery Horizon Wheat

 

  Just gaze in loving awe at the smooth golden goodness that is the Point Brewery Horizon Wheat. This, my friends is Unfiltered Wheat Ale done right and as such I would recommend that your hard earned cash go towards this rather than Bud Light Golden Wheat.

  As you can see, this brew has a light and white fluffy head. There are readily recognizable but not overpowering citrus notes in the nose. There are no orange peels in this brew. Those scents come from the balances of malts, hops and American ale yeast. This is my second time reviewing a product from Stevens Point, Wisconsin and these folks definitely impress. As the beer warms the bitter notes become less pronounced and the malts start to to stand out even more.  It has a bitterness rating of 10 IBU's (International Bittering Units) which is just enough to let you know that you are drinking a grown-ups beer. Since this is the real thing, make sure you swirl the sediment in the bottle with the last couple of ounces and pour that into your glass. Here is what the folks at Point had to say about this brew and it was just so poetic I just had to copy it here for you.

  "Point Horizon Wheat is an alluring combination of spring wheat and specialty malts along with Yakima hops and American ale yeast.  This lively and light, perfectly balanced wheat beer pours cloudy and finishes with a white creamy head.  The glowing golden hue may help you visualize the start of a new day as early morning rays of sunshine bounce across the horizon of an American wheat field."

  It's just so beautiful...sniff...brings a tear to my eye.

  -Zech gives Point Brewery Horizon Wheat a 3.5 out of 5-

Stevens Point Brewery has impressed me further with this delightful product. Everything Zech said above I could parrot, fruity smell, fluffy white head, golden orangeish color, balanced flavors between malts hops and yeast, blah blah blah (not you Zech just the repetition I could do). What I really appreciated about this beer is what I've seen from this brewer with everything I have tried, really well done beer that gives you a cannot miss when forking over the dough to purchase a real beer on payday. I am also a comfort food guy, no doubt you have noticed this by the pairings of food and beer I recommend, and one of my favorites is a good hot wing. One beer that I tend to go with when partaking of the small chicken limbs is a wheat beer. This beer would absolutely go well with a spicy wing. So do not despair when your ready to try a Stevens Point Brewery Horizon Wheat you will not be wasting your dollars. 

-Matt gives it a 4 of 5

Magic Hat Circus Boy "The Hefeweizen"

 Oh golden delicious refreshingness, thou art called Circus Boy.
 There can be no doubt that the Magic Hat brewery loves beer. This refreshing hefeweizen exhibits a fine balance between sweet and bitter. The mouthfeel is only slightly oily, and a subtle bitterness lingers around your molars, while honeyed wheat goodness dances on your tongue. The head is thick and fluffy and lingers till Circus Boy starts to warm up. An excellent example of a brewery experimenting while remaining within the confines of a particular style of beer. The nose smells of fresh bread but as it warms does have hints of barnyard skunkiness. Overall very enjoyable. Would recommend that this is NOT a brew for those just venturing forth.
  -Zech gives Circus Boy a 3 out of 5-

  I found a little different feel for this beer than Zech, which is why we decided to give a double perspective on this blog. I found this to have a classic hefe nose. But as the flavors rolled on to my tongue I found a surprise citrus, especially a grapefruit start. The finish reminds me of a dry white wine without the heaviness. This was much lighter, taste wise, than other hefeweizen's I've tried. A good refreshing beer.
   The beer has a golden color with a cloudy clarity. Which reminds me of a perfectly good beer someone squeezed a lime into. If you enjoy citrus in your beer this to me is the overtone of this product. This brew would go well with a island type meal like some fish or shishkebobs.
Matt gives this a 3.5 of 5