MAGIC HAT ODD NOTION

By JASON AND TODD ALSTRÖM

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Magic Hat Brewing Company out of South Burlington, Vermont is well-known for their hippie-like love of the odd, launching their mysterious experimental brews from the darkness at consumers to see what sticks to palates—literally. Tasters actually have the opportunity to comment on the beers via their website. It's a great marketing tactic to engage consumers, get them directly involved and cultivate feedback, though arguably a lot of effort for beers that may never see the light of day again.

Odd Notion (Winter '07) is a dark wheat ale that's tagged as an "English Ale," but brewed with 50% malted wheat, pale malts, dark-candy sugar, chocolate and Munich malts, and lightly hopped with Hersbrucker. They've been doing quite a lot with wheat beers over the years, and we'll admit that we haven't dug all of them, but let's clean the palate and approach this one with an open mind.

The Taste

Pours a dark brown brew with ruby hues and a thick, creamy, tight off-white lace with good stick and retention. Soft fruity and floral aromas with pear and chocolate, a nutty edge and a subtle drop of toffee. Quite smooth; creamy and medium-bodied with a rolling even feel on the palate. Up-front there's a slightly tangy raisin flavor that introduces a flash of hop bitterness, leafy tannins, a grassy bite and floral back. Malt pulls through for some balance with roasted nuts and caramel, with raw cookie dough action and lingering chocolate-cake characters. Alcohol becomes noticeable as things warm up; it first hides among a complexity of spices, but slightly sugary candy notes soon give its presence away. Astringent, husky and tannic towards the finish, leaving behind a bone-dry and wanting palate.

Final Thoughts

Odd Notion is definitely one of the more interesting, complex and drinkable experimental brews to come out of Magic Hat. It runs from smooth to coarse, from sweet to dry, from light to heavy, with changing flavors in each sip. It's a great ride that leaves food-pairing possibilities wide open. For instance, goat cheese with chocolate drizzle and dried date accompaniment sounds good right about now—wrap it in bacon and bake it, even better.

7.5% alcohol by volume, and available for a limited time in Magic Hat's Feast of Fools 12-pack. Buy it, drink it, and then go to oddnotion.magichat.net to let them know what you think of the beer.

FOR MORE INFO: MAGICHAT.NET

FOR MORE BEER EDUCATION: BEERADVOCATE.COM

RESPECT BEER.