In keeping with the “Summer beer that isn’t so good” theme set by my good friend (and yours) yesterday when discussing Leinie’s Summer Shandy… I present to you Magic Hat Wacko.

Drinkability

If there is one thing I must say in the positive realm about this beer, it is very easy to drink. Nothing altogether too offensive as far as the mouthfeel or finish. In fact, it does finishes clean and crisp, which makes it sort of refreshing.

Predictability

I half thought that Magic Hat was suddenly bought out by Dogfish Head when I read that this beer was brewed with beet sugar. I’m not a fan of beets, but I figure anything is worth a shot (even Midas Touch was worth a shot, despite how horrible it tastes). A bold idea doesn’t always translate to greatness, however… and this beer is the prime example. Despite its unpredictable manner of becoming a beer, the flavor is bland and relatively boring. The cherry Koolaid color and weird veggie aroma are odd and engendered some interesting thoughts of what the beer may have tasted like… but the build up was apparently for naught.

Affordability

Not much to say here. Like Magic Hat’s other brews, it’s reasonably priced. I purchased it as part of a mix and match six pack; it was easily the worst of the bunch, unfortunately. Though, paying $12 for the mix six when it included a few pricierbeers made this throwaway very palatable.

Overall Enjoyability

Do I really need to tell you? I think by now, you’ve figured out how I feel about this one. Wouldn’t buy it again. If someone else handed me one, I may drink it… but then again, I may just grab a bottle of water instead.

thepaintedman rates this:

While on vacation this week in the Outer Banks, it was imperative that I picked up a 6 pack of something from NC, to sample the local flavor. I accompanied my sister and her friends on a beer run to the local Brew Thru and asked the attendant about local beer. After telling me that their best local beer was out, she pulled out the micro list and showed me where the NC beers were on it. As a fan of English ales, Highland Brewing’s Gaelic Ale seemed a logical choice.

Out of Asheville, NC, Highland seems to be a respected brewery. With a few seasonals that sounded interesting and 5 year round brews, Gaelic Ale is their lead beer. Here are my notes:

Appearance:
thepaintedman rates this:

Pours a deep amber color with great clarity and a slight reddish tint. There is a small, creamy head that is maintained throughout.

Aroma:
thepaintedman rates this:

Here’s where I am a bit disappointed, as despite there being nothing unpleasant about the aroma… there is nothing really pleasant either. There is some faint malt aroma, but it is little to none.

Flavor:
thepaintedman rates this:

The flavor is full… and quite tasty at that. American hops varieties are noticeable, specifically cascade and chinook. This is a beer where you can identify quite easily that the prominent hops flavor is American. There is a moderate malt quality and a somewhat bitter finish. The flavor could be compared to some ESBs and Reds, but is something of its own.

Palate/Mouthfeel:
thepaintedman rates this:

While there is some sweetness to the flavor, the palate is quite dry. As noted above, there is a dry, hoppy finish. This creates a slight aftertaste, not altogether undesirable, but not fantastic either. There is a lot of body, without the beer being too heavy or thick.

Overall Rating:
thepaintedman rates this:

Overall, my first dive in NC’s beers was a positive and promising experience. Gaelic Ale is a solid session beer and only loses some points due to the lack of any discernible aroma (note that while little to no smell may be somewhat intentional, I like a good aroma to my beer). At 5.8% ABV, this American amber/red style is no pushover, but it won’t house you after just a beer or two.