Beer 87 Magic Hat #9 and Beer 88 Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale
As we approach the end of the quest to try 100 new Beers in one year, I find myself looking for truly unique brews to tantalize my taste buds. Many of the creations that I will be reviewing in the posts ahead have come highly recommended, while a few will be chosen strictly because they have cool labels. My beer searching prowess has improved immensely since I began my journey, and I look forward finding a few more gems to pass along to you.
Beer 87 is the much hyped Magic Hat #9. Andy had been telling us for some time that he would be one of the few distributors of Magic Hat products in the area. He was not sure which products he would be receiving from them, only that they were extremely selective as to which stores would be able to sell their beer. With so much hype, I was a bit skeptical. Still I knew that I would be trying some when it came in, if only to say that I had tried it. When it finally did arrive, Andy did not have his same enthusiasm. The price of $3.99 for a 22 ounce bottle, gave me cause for concern, as it did not seem expensive enough to merit the hype.
It turns out that #9 is an apricot ale. I did what I said I would do, and bought one. I had very low expectations for this beer. When I opened this this thing of beauty fruity concoction, it gave off an aroma that reminded me of orange kool aid. It poured it into a pint glass and witnessed a short lived head with a bit of lacing, during an uninspired pour. Hazy, and golden in color, this 4.6% alcohol beer was living down to my expectations. The first taste was rather bland, with a hint of apricots. Hardly the type of beer I would want to bring to a beer trade event with the guys. You might just as well buy a 6 pack of domestic light beer and have extra liquid to consume. The Magic Hat fell way short of the hype, and is not recommended.
Beer 88, Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin was a no brainer selction. I was very impressed with their Pumpkin Ale, so why wouldn’t I want to try their 9% offering from their Pugsley’s Signature Series. Boasting a 9% alcohol content, and a Halloween influenced label, it was easy to find, and easy to make a quick purchase decision.
Upon opening the bottle, a fresh spiced aroma rises from the 22 ounce bottle. Pouring it into a pint glass reveals a small temporary head above its copper like color. My first taste revealed a nutmeg flavor that was more prominent than the pumpkin flavor. The alcohol content was noticeable, as was a malty richness as the temperature increased during the tasting. I enjoyed the entire bottle as I am a big pumpkin fan. It was worth the price to try out the high octane brand of Shipyard Pumpkin. After sampling both, I would most often opt for the slightly more flavorful, and less expensive option the regular Shipyard Pumpkin Ale.
The Magic Hat was $3.99 for a 22 ounce bottle, and the Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin was $7.99 for a 22 ounce bottle.
