Magic Hat "Night of the Living Dead" Autumn Taster 12-Pack

I’ve always loved variety, especially in large amounts. You know; buffets, short film festivals, boxes of chocolates, and of course taster cases of beer. Few things are as nice as 4 varieties of beer with 3 beers per style to get drunk off and share with your friends. This is what comes in the ‘Night of the Living Dead’ Autumn taster pack from Magic Hat. Let’s see what’s in the box:

 

#9

 

It pours golden and fizzy but with minimal head. The aromas coming off this one is mainly fruit and a little bit of hops. In taste it is sharp, tart, and full of peaches and a little touch of honey. The hops show up on the tongue a little late. It is not bad at all, but it reminds me more of a skunked wine cooler than a good beer.

 

Jinx

 

This beer pours dark brown with hints of redness. The head is thick but not big and leaves little trace behind. The aroma on this beer is remarkable; it is earthy and comforting with bits of ripe apple and chocolate. Between sips I find myself inhaling its perfume again and again, matching its aromatic properties with the additional subtleties in its taste. On the tongue it is malty and boasts just enough bitterness but as you let it settle all manner of fruit flavors emerge and even a hint of chocolate. This beer is one of my favorites in the pack although I cannot see myself having more than one during a sitting.

 

Circus Boy

 

Circus boy is an American pale wheat beer and probably the first thing I ever tasted from Magic Hat Brewing Company. What had happened is that I was quite enamored of Harpoons UFO and I was looking for an alternative. Circus Boy is a great substitute, it also pours golden and cloudy with a clingy head. In aroma I detect lemon juice and orange zest but no real bitterness. The flavor is pretty much what you would expect, but I could picture this one served with a wedge of orange instead of lemon as people normally do with UFO. The flavor is also a little bit strong for a wheat beer but not cloying at all.

 

Mystery Beer

 

This beer pours a nice reddish orange color with a head that remains in little clouds floating atop the liquid. In aroma it is a bit yeasty and spicy, cheese and wine I thought. Still when I tasted it I got a hint of bananas and it reminded me of one of Connoisseur Jon’s homebrews, which I like to refer to as the hefeweizen that wasn’t. I guess it is a Belgian style beer but a bit more bitter than I would expect.  All in all not bad, very well rounded but far from exceptional.