Point / Counterpoint: Magic Hat Wacko

Point

Magic Hat has always made seasonal brews that are pretty interesting and creative.  This summer’s seasonal was called Wacko, and involved everyone’s favorite root, the beet.  The addition of beet extract makes the beer a bright reddish color which is quite pleasing to the eye.  The beer itself is mild, slightly hoppy, and a bit sweet, with very fine bubbles in the carbonation.  Definitely a refreshing brew, but I do prefer a little more body to my ale.  I also wish there were herbal or fruit notes to round out the taste, but these seemed to be lacking.  All in all, a fun beer for the color and good for a drink on a hot day, but as serious ale goes Wacko would not hold up to the competition.

- Connoisseur Michael

Counterpoint

Connoisseur Michael.  While I normally accept and agree with your reviews and ideas, I must take exception to any praise of Wacko, the Magic Hat beet beer.  While I like the idea of adventurous beer, I cannot condone imbibing Wacko, as it is pure filth.  Upon opening the bottle, there was an unmistakable smell of cat’s breath.  You know what they lick.  Sometimes, the smell of a thing does not accurately describe its flavor, as is the case with some foul smelling and delicious cheeses.  I tasted the pink liquid and wretched a little on the inside.  It tasted as bad as it smelled, and I immediately began getting heartburn from it.  Deep down, there were some summer beer flavors, but it mainly tasted like death on top of stink.  After suffering through several tastes and hoping it would change, I made an unconscionable move that still haunts me, though the beer did deserve everything it got.  I dumped it.  I actually poured beer down the sink because it was not drinkable.  I know, this is sacrilege, but a necessary evil.  I wanted to call Magic Hat and ask them if they had tasted this product, because I don’t feel anyone should have had to drink this.  Now I find that some people enjoyed it.  I figured they just had poor taste.  Now you, Michael…shame on you, sir.

-Connoisseur Jon

Wiggity-whack Photoshop work done by Connoisseur Tom