Magic Hat Brewing Company: #9
Hailing from the great state of Vermont, Magic Hat Brewing Company has been making magical and mysterious brews since 1994. But seriously, most breweries that I know try and get a theme going with one or two of their beers but Magic Hat has done an incredible job of incorporating the magic theme into their marketing plans. When it comes to beer names you want something that will be memorable, and we all at one point have chosen a beer based purely on its name. #9 is so simple it's intriguing and I can see why Greg was drawn to this beer.
Describing itself as a not quite pale ale also adds to the mystique surrounding this beer. Looking at the ingredient list that Magic Hat has posted on their website, this beer is by all accounts a pretty typical pale ale. Although I will admit that coming in at 20 IBUs is on the low side for a pale ale, I wouldn't however say it is unheard of. Overall (and I am saying this without having tried the beer) I think they have probably made a pretty decent pale ale, but an excellent marketing strategy to go along with it. In the brewing industry, sometimes this is all you need to get bottles out the door and into people's fridges.
Greg liked this beer a lot and the every review that I have read on the internet reflects what Greg told me about this beer. You can bet the next time that I am looking over a tap menu and see #9 I am going to be ordering it, and you should do the same.
Deschutes Brewery: Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Like Greg said in the podcast we are going coast to coast with our beer selections this week. Deschutes Brewery is based out of Oregon and has quickly become a household name throughout the country. Mirror Pond Pale Ale is one of Deschutes year round offerings and is in my mind an excellent representation of what a pale ale should be. It is crisp and refreshing, but the cascade hops that they use gives it a distinct bitterness that awakens the taste buds.
Mirror Pond Pale Ale is the kind of beer that I love because in today's world of beer, we get so many different exotic flavors that can really grind us down until we can't taste anything. This beer however sits at 40 IBUs and 5% ABV which means you can drink a six pack in an afternoon and not get tired of it. Ever heard the saying "if it ain't broken don't fix it"? Well the people over at Deschutes Brewery definitely have because they have been making this brew the same way since 1988.
I honestly can't stop saying how much I enjoyed this beer. Any beer lover should be able to appreciate the craft it takes to make a brew like this, and the creative restraint on the brewer's part not to get overly crazy or change it after all this time. This beer will be making regular appearances in my fridge for years to come, and you should consider doing the same.
That's it for this weeks Da Beers post. Like I said in the beginning, make sure to check out our newest podcast and head back here to the website regularly to see updates and new content. If you have any suggestions of what beer Greg and I should feature in an upcoming episode make sure to leave your suggestions below.
Cheers!
-Brian
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