Magic Hat Odd Notion Summer
Frequently, Magic Hat puts some crazy miscellaneous beer into their mixed cases as a test. It's usually named something like "Batch 47" and if enough people like it, it ends up as a regular beer with a real name in the future. This time, it looks like they've been experimenting with three drastically different beers all under the name "Odd Notion".
The summer one pours a golden straw color with a pale, short lived head. The taste is very citrus spicy with plenty of funky Belgian yeast characteristics. What do you know, the website says it uses a Belgian yeast strain. I never could have guessed. There's a hint of wheat malts in amongst all the spice. Odd Notion Summer is not at all shy about its 5.9% alcohol content. It's a very smooth, easy to drink beer. I can see enjoying a couple in a session.
Overall, I am impressed. This is a solid Belgian pale ale from a brewery that I want to succeed but always end up feeling let down by. So many of their beers are unremarkable to me, but this is a real stand out. Too bad it's in the experimental slot in the summer mixed case. I think picking up the case is worth it just to try this beer. Hopefully it'll be moving into regular rotation.
