Finally! A satisfying summer beer!
Written: Jul 19 '08 (Updated May 12 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Tasty, extremely smooth, nice scent.
Cons: A bit heavier in body than you'd expect.
The Bottom Line: This is one of the better "summer" beers you'll find from a craft brewer.
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| Chad9976's Full Review: Magic Hat Hocus Pocus |
Beers that promote themselves as “summer” beers lend themselves to an extra degree of criticism since using such a label makes the consumer think of a tasty, citrusy, lightweight brew. However, having sampled a few different beers of the type this summer I’ve been surprisingly disappointed. Everything’s been easy to drink but lacked flavor, but this is not the case with Magic Hat’s Hocus Pocus, which is a summer wheat ale not unlike a hefeweizen. It’s tasty and smooth, but perhaps a bit heavier in body than you’d expect. Regardless, it’s what I like in a summer beer.
POUR, COLOR AND AROMA
This particular brew might be a little less carbonated than your average beer because it pours extremely smooth and forms a very small white head. There is some bubbling action apparent after the initial pour, but the beer is quick to settle down and take on the appearance of a glass of tropical fruit juice.
Of course, most fruit juices aren’t cloudy like Hocus Pocus. It’s a wheat beer, not a lager, so cloudiness isn’t unusual. It’s extremely blonde in color, almost to the point of being bright yellow. The citrusy aroma, especially of lemon zest, is quite potent and very pleasant to the nose.
TASTE & FINISH
Isn’t it ironic how fruit-flavored beers are often frowned upon for being too gimmicky, while any beer with “summer” in its name is expected to have a citrusy taste? I’ve been disappointed by a few summer-themed beers for having an odd mix of citrus and spices. I think the goal of all brewers is to basically emulate the taste of Corona without the need for a lime.
The funny thing about Hocus Pocus is that it does have a citrus flavor to its palate, but it is by no means sour or tart. In fact, it’s quite mild, but judging from the other reviews of the beer on this site, it may be a bit too mild for some.
At least the mild taste lends itself to a smooth, easy-to-drink beer. There is absolutely no bite or harsh aftertaste to this beer and is one of the easiest beers to drink that doesn’t have the word “light” or “lite” in its name.
BODY
The only problem with Hocus Pocus is that it’s a bit weighty. It’s by no means a full-bodied beer, but it’s certainly heavier than you might expect. What would take three or four light beers to fill you up can be accomplished in just two bottles.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I know Magic Hat’s Hocus Pocus is by no means a Hall of Fame beer, but it’s definitely a viable option for your summer drinking needs. It’s a great weekend beer for watching the ball game or just chilling outside. It would probably be a great beverage for any BBQ or snacks, too. It’s just one of the beers that you just plain like.
OTHER MAGIC HAT BEERS:
Magic Hat Belgian Blonde (4)
Magic Hat Braggot (4)
Magic Hat Circus Boy (5)
Magic Hat English Dark Mild (3)
Magic Hat HI.P.A. (4)
Magic Hat Jinx (4)
Magic Hat Lucky Kat (5)
Magic Hat #9 (5)
Magic Hat Participation Lager (3)
Magic Hat Poppy Agave Pilsner (3)
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles (5)
Magic Hat Wacko (2)
OTHER SUMMER BEERS:
Coors Honey Moon Summer Ale (3)
Labatt Summer Blonde (3)
Samuel Adams Summer Ale (3)
Saranac Summer Ale (3)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Chad9976
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Member: Chad Polenz
Location: Albany, New York
Reviews written: 658
Trusted by: 147 members
About Me:Check out Chad'z Beer Reviews on YouTube
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