What beer or brewery represents your state?

Vermont: Magic Hat Brewing Company –Number 9, Not quite pale ale

Should a magician ever reveal his secrets? Is the mystery part of the fun, the intrigue, the “thing” that brings you back for more? Vermont’s Magic Hat Brewing Company’s Number 9 Not Quite Pale Ale has some of that mystery.

Located in South Burlington, Vermont, Magic Hat Brewing Company is part brewery, part art space. The creativity of the company spills over into the beers that it makes. The tap room is even referred to the artifacory on the company website.

While it might be difficult to understand brewing beer as a performance, the whimsical approach to beer makes for an entertaining premises. The brewery doesn’t clearly define the ingredients or the flavors in their beers. The vague terms help to create the magic surrounding these creative beers.

Magic Hat #9 Not Quite So Pale Ale is considered a fruit beer. When it was first released, many people were quite pleased with this type of modern fruit beer. Some said the beer had an apricot taste or some type of stone fruit. Since Magic Hat would never directly comment on the flavors or notes, everyone was left to guess.

Magic Hat provides only vague notes on the #9 Not So Pale Ale. References to flavors swirling on your tongue and unusual are the only descriptions that you get from the brewery. Some drinkers find this beer refreshing.

This debate over this beer comes down to taste versus marketing. The mystery surrounding the marketing campaign can lead people to try the beer. But, is the marketing just hype? Is the beer still a good one or has the curtain been lifted trick? Open a Magic Hat #9 Not Quite So Pale Ale and see for yourself.

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