The Beer Bitch Project gets Hexed!

Vermont's Magic Hat has accumulated something of a national reputation at this point.  I haven't met anyone who doesn't enjoy their #9 "not quite pale ale," and I was a big fan of Wacko, their summer beer that poured blood red.

But my favorite annual Magic Hat moment is when they release their "Ourtoberfest": the magickal Hex.  It signifies that start of autumn for me more so than any pumpkin beer does, mostly because of it's killer packaging art, which just screams FALL IS FINALLY HERE.  The color scheme is deep red and black, with a ghastly, rowdy pagan crew guzzling brews around a picnic table surrounded by ominous black crows and cats, wrought-iron fencing, and bare trees.

Hex is an extremely malty amber that starts with a sweet hint of caramel, and finishes bitter with a slight smokiness.  I didn't dig on the actual beer itself last season, but this year it's definitely doing the trick.  But who the hell am I kidding, the real star is the artwork.  Kudos to Magic Hat for channeling  a unique perspective on drunken seasonal change with their packaging.

Check here for an animated clip (and pint glasses!): http://www.magichat.net/hex

Beer Bitch Grade: A-
Method of Intake: 6-pk.
ABV: 5.4

The Beer Bitch Project! Part 1: Pumpkin Beer Season 2012!

'TIS THE SEASON!  It's early September, which means the air is finally starting to cool off, stores are unveiling their Halloween sections, and I'm panic-attacking about not having enough time to plan costumes and movie marathons.

More importantly, it's that time of year where one of my favorite things starts to rear its lovely head in liquor stores and natural food stores alike: PUMPKIN BEER!  It seems like there are more pumpkin microbrews every year, and I can't get enough of 'em.

This fall, I've decided to chronicle my Pumpkin Beer "Tasting" (please, who ever really just "tastes" beer!).  Last year I had no idea how many different pumpkin beers I had, so tracking them here will allow me to revel in my gourd-infused-alcohol love.  I will also use THE BEER BITCH PROJECT as a space to showcase one of my other favorite beer-related things: microbrews with sweet horror artwork!  This is another growing beer trend that I whole-heartedly adore and enthusiastically endorse, and there is an obvious intersection with pumpkin beer, so why the hell not!?

To kick it off, my first two pumpkin beers of the season are the two that are traditionally early arrivals in stores around these parts.  STOCK UP NOW, FOLKS, because you don't want to be left celebrating October festivities without various pumpkin brews in your fridge!  You can't find the shit once you hit the third week in Oct!

Pumpkin Beer #1 - New Holland Ichabod Ale

Michigan's very own New Holland Ichabod Ale is a pumpkin beer staple for me, with the classic image of the jack-o-lantern wielding Headless Horseman adorning the packaging.  Ichabod is a slightly carbonated copper ale that starts sweet and finishes bitter.  Your taste buds will savor the autumnal spices from the first sip to the final swallow.  Pumpkin flavor is stronger than most pumpkin beers. Extreme drinkability.  Really, this is one of New Holland's very best beers.

Beer Bitch Grade: A-
Method of Intake: 6pk bottle
ABV: 5.5%

Pumpkin Beer #2 - Dogfish Punkin' Ale

Dogfish PUNK holds a special place in my heart because it is one of the very first pumpkin beers I had.  It seems the batches are hit or miss every season, but this year it is total win.  Punk is a very rich, smooth brown ale brewed with a variety of seasonal spices, which have a subtle impact on the palate.  Pumpkin may be the star, but the secret weapon here is organic brown sugar.  It's typically heavy, as most Dogfish beers, making the drinkability factor somewhat low, which is probably for the best because it's strong stuff.

Beer Bitch Grade: A-

Method of Intake: 4pk bottle

ABV: 7%