Magic Hat Jinx

[Dude]

I really like this beer, and I am assuming this is a Scottish ale of sorts....

I found this info on it from the website:

SeptemberOctoberNovemberFest Ale"

Gravity: 1.066
Bitterness: 20
SRM: 22
Yeast: English Yeast
Hops: Warrior, Centennial
Malts: Pale, Crystal, Chocolate, Munich, Peat-Smoked Whiskey Malt (guess that's where the bourbon taste comes in)

"Fermented with our 150-year-old strain of top-fermenting English yeast."

"Earthy, rich and steeped in autumn's magic; it's an ale of change. This potent infusion is haunted by memories of summer and the first frost on abandoned fields. Jinx prepares the bones for snow. It's strong, medium-bodied ale, the color of maple's golden leaves in the season's fading sun. It's finished with a touch of peat-smoked whiskey malt to hint of bonfires lit to celebrate past and future harvests.

Has anyone ever drank this? Do those numbers seem right? 1.066 and only 20 IBUs? I can believe the IBUs, but the OG is 1.066? that seems high to me. Anyone else?????

 

[dbriggs10]

I found this beer for the first time last week. I stumbled upon a 6-pack and really enjoyed it. Well, a 5-pack really... I guess someone at the store had to try one.

I would love to comment on the OG... but being that I have all of two, TWO brews under my belt, I may not be the authority quite yet.

Good beer though.

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

Well if they're calling it a 'fest ale, I think that may be about rightish. It looks like a Helles Bock or maybe even a strong Munich Helles. Though a little light in IBUs, not too far off the mark. If you used a high percentage of Munich or Vienna as the primary grain, you'd get a really nice malt profile, and wouldn't have to worry too much about it being overly bitter, because the malt would take center stage.

That's all just idle speculation on my part though, I've never had the stuff.

One more thing: ironically, scottish ales have no peat-malt in them. The smokiness comes from the yeast. Peat-malt in scottish ales in an American invention.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I'm not crazy about Jinx, but the 20 IBU's seems about right to me...I don't find it hoppy at all. The 1.066 does seem high to me, but I've never checked the abv.

 

[Walker]

No way that beer is 1.066.... (and yes, it is a scottish ale.)

 

[IrregularPulse]

ABV is 6.9% Drinking one right now. Came across this thread from asearch. Obviously since I'm reviving a 1.5year old thread. Tend to not mind after half a bottle of wine, two jinxs and my sample from my Chocolate Hazelnut Porter botteling tonight! Feeling pretty good.

But back to the jinx.
While trying to bring out my beer geekness to SWMBO during tasting these two bottles. ( I've drank 3 previously form the six back earlier this week) I was trying to quiz mself and pick the ingredients. I guessed either a High Lovibond crystal malt or a chocolate or a low level of Black patent, I was happy to see the chocolate and the crystal listed above. Although i wish they'd mention what level crytstal they used. I'm guessing pretty low due to the color of this beer. OK, I'll stop being a wanna be snob. I too don't notice much hop character in this but it is well balanced. I am a huge Hop fan but just ordered two Malt favoring kits from northern brewer for my next 2 batches. Wanna start familiarizing myslf with different malt profiles. I would definitely like a JINX clone though.

 

[Zymurgrafi]

Funny thing is, I think they use to imply/hint (in the typical Magic hat marketing obfuscation) it was a rauchbier when it first came out. Also it was a "spring seasonal" then as well. FAR from a rauchbier really so...

That is the thing about Magic Hat, they try to be as cryptic as possible because they know their beer is not good enough to actually be evaluated for what it "is"

 

[Glibbidy]

I agree with Zymurgrafi. Thier beer has gone down hill since I startted drinking it in the early 90's. While most other craft brewers have refined their process's to mprove upon the qaulity of their beer Magic Hat seems to have migrated the way of the BMC and made their beer about hype and marketing.

 

[DubbelDach]

I spoke with some Magic Hat reps at a tasting at Total Wine in Delaware maybe two years ago... They had me try the Jinx and told me it's not your typical Oktoberfest, and even implied that they add leaves and fall foliage to the boil.

I liked the beer, but walked away thinking everyone at Magic Hat's lost their marbles!

 

[IrregularPulse]

... They had me try the Jinx and told me it's not your typical Oktoberfest, and even implied that they add leaves and fall foliage to the boil.

I liked the beer, but walked away thinking everyone at Magic Hat's lost their marbles!

Wow, that is ridiculous. Sales reps are such a ridiculous breed. Sorry to offend anyone, but c'mon, they;ll tell you anything to get their commission. Fall foliage to the boil?!