Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": Magic Hat's "Odd Notion" Braggot

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Dec 5, 2008 7:00PM

We're gonna focus December's "BotW" selections on new(ish) winter selections, including the new Goose Island "Mild Winter" ale and Lost Abbey's "Gift of the Magi" in the next two weeks. today, however, we're tuning our attention to back to Magic Hat Brewing Company.

Readers will remember we selected Magic Hat's #9 ale in February. This time, they sent us a couple selections from their winter variety 12-pack (available for purchase at Sam's and Binny's), although they didn't send us any "Magic Hats for Her" this time around. Of the selections, we were really intrigued by the "Odd Notion," a braggot. Remember that a braggot traditionally is a mixture of mead and ale (Two Brothers Heliocentric, a previous "BotW" selection, is another example of the style). Brewed with pale and wheat malts, Centennial hops and more than a touch of honey, Odd Notion has a flavor not unlike a sweetened chamomile tea. The addition of honey to the brew gives a slight heft to this beer and a viscous finish in the back of the throat. Odd Notion also had a wonderful color to it, a deep amber with a medium foam head that allowed the aroma of honey and spices to really hit our nose.

This is a very good winter beer selection and goes great with, of all things, fruitcake. we commend Magic Hat for dipping their toes into the braggot and make a successful example of the style with Odd Notion, Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week."