Magic Hat Brewing - Hex Ourtoberfest

Tonight I've picked out a brew from Magic Hat Brewing called the Hex Ourtoberfest.  Magic Hat is located in South Burlington, Vermont, and these brewers are oddball guys that brew plenty of oddball beers.  Steve and I have only reviewed one beer from them thus far, the Blind Faith IPA from their IPA on Tour series, which turned out to be fairly average in the world of IPAs.  This Hex Ourtoberfest is a unique approach to the Oktoberfest genre, using some interesting ingredients like cherry-wood smoked malts and malted rye.  Definitely not going to be a traditional Oktoberfest! 

The beer registers a moderate 5.4% alcohol.  The label depicts a table full of demon-like men drinking pints of beer in a halloween-style bier garden - creepy and typical label from Magic Hat.  The beer is a dark, dirty-penny copper color with a light layer of lace that recedes right away.  The aroma is light and faint, with subtle notes of caramel and herbal tea, along with a spicy note and a lingering metallic smell.  You know how your hand smells after you hold a handful of pennies?  That's what I keep smelling here in the background. 

The beer starts off with a big wave of caramel malts that are simultaneously infused with spicy rye.  Behind that comes a layer of hop bitterness that carries more spices with it, along with an earthy herbal flavor.  More drinks reveal more herbs and grasses in the hop profile.  The finish leaves a sweet biscuity malt flavor that lingers for a bit.  The carbonation was on the heavier side, with a creamy texture. 

Overall Rating:  This was an odd brew from Magic Hat, I'm not really sure what to think!  It's certainly not a bad beer.  The malt backbone is pleasant, and the rye adds a nice component to brew.  There was something that seemed a little off....I can't quite pinpoint it, but it's an odd metallic-like flavor that throws things off I think.  If you're looking for an outside-the-box Oktoberfest brew, than this is a good one to try.  B-