Magic Hat Elder Betty

Kitties on the keyboard make it hard to type: lesson learned tonight. Miss Jasmine decided to help review the beer, although in the end, she had nothing to say about it... I think maybe she was just going for easy access to the desk and some Mom love. So, this is the last beer in the sampler pack from Magic Hat to review. Elder Betty, which was first released last summer. A hefeweizen flavored with elderberries, which are something of a new obsession of mine. They're mild but tart... I love them in cocktails. Seriously, try a splash of St. Germain (elderberry liqueur) in your next greyhound.... it smooths out the bitterness of the grapefruit juice. And I love love love the label artwork, so this was something of a no-brainer for me.

This pours a cloudy peach color with a white head that doesn't stick around long. The nose is all hefeweizen esters -- banana, orange, coriander -- with a touch of elderberry sneaking in. The taste is pure hefeweizen -- orange and banana, predominantly -- rounded and smoothed by a tinge of elderberries. I love that the elderberries complement instead of overwhelm this beer. They hit the palate late, and have the same effect they have in the greyhound. The mouthfeel is a little more bubbly than most hefeweizens, but that's ok in this, I think.

Jasmine came back to supervise blog progress. She's now prowling around the desk, threatening to tip over Nathan's bottle collection. Here is my view right now:

Yeah, she looks innocent. She's actually the sweetest cat. Even when she's eating the sprouting herbs or scratching her declawed paws on any and all closet doors.

Back to the beer... yeah, it's good. I'd suggest obtaining a six-pack once it warms up a bit more.

4.3/5 caps

-Jennie

Ok, so to explain the things you see on the desk, Alpha Collection box from Flying Dog (2 years ago they released that, with the AWESOME Imperial Simcoe IPA) and Hell's Angels from Hunter S. Thompson.  And of course the kitty who's getting some junk in her trunk. But onto the beer.

The label surely attracts us: just sheer beauty. The pour of this is hazy yellow orange (or as Jennie said 'peach') color, white head. Interesting banana and berry aroma. The taste is like an awesome banana and elderberry smoothie. few notes of orange and coriander, but adding to instead of overpowering or taking away from this fruity concoction of awe. lighter mouthfeel with some decent carbonation to make this more of a unique brew.

Good beer, better, once again, for warmer times, but we can't blame the brewery for Ohio's potential for some snow tomorrow and starting off in the 20's (note, a couple days ago, it was sunny and 60).

4.25/5 caps

-Nathan