Howl Black Lager

So sorry to disappoint. I know, I was supposed to be talking about the Dogfish Head 120min IPA. However, tonight I went to a potluck at a friends house and I brought Howl Black Lager from Magic Hat with me and so I’ve been drinking that and honestly the 120 needs space of its own. Tomorrow, I promise.

The Howl Black Lager is only the second Magic Hat beer that I really like.  Their beers are good, don’t get me wrong, but they are so fruity.  When I first saw it I thought of Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl.  I wondered if there was a connection.  Maybe I am the only one finding literary connections with Magic Hat’s most recent brews.  The other Magic Hat beer that I like is Wacko (hard to find right now as it is a summer seasonal).  Wacko is coloured by beets and of course I immediately thought of one of my favorite books, Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins.  The missing ingredient being found in this Magic Hat beer and Tom Robbins writing style being truly wacko.  But, I don’t think that they were thinking of either of Ginsberg or Robbins when they were brewing.

This schwarzbier does pour black but not really “as night” like they say. The aroma is of toasted malts with hints of coco and hops. The lacing is be-a-u-ti-ful.  The lager is light in body and crisp. The flavour is malty with hints of coffee and charcoal and a grassy bitter hop finish.  Very drinkable, unlike most Magic Hat beers, in my opinion. Jinx, the beer Howl replaced, was one of my least favorite beers so I am just delighted.

★★★★★

So drink this beer and humour me, listen to Allen read his poem Howl while you are at it.