Written by Wacko, from Magic Hat Brewing Company up in Vermont, is a Summer Seasonal beer that came as part of their summer sampler pack. If you recall, we checked out their ‘Odd Notion – Summer 2010‘ recently and even though it had gingery-goodness we thought it was just eh.
Wacko is, I think, a wheat beer that’s on the light-side at 4.5% ABV. Good for the BBQ gatherings outdoors I suppose where you might be wanting to have a few.
According to the label, the beer has beet juice added which explains the odd look. To me, it looked like a deep watermelon color, perhaps pink grapefruit – you get the idea. (The last beer I had with red color added, I wasn’t thrilled with.) Aside from the odd color of Wacko, the beer is mostly clear and created a smallish and short-lived head. No lacing to speak of.
Wacko smells anything but. For the crazy name (OK, wacky name) and beet juice added for extra crazy looks, the beer smells awfully tame. Smells like a wheat beer with vegetables puree to me – a little to sweet for my liking as well.
With some trepidation, we get to tasting Magic Hat Wacko!
Gulp…
…trepidation well founded.
OK, for the most part Wacko is not an extreme beer in any sense of the word, except for the color, its a downright boring beer. The flavors are mostly fruity, but I’m hesitant to say its beet flavor. It may be. I’m not really picking much up that interest me in this beer, but its hard to get past the artificial-fruitiness. Don’t get me wrong, you know you are drinking a malty beer and not a V-8, but this fruit thing as way too forward and sweet for my liking.
If there were no flavor, Wacko does have a decent body and nice mouthfeel. 
Its not carbonated that much, so if you were inclined to chug this brew you wouldn’t have any issues. Except for the taste thing. I also found that Wacko left a bit of an unpleasant stickiness that was, well, unpleasant.
Anyway, I think its cool that Magic Hat, or any brewery can go ahead and experiment with Wacky ingredients, but this one just didn’t do it for me. Perhaps some girls who are usually Bud Lite or wine cooler drinkers will appreciate the look and flavor of this beer, so have a few for them in the cooler @ the BBQ – but otherwise stay away.
Rating: 
I’m with you on this one Scott. What a disappointment for a almost cool named beer. I had it on draft at the Cloverleaf last year when it first came to NJ.
.-= Peter at Simply Beer´s last blog ..Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa =-.
Tnx Peter. I know Magic Hat makes a lot of seasonals that change from year to year – I’m sorry to hear it’s back every summer!
It definitely does not live up to the name.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..What’s Your Favorite Summer Beer =-.
Agreed. For the most part I’m not a huge fan of Magic Hats beers, including Wacko. I mean, I could drink a few of them and not be repulsed, but it would be a last choice given the sea of options out there.
That in in mind, I tend to appreciate the company. They are great about not being to spammy, but keeping intouch with their maling base, and they do at least get folks interested in craft beer. I saw some of their stuff at humdrum macro-beer bar.
.-= nate´s last blog ..Beer Mail- Adventures in Korea =-.
@nate – those are good points. I think Magic Hat has made themselves one of the better-known breweries in the country which is pretty cool. I haven’t tried all of their beers yet, but I wonder if their target market is more middle-of-the-road? Anyway, kudos to them for putting out a good variety and keeping it fresh with their Odd Notion series.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Magic Had Odd Notion – Summer 2010 =-.
Had the wacko just last weekend as a picnic from their summer sample pack. At first I enjoyed it but I found that it became less enjoyable the more I had of it. Truth be told, I had to dump it in the grass! I had one of the Magic Hat IPAs next and it was very good.
@Ol mike – thanks for popping in! Sorry to hear you had to dump your Wacko! I was actually able to finish the 3 that came in the sample pack, but I doubt I’ll ever have it again in the future. I think there were two IPAs that came in the Summer Pack, both decent.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sea Dog Blueberry Beer =-.
Too bad this beer didn’t work out. Not only did it not taste good to you, but look at that label art – blegh! I have never seen such a hideous, Ed Hardy-looking label before. I would probably not buy this beer just in protest of that art. Looks like the flavor matches the wrapping… or the book can be judged by the cover… or the carpet matches the drapes… or something…
.-= Royce´s last blog ..Beer Wednesday- Long Shots Homebrews by Sam Adams =-.
@Royce – you know, that IS some hideous artwork, and in this case the carpet did match the drapes. Or something.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Dundee Summer Wheat Beer Review =-.
Scott are you running an interior design blog now? Carpet and drapes and all. Next thing you know you will be comparing beer color to paint color palates. This one looks like the golden field color from Sherwin Williams…;)
Glad to know this one sucks. I’ll avoid it!
.-= Don´s last blog ..Stone’s Sublimely Self Righteous- The name says it all =-.
Don, I think you’re missing the point on the carpet and drapes.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Legbiter Ale – Strangford Lough Brewing Company =-.
Haha I think so too… Hey Don, ask the next blonde waitress at your table if the carpet matches the drapes, and see what kind of reaction you get… that should enlighten the phrase for you…
.-= Royce´s last blog ..This Week in Sports- The British Open startedyesterday =-.
Great review and my sentiments exactly. I ended up not being able to finish mine. I found that fruity yet tangy beet flavor most disagreeable. This after having their apricot (#9) beer (which was also given to the g/f to finish).
What i don’t get is how I can find this Wacko beer in almost every grocery store in my town. Must be a lot of beet juice lovers out there.
.-= Scott – TheBeerCritic´s last blog ..Worship The Goddess – Ninkasi Brewery =-.
@Scott- I think its definitely a ‘cool’ beer. Something different looking and the name perhaps makes a social statement for the person drinking it? I don’t know, I think its a novelty beer and nothing more. Not even a good novelty beer actually.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Bells Oberon – For Whom the Bells Tolls =-.