Odd Notion - Participation Lager (Autumn 2008)
Magic Hat Brewing Company

Odd Notion - Participation Lager (Autumn 2008)Odd Notion - Participation Lager (Autumn 2008)
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From:
Magic Hat Brewing Company
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
American Adjunct Lager
ABV:
5%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.51 | pDev: 13.68%
Reviews:
50
Ratings:
61
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 09, 2014
Added:
Aug 08, 2008
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  0
A Pre-Prohibition Lager brewed with corn.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by iceball585:
Photo of iceball585
Reviewed by iceball585 from New York

3.97/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Pale yellow color, semi-cloudy, white thin fluffy layer that faded to a thin ring

S- Corn, toasted grains, pale malts, citrus, light hops

T- Pale malts, corn, lemons, earthy hops bite near the end

M- Medium body, medium carbonation, smooth, crisp, slightly dry finish

D- Definitely worth buying again

I really wish they would brew this one more than once every 4 years. Pick up some before it's all gone.
Oct 02, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by bluehende from Delaware

Dec 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Durandal_777 from Pennsylvania

May 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by thatoneguymike from Georgia

Apr 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by jaymo18 from Virginia

Feb 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by BlissJunkie from Michigan

Jul 22, 2013
 
 
Rated: 3 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Jan 20, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Turbodog666 from Connecticut

Jan 10, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by DeutschesBier from Maryland

Dec 13, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by rab53 from Washington

Dec 02, 2011
 
Rated: 3.25 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 22, 2011
Photo of Knapp85
Reviewed by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
I remember drinking this right before I went to go vote in the 2008 election. I felt that it was fitting for the event about to take place. This beer is pale yellow and has a pretty good head on it. The flavors had some pretty decent hops in it but in the long run it was still a bland adjunct lager. The smell was a bit off to me, kinda smelled a little sour or something. Either way I think this beer could have been a little better but it was still drinkable.
Apr 02, 2011
Photo of TheBierBand
Reviewed by TheBierBand from Ohio

4.02/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Purchased this as part of a mixed 12 pack of Magic Hat offerings. Seems that this one is an urge to get the live music fans out to vote (hence: Participation). The bottle is brown with a red, white and blue label. Freshness date notched: "Enjoy by end of month notched": Dec. '08.... I'm about 20 days late on this... but here goes:

Poured into the pint glass to form a 1" head of semi-dense, pure white foam. The beer itself is just a touch hazy... and a light orangy yellow. A touch darker than your run-of-the-mill macro lager.

Smell: This beer has a much more pronounced smell than an average macro. You can pick up a grassy scent like fresh mown hay and a hint of sweetness... very nice.

Taste: So much better than the "STANDARDS" of this category. Much more flavor. Starts with a little sweetness from the malt but it quickly fades to a bitter, grassy bite from the hops. This is not my favorite style of beer, but it is GREAT when compared to Bud or any of the other macros that exhibit a marked absence of flavor. The beer has a lingering hops aftertaste.

MF: Nice.... a lot more body and a bit of creaminess. So much better than the "norm" for this style.

Drinkability: OK... if you're looking for an easy beer to drink.... this is good. This is what the macros should aspire to. This would be a good "cross-over" beer for someone to try to get them interested in craft beer. Not my favorite style... but a good beer none-the-less.
Jan 20, 2009
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

3.17/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 oz. bottle poured into my Church Brew Works shaker, Participation Lager is a clear gold with lots of lazy streamers forming a large, fluffy off-white head with impressive last that leaves heavy lace. Man, I've really had some nice looking beers tonight, for the style, I can ask for nothing better.

Smell is grainy and sweet, with some fresh, herbal hops.

Taste is ok, a bit metallic and sharp, there is a hint of corn pops cereal flavor that frankly I wish was more developed, rather then the corn sugar flavor that dominates (e.g. I'd like a tad more depth). Fairly bitter, with a vanishingly clean finish. Not a style I enjoy or drink hardly ever, but something about the smell/taste as it first hit's my lips incites a gag reflex, reminding me of guzzling cheap lager in college. I'm not really sure if it's just this beer or the style, but after the first few sips it went away.

Mouthfeel is dry, some what crisp, but with a bit of a slickness too it, not the lightest body per se though.

Drinkability is ok, it is what it is, seems rather run of the mill, perhaps a step above cheap swill, but it still reminds me of such. I would not be able to drink this to fast, the taste would back up on me, even through there's really not a lot of flavor.
Dec 23, 2008
Photo of Vendetta
Reviewed by Vendetta from New Jersey

2.66/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Original Rating Date:
September 28, 2008

Pours what you expect from a pilsener, but with a better head than expected. I've never been a big fan of the pilsener but Magic Hat does well with this. Subtle fruit notes, I think some citrus (lemon, grapefruit). Super drinkable. Not my style but a good effort.
Dec 14, 2008
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.31/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I picked this up at Quick six in West York PA sampled Decmber 1st - taken from notes
Poured chill into my Stein
A - A hazy golden w/ a snowy cap of 2 fingers w/ lots of streaming bubbles

S - somewhat metallic aroma w/ subtle cooked veggie(dms) and mildly grainy aroma.

M - A very effervescent feel - fizzy and almost sharp w/ nice grain elments and touches of hop spice for balance.

T - The hop flavors are up front w/ hints of floral and spice notes, the next taste is a biscuit-like malt w/ mild sweetness. Slight hoppy citrus tastes are lemony w/ suitable malt accompaniement. The malt flavor is enhanced by the yeast and there is a hint of woodiness. The flavor doesn't seem affected by any adjunct.

D - a very tasty magic hat brew. I could drink several of these without the need to switch gears. The refreshing quality and flavorful hops add interest to overall drinking ability factor. I enjoyed this lager.
Dec 14, 2008
Photo of oriolesfan4
Reviewed by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

3.87/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
AN interesting beer for sure.. this was part of the summer seasonal mixed 12 pack on clearance (only $6.99 and it's best by date is January '09!!!)

Tastes like an American Pale Ale to me.. not sure if putting it in the same style category as Bud/Coors/Busch does it justice. Pretty hoppy and very drinkable, also pours very cloudy which is kinda interesting. Smooth and enjoyable, would definitely have again.
Dec 03, 2008
Photo of ZAP
Reviewed by ZAP from Minnesota

2.74/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Interesting beer for sure...pours a cloudy bright yellow with a nice fuffy white head..aroma lends some bready notes...taste is big on a lemon like flavor (hops?)...adds a sourish (not in a bad way) flavor and feel.

Not really what I was expecting (which is not unusual with MH)...feels more like an american wheat ale strong on the lemon drop elments..

Not bad but nothing I would buy again..
Nov 30, 2008
Photo of TheTrevor
Reviewed by TheTrevor from New York

3.4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This beer poured a slightly-cloudy copper with a lingering single-finger head. The smell is malty with some hops that hint at what's to come. The taste both starts and ends with some piney hops with a little bit of malt in the middle and a surprisingly clean finish. The mouthfeel is a little slick with some find carbonation. Not sure I would grab another one, but I shouldn't have a problem finishing this one off.
Nov 29, 2008
Odd Notion - Participation Lager (Autumn 2008) from Magic Hat Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 61 ratings