The beer wizards up at Magic Hat in Burlington VT don't do anything "normally".  That's why I wasn't surprised when I made my semi-annual trip to the brewery last year and sampled the most non-spring-like spring beer I've ever had.  Magic Hat Vinyl is not what you'd expect.  This light looking lager is deceptively rich tasting and full-bodied while still being extremely drinkable.  The first thing that hits you is the bready smell of malt followed by some pine smelling hops telling you it's not your average Spring beer.  The taste is refreshingly unique.  You get a quick hit of the sweet malt and then the hops kick in right behind.  This beer isn't perfectly balanced, but it's not supposed to be.  Think of it as the White Stripes of beer... amazing raw ingredients assembled together to create something great, without worrying too much about smoothing out the rough edges.  Drinking this one is like listening to a great song on a vinyl record; the pops and crackles add to the whole experience.  So relax, don't over think this one and just enjoy!

Official Rating: B