Blackened Voodoo Lager -- Dixie Brewery (New Orleans, LA / Monroe, WI)

I have always gone back and forth on Blackened Voodoo, as it seems to be rather sensitive to its environment (temperature, glassware, age, etc.) and there are few guarantees once you get the bottle in your hand.  My most recent six-pack met that expectation, but generally came out to the positive side. And raise a glass to the Minhas Craft Brewing Co (f/k/a Huber Brewing Company) of Monroe, Wisconsin, which has stepped up with contract brewing facilities to help keep Dixie alive while the original New Orleans facilities are still out of commission.

Characteristics: Dark reddish-brown color, decent head (quickly receding), light body that allows for some translucency, medium carbonation that underscores an intriguing battle between dry hops and sweet malts that continues all the way down.

Minor Gripes: Similar to its new stablemate Huber Bock, Blackened Voodoo will change from bottle to bottle, glass to glass, and the "sweet spot" is notoriously hard to replicate.

Bottom Line: For those who like schwarzbiers and other dark lagers, Blackened Voodoo is worth checking out.  Just treat it like an English ale (i.e. warm it up a little) to get the full flavor experience.  Or seek out Köstritzer at a good German restaurant or rathskeller and enjoy a consistently strong beverage.

Rating: 6 / 10 on a good day, 4.5 / 10 on a bad one.