Magic Hat

First up, my favorite New England staple beer. Granted, the labeling and advertising are aesthetically atrocious, the taste, however, wins you over. Magic Hat #9 is a not-quite pale ale flavored with just a hint of apricot (no it is not overwhelming and it is certainly not a 'fruity' beer). It hails from Vermont, New England's most progressive, weird, and hippie state. Vermont also has a disproportionate amount of New England's breweries. Is there a correlation?

If you are in the Chicago area Magic Hat now seems to be rather widely available. You should be able to find it at any number of locations. Keep your eyes open.