Magic Hat Batch 375 (Imperial IPA)

Formerly brewed at Magic Hat Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
South Burlington, Vermont USA

Pretty standard hoppy IPA aroma, semi clear copper/gold hue with slight white head. There did appear to be some smokiness in the background, but the dominant flavor was light textured malts and a dry aftertaste. It’s OK but nothing to search out.

Draught at Cole’s in Buffalo, NY. Pours a clear golden-orange with an average size mostly-lasting off-white head. Nice lacing. Aroma’s a little weird to me: hops, fruit, some sweetness and something odd that I can’t place (and not in a good way). Flavour starts fruity and sweet followed by the hops and a huge lasting bitter finish -- even for this hophead this is incredibly bitter. Medium bodied. Just O.K., it’s somewhat unbalanced and there’s something odd about it I’m not crazy about.

Bottle. Poures a dark copper with a fluffy, white head. Aroma of citrus, pine and hops. Flavor up front was mainly of hops with a slight pine flavor. A citrus middle with a bitter finish. Some sweetness throughout. To me it seems like an IIPA, but not the best example. Better than I was expecting however; not a big Magic Hat fan normally.

(draft @ The Old Toad - Rochester, NY) Copper color with a thick and puffy tan head. Aroma is very hoppy and bitter. Flavor is very nice and hoppy with a smooth middle of some pine, resin, and citrus with a floral and bitter hoppy finish. A very solid IPA, but I don’t know if I’d go as far as to call it a double IPA.

From bottle. Pours a copper hued orange with a decent off white head. Nose is resiny citrus, with the flavor following. Large bitter all the way through the flavor as well. Medium palate adds nicely. My favorite hat thus far.

Draught. At Cole’s in Buffalo, NY - shared with blankboy. Clear deep gold with an average-to-small off-white head - truly beautiful lace. An odd perfume/ketone aroma hit my nose, can’t describe other than to say "that ain’t right", pretty mild citrus/herbal hop character, sweet yet not really malty. Taste - again, a bit odd - a floral sweetness at first, then an on-rush of bitter grapefruit pith hops, really strong, overpowering and long lasting. Average body, incredibly astringent, acidic even, mild carbonation, a long unbalanced bitter finish with a mouth-coating resiny/grapefruit zest aftertaste - an interesting hop experience, but way too aggressive - I like a little malt, or at least to not have the hops push me in the mud and demand my lunch money!

A treat from Poperinge. Nice white head and lacing over a gold liquid. Interesting aroma of sweet grapefruit and something close to bubble gum. Sweet up front and then a sugary hop middle. Finish is delicious, a long sweet and sour grapefruit. Very nice. A shame I only have a small bottle.

12 oz bottle from Trooper11. Clear amber with a big foamy white head. Excellent thick lacing. Citrusy grapefruit nose, touches of pine. Flavor was nicely hoppy - citrus mostly, a bit of pine and grass. Caramel notes. Decent bitter citrus finish. Finally, a decent Hat!