angrypirate06 (678), Texas, USA Mar 16, 2009 Decent white head, pours a clear brown. Smells of caramel, citrus and burnt malts. Watery and fizzy mouthfeel. Taste is sweet, with hints of apricots and a pleasantly astringent back end. GJF (480), Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA Mar 16, 2009 On tap at the brewhouse. Good dose of hops; the apricot doesn’t really come through, and it’s a bit fizzy for my tastes, but a strong hop finish that I like. ksurkin (354), Norfolk, Virginia, USA Mar 15, 2009 bottle from grape & gourmet. pours a very clear, pale amber with a nice, bubbly white head. aroma is fruity and sweet with definite apricot notes, some orange, and some light, floral hops. flavor is surprisingly good with a great contrast of tart apricot, piney hops, and a bit of caramel sweetness. palate is bright, medium bodied, with substantial carbonation, and a tart fruit finish. similar to magic hat #9 but tastes a bit more classy. eyesolus (64), Mill Creek, Washington, USA Mar 15, 2009 Bottle 12oz; just enough sweetness from the fruit to make it enjoyable; medium body; balanced bitter and malt that works well with the fruit; hoppy/acidic remains through digestion. (#35) cazort (413), Newark, Delaware, USA Mar 14, 2009 (Bottle) This beer is to Magic Hat #9 what Mike Tyson is to a bunny rabbit. I like it very much. It is, however, much more sour than bitter, which I was not expecting...although it blends well with the other flavors and aromas. In spite of the sourness and general strength and complexity of this beer, this one is oddly light in texture. The alcohol flavor is also very well-masked...I would hardly notice that this one has anywhere near 7%. Overall, an outstanding beer...something novel, and well-executed. jumpjet2k (136), Austin, Texas, USA Mar 11, 2009 Pours amber with a little light tan head. Aroma is slightly sweet, floral, and definitely apricotty. Taste is a moderately-hopped IPA with some fruitiness, but the flavors don’t meld exceptionally well. Not awful, but probably not worth another purchase. CptGreencoat (68), Kettering, Ohio, USA Mar 11, 2009 Pours to a clear red-orange with a nice, thick off-white head. Nose is floral hops and apricot. Flavor is very green - floral and grassy notes, while being fruity at the same time. Pretty tame hop character for an IPA. While an interesting (and mostly enjoyable) angle on a fruit beer, I feel the apricot and hops contrast, instead of compliment each other. It isn’t bad by any means, but the rest of my four pack will be offered to house guests before I decide to grab another for myself. kopher (294), New York, USA Mar 9, 2009 pours a clear orange, quickly-dissipating rocky white head
pretty apricotty aroma, some grass and sweetness
taste is mostly sweet fruity (apricots!) in the front, with a nice finish that seems exactly equal parts sour and bitter
nice medium body and pleasant carbonation also complements the fruit and light hops
very well balanced overall, maybe the finish has a hint of chemically flavor?
otherwise very refreshing, though not sure why it’s called an ipa
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