Magic Hat #9

Brewed by Magic Hat Brewing Company
Style: Fruit Beer
South Burlington, Vermont USA

Serve in Flute

Bottle - pours a nice golden yellow, looks like a light beer. Very little head, dissipates quickly. Has an undertone of citrus fruit. The bottle says on the label, "not quite pale ale" I would have to agree. Does not contain the strong citrus or hops of an APA, but does have some under tones that are similar to one. I think this is a great introduction into APA’s. I would buy this again.

This light golden beer with a medium white head and decent lacing has a very intereting fruity malty mixed aroma. The flavour is again a well balanced fruit & malt with some apricot in both the taste and short and crisp finish. Different and pleasant.

UPDATED: MAR 26, 2010 Eh there wasn’t much flavor going on here. I didn’t taste much fruit; it just tasted like a watered-down pale ale. You’re right Magic Hat, it’s not quite a pale ale because there isn’t quite enough flavor.

Enjoyed from a 12oz bottle in a pub glass on several occasions. Initially, I was not a fan of this beer, getting notes of soap and other unpleasant flavors in some samplings. Recently, I had the beer again via draft and was more impressed (or perhaps, less displeased). The pour shows a medium yellow to light golden color. The nose is essentially of one-sided apricots; not unpleasant, but not complex, either. The flavors are again are essentially a one-sided balance of apricots with a little bit of malt to add a touch of complexity. Overall, not terrible, especially given the style, but not unbelievable.

UPDATED: SEP 24, 2009 A reliable beer. Taste is fruity with a bit of tartness at the end. the right amount of carbonation for an ale, IMO. This beer inspired me to move beyond grocery store macros.

UPDATED: APR 27, 2011 I don’t know why this is a Fruit Beer; it’s more like a standard Pale Ale, maybe a little more fruity. The aroma is toasted malt, caramel, malty, wierd vague fruityness. The appearance is a clear pale amber/yellow color, just like a pale ale. The flavor is also like a pale ale, toasted malt, and notes of caramel, fruit, bread. The finish has a moderate earthy hop bittering. Decent overall, not spectacular.

draught. one of those beers you see everywhere, but honestly never tired it till now. aroma is kinda like buttered bread for some reason. like medium gold with some nice champagne like bubbles and a slowly diminishing head. flavor has a bare flavor of lemon, but otherwise not really that remarkable. a little fruiiness on the background. very clean on the palette. not bad, nice on a warm day, but not very interesting.

On tap at Blind Tiger. Pours golden with smallish white head. Aroma is artificial raspberry and cherry and wheat. Flavor is similar and heavy with fake raspberry. Highly carbonated. Goes down quickly and its fairly refreshing. A pretty weak offering.