Magic Hat #9

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

Serve in Flute

Bottle: The aroma is a combination of apricots and light grass. It’s by no means horrible, but I wouldn’t say they mesh all that well together. It pours a perfectly clear golden-amber with a small white head that quickly fades to a ring around the edges of the glass. The flavor starts with apricot that mixes with some caramel. There is some faint tartness in the background. The finish has some light grassy and earthy hops. Light-medium bodied with mild carbonation. Not really my thing, nor probably most of the RB crowd, but I can see how this would generally do well with those looking for something other than BMC.

Bottle: Poured orangey color ale with almost no head or carbonation. Aroma is quite weak but I can distinguish some sweet fruity flavour and some malt. Taste is almost indescribable, like a mix between some poorly grown apricot (lacking flavour and sweetness) and malt that doesn’t do any favour to this mix. Like all fruit beer, they can be a wonderful experience when correctly balanced or a complete disaster when things go wrong, such as this case was. Almost needs to wonder if this was a bad bottle.

Draft at Gillette Stadium. Clear, medium dark gold body. Thin, foamy white film for a head. Spider-web like lacing of micro-bubbles. The aroma is very floral, with honey, indistinguishable light fruits, and sweet, cheap smelling malts. The flavor can only be described as an overly sweet cluster of mystery fruits, pale malts, and adjuncts with minimal hop bitterness. The body is on the light side of medium, with a light syrupy profile that does not settle well. This beer is like a science experiment gone wrong. Not recommended.

UPDATED: JAN 27, 2011 Clear tan appearance. Berries present on the nose. Sweet initial that immediately fades to a bitter finish that dries you out. Not one to drink if you’re parched. 2.6
RE-RATE 1/27/11 Bottle from Central Market. The beer appears to be quite clear with lots of carbonation. The bubbles are unceasing from the bottom of the glass. It pours a light orange color that touches on copper, with a light white head.

The aroma has a big element of fruit, namely blueberries and raspberries. It also has a strong dry grain nose to it. Fairly straightforward after the fruit smell.

The flavor is also fruity, but very quickly turns to a dry bitter taste. It has a slight touch of metal that also lingers on. The fruit flavor is most definitely a blueberry type taste but it does not last long at all. The finish is by far the largest drawback as it tastes a bit of cardboard and oatmeal.

Pint @ Coles Buffalo NY. really dont like this at all. Buttery & unpleasant. Probably the apricot because I hate Ithacas as well

On tap. pours clear, light golden. Light aroma of sweet apricot. Taste is of pale malt. overall this is light, crisp, and refreshing.

12oz bottle. Solid stuff if not too exciting. Light golden-orange color with a small white head. Fruity aroma with some sweet malt. Flavor is fruity (peach and apricot) with sweet malt and some mild hoppiness. Refreshing but just a little bit watery.

Pours a hazy orangish reddish color. Aromas of light apricots, malts, and bread. Flavor is wheat bread with apricot notes. Wasn’t all that fruity tasting. Just a mild touch at the finish.