Magic Hat Chaotic Chemistry

Brewed by Magic Hat Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
South Burlington, Vermont USA

Aroma: very complex--butter, kelp, leather, tulips, strawberries, oak barrels, brown sugar, carmel malts, yeast, bourbon, honey, and red wine tannins
Appearance: murky light brown, bubbly, small white head
Flavor: light brown sugar, carmel, dark wood/fruits, citrus/orange peel, orange blossoms, butter--very complex flavors
Palate: very creamy, mellow, dry hoppy aftertaste
Overall: quite yummy!

Sweet plum and apple with wine and oak in the nose... cherries, woody strawberries and leaves as well... very nice and quite complex. Bubblegun and blackberries, as someone pointed out while tasting... the really amazing part is just how smooth this drinks, with a creamy marshmallow numbing flavor everywhere, soothing the palate. Wine bite at the end, this bears resemblance to Leviathan, and I really like both.

Poured brownish orange. No head, obviously from the high alcohol. Mild nose- expected more. In fact, I expected a lot more form this beer in every department. 3 years in boubon casks? I couldn’t taste it. High marks in Overall due to a really cool bottle that is a keeper. I only wished it followed through with it’s promises.

DrewLaPalooza 2004. Thanks to Rockinout for this one. Small ivory head that was smooth and fine-medium sized bubbles that mostly diminished. Minimal carbonation, transparent and an orange hue. Malt, cherry, wine, and some citrus notes in the aroma. Sweet, lightly acidic, hoppy, alcohol hidden. Tingly and oily mouthfeel. Easy on the palate compared to other barleywines that I have previously rated. Cool bottle btw.

This corked and caged bottle from Rockinout was tasted at DrewLaPalooza 2004. It poured a minimal head of finely sized off white colored bubbles that left behind a poor lacing. The body was softly carbonated and oily. The aroma was vinous with caramel and malt notes mixed in with the port like vanilla alcohol. Its mouth feel was smooth initially with a vinous aftertaste. It had a soft palate for a barley wine but yet had the burning alcohol favor

Drew-LaPalooza. Translucent brown color, lasting tan head, woody, earthy nose with notes of maple, light citrus, cherry, bourbon (just a touch). Lighter on the palate than most other Barleywines but terrific. Bonus point for presentation, very cool bottle. Got this in a trade with tidiaguy, thanks! Aged further in my basement (about 6 months) prior to tasting.

Drew-LaPalooza beer #8: Thanks to Rockiniout for this one. First of all - wWhat an incredible bottle. Cherry and vanilla are strong in this - aroma and floating around the edges of the taste mixed in with citrus fuits and thick sweet malts. Soft and full bodied, but thin in the middle - that’s o.k. - wouldn’t want it any thicker really. Dry oak and strong hop bitterness at the finish, even some crispness. Another tasty brew at our party. I could drink this as a "session barley wine"

16.9 oz bottle, snifter. Cookie, caramel, molasses malt (M); flower and herb hops (L); soap and earthy yeast (M); red grapes, pead, cask wood and vanilla aromas. Pours with almost no head. Heavily particulate, dark red-orange body. Moderately sweet, lightly acidic flavor becomes a moderately sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter, long finish. Medium body, watery/oily texture, flat carbonation. The bottom line is: ugh...I dislike American whisky and there’s a ton of American oak present in this. Lots of cedar too.