Magic Hat Chaotic Chemistry

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

EBF NOTB. There was just an absurd amount of bourbon in the aroma for this one. I found it distasteful. The flavor has a little czech hops, but I can’t taste much beyond the bourbon.

Shared by puddintane. Lots of honey in the aroma with some wood--very mead like. Almost black body with no head. Full palate. Strong malt flavor, boozy tastes with some honey and oak again. Interesting.

Bottle shared by puddintane: Pours a dark brown with a thin white head. Aroma, woody and oaky, some vanilla and caramel notes. Flavor, caramel, brown sugar, oaky and woody, a dry finish. Also some earthy notes, and dark fruits, some vanilla. This was pretty good.

750ml, bottling date of 1/1/04, hand signed and numbered (#1558). I received this some time ago (Summer of ’04, IIRC) from Volgon, and it’d been in the cellar ever since. Aroma is just dripping with bourbon making this is the predominant character, accompanied by suggestions of dried apricot, fig, orange, red grape and toffee, along with some light spice and herbal tones. Deep burnt orange color, mostly clear, with a fully subsiding head, no lacing to note. Flavor profile is similarly rife with bourbon, not that this is a bad thing by in itself, but it does seem to cover virtually all other aspects of the flavor, as these are relatively faint by comparison. About all that exists outside of this are the faint toasty malts, tobacco notes, a light dried fruit character, and touches of honey and caramel. Finish is warming, tangy and generously alcoholic, some light acidity. I’d be very curious to see what this beer is like outside of any barrel aging as I found the prevalence of the bourbon character a bit too overwhelming. Regardless, some points for uniqueness.

2004 750 ml bottle. Thanks to eyedrinkale for this in a face to face trade in Denver. Lots of dark fruit and molasses in the aromas and flavors. Some alcohol in the finish. Pretty tasty though

’04 Bottle shared by Indra at his tasting 12/7/07. This was one of the cooler looking bottles that I’ve seen: painted black with a silk screened, golden lemniscate ouroboros (see photo above). Unfortunately the beer contained within turned out to be less impressive. While it wasn’t bad, I think that all three of us that remained to share it were hoping for a little "more". It pours a deep, reddish blush with a tiny, creamy, off-white skin at the surface. It had none of the large billowy head that I associate with barley wines. The nose was floral with a big malt backing and notes of pear and light bourbon. Light to medium-bodied and slick it concluded with a quick, dry finish; a bit unusual for the style. The flavor was fairly bourbon forward, sweet and fruity with a malty brown sugar body that finishes lightly woody. Not a bad beer, but far from being a great barley wine. I am glad, however, to have gotten a chance to try this one. Thank you for sharing this with us, Eric!

Thanks Eric! 2004 750ml bottle. Malty aroma with cookie dough, oak barrel, light bourbon, and some char. Taste is caramelly, tannic oak, bourbon, alcohol, sweet honey, and some citrus. A little warm.

Ages 36 months? Wow! Thanks to Neil Y. for this nice offering. Poured a dark ruby-blackish body. Ghostly head. Boozy, honey and molasses notes. Oaky, earthy, spicy, and turbid at the bottom. Cork was hard to remove. This is a wonderful brew. Reminded me a lot of Utopias from Samuel Adams, but less potent (still quite potent at 10.8%!)