Magic Hat Chaotic Chemistry

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

I have been eying this beer for several years and finally decided to pursue one. First off, let me say that I love bourbon barrel aged beers, but lets face it, isn’t 36 months ridiculously long? The aroma has some enjoyable elements (a hint of caramel and chocolate, vanilla and oak.) But there muted by the strong presence of raw whiskey and booze. I don’t find the nose particularly nice at all. Next, this tastes more like bourbon or tawny port than it does beer. It would taste more like beer if the body wasn’t completely flat and lacking texture. It does have a few intriguing hints of vanilla and sweet oak on the finish, but the flavor up until then is absolutely ghastly. Way too boozey, one dimensional with bourbon. I, unfortunately, cannot finish this beer.

Tap @ Spuyten Duyvil: Pours a cloudy orange color with a vanishing film for head. The aroma is extremely herbal. Chamomile hints, flowery and mildly medicinal. The body is light, and fairly thin (considering the alcohol) yet the alcohol is there in the flavor. Overall I picked up on light medicinal flavors, flowery notes, but not dry, and a very intense herbal character. Didn’t even finish it. Not too enjoyable.

Tap at Spuyten Duyvil - very cloudy, nearly headless amber out of the tap - very alcoholic, boozy aroma, with hints of wet oak, cherries, other fruity esters, some light vegetable earthiness - loads of oxidation and booziness in the flavor - the alcohol was way too evident, and at times astringent - some oak, vanilla and fruity esters made their presence felt, but overall this seemed like a past-its-prime beer that probably wasn’t all that good in its prime to begin with.

[big black bottle] Very inviting bouquet of caramel, oak, and pine hops. Almost clear garnet with a white, bubbly top that recedes to a ring with little white splotches on the walls of the glass. Not very complex malty flavour, but a nice caramel that is well offset with some lemon that may be from fermentation rather than from hops. The hops contribute less pine than indicated by the aroma, and some grapefruit. Medium bitterness that is perfectly balanced with residual sweetness. A little dried fruit, but not as much as another well-aged beer. Thank goodness for the subdued oak which is in perfect harmony with all of the above. A little thin in body (medium to full)--this beer would benefit from a richer grain bill and a bit more body. Nice clean finish and not overpowering in any respect. Alcohol is not blatantly apparent either.

Lightly hazed dark golden to amber color. Full and deep nose for the strength. Rich fruit with a mild oak presence. Some hints of floral hops still in the mix. Malt and caskwood start the flavors. A touch thin, but still ok. Lightly warming in the finish. Some fruit comes out in the finish. Worth the wait and quite drinkable.

amber color with bubbly head. A very good barley wine, but kinda dry and bitter. The alcohol is there :)

Thanks SDBruboy. Pours a clear, medium amber color with a small but bubbly head. Aroma is just like a barleywine, dry and slightly grassy with hints of alcohol. Flavor is full of malt and vanilla with slight fruit and sweet hints at the end. Very smooth and wonderful on the palate.

Bottle thanks to JPDIPSO for sharing. Fruity orange, alochol and oak in the aroma. Very cloudy amber-orange in color. Sweet, sweet, sweet with a slight woody finish. Some pepper spice in the boozy finish. Light-medium body. This just didn’t do much for me...and I am a big fan of Barleywine.