Magic Hat Chaotic Chemistry

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

Date: 01/10/2004
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

clear light amber, whispy head, light sweet alcoholic aroma with a touch of fruity character, winey vinager flavor, lots of sourness, bad sample?

Aroma: 4/10; Appearance: 3/10; Flavor: 1/10; Palate: 1/10; Overall: 3/20
Rating: 1.1/5.0
Score: -/4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Fiery amber colour. Fruity, flowery nose – vanilla, cherry, malts, booze (this was aged in bourbon but I’ll be damned if I’m not getting more port than anything else). Assertive, wonderful aroma that you just want to fall into. The palate, however, does not measure up. It is significantly milder, foiled in part by too much fizz in the carbonation. It is less flowery, and less sweet. Still enjoyable, but it is always sad when the flavour of a beer does not measure up to the aroma. Thanks, muzzlehatch!

(WCC2) Clear amber with minimal off-white head. Aroma is medium sweet, pine. Taste is mild sweet, pine, bourbon undertones, finish with the bourbon. Medium body, lighter than usual for a BW. To me the pine and bourbon work somewhat against each other.

1yr old or so gorgeous 750mL. Nice beer name too. Liquorous orange pour, surprisingly clear, very light white head. Very original smell, made me say wow despite my generally low expressive nature. This would score huge with me if alcohol was just a bit more used as a background warming flavour rather than as an integral part of the focus. Nose is smoky, caramelic, liquorous, alcoholic with big cask wood notes, hints at campfire marshmallows, mint and various hop types. Feels a bit like a hard alcohol cask at times, but woodiness is a flavour I truly enjoy generally and this has it in spades accompanied by this mellow honey character. Lightly tart, lightly astringent. Surprisingly rather thin bodied though still feels a bit syrupy from the overall low carbonation. At 20 dollar a bottle, most people won’t bother buying this, but it’s a great beer to share with friend once every couple of years I’d say.. and a nice bottle to admire every couple of days!

Tasted from Growler. Poured a medium and slightly hazy amber-orange color with smaller sized white head. Aromas of caramel, dark fruits, vanilla, some woodiness, bourgon, and some nuttiness. Tastes of vanilla, caramel, and some dark fruits. Bourbon came out a little more in the tastes. Some alcohol in the finish.

Clear, light amber ale with a small, creamy, off-white head. The nose is of vanilla, alcohol, very light bourbon, oak and pomegranate. Earthy flavors of oak and bourbon. Also vineous with notes of vanilla, grapefruit, salt and light alcohol. Medium-bodied with a resiny mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Lengthy, bone-dry finish with bourbon and wood at the wee end. Very nice barleywine. My only complaint is that it seems a bit lacking in backbone.

(750ml bottle, 2004 vintage, Batch 3, #519) Pours a mahogany body with a spare beige head. Aroma of prunes, paint thinner, breadiness, oak, and port. Flavor of soy sauce, dark fruit, maple syrup, spices, and a bit of ice cider in the finish.

2204 Vintage: Pours a murky copper brown with a thin white head. Aroma is rich and complex with plenty of whiskey oak. Starts sweet, woody and complex with a drier lightly alcoholic finish. Very nicely balanced and well aged. A little too expensive to be anything I'll be trying again anytime soon.