Magic Hat Chaotic Chemistry

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

Thanks to Slob for sending this one to me in a trade long ago. Shared at decaturstevo’s Februmergency Tasting. Bottle dated and signed by the brewer 1/1/04. Pours clear orange/amber with a minimal fleeting head. Oakey malt, light bourbon aroma. Well balanced. Starting to thin out a bit.

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.

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%!)

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.

btl by SpringsLicker. Orange pour with creamy white head and lace. Dried apricot and dates on the nose. A hint of vanilla, orange, and raisins for the flavor. A tad thin for me but I’m really happy to have had a chance to try it.

bottle courtesy of ibrew2or3 rating# 1300 Dave, you rock when it coems to bringing out the A++ barley wine. This is batch#3, bottled in 2004, bottle #884. Pours deep brown with thin head and thin golden lacing.. Aroma of pure goodness, lots of aged notes, whiskey barrel, wood, malts, caramel. Taste, at 10.8% this one comes off boozy and palate warming. Light notes of dark fruits, caramel elements with plenty of whiskey barrel notes, sweet sugary palate with a finish that had very faint hops elements. Outstanding beer, and these words cannot do it justice.

a deep copperish color w/ a tiny whisp of off white head. Very mild aroma for a barley wine some light pine bitterness full carmel back w/ some light touches of wood and bourbon notes very balanced aroma. Palate is full and well coated very smooth. Flavor is a little hot alcohol shows through in the bourbon notes, some wood tastes good amount of spiced hops and a nice even carmel sweet. Again still very balanced. A good BW.

OK gathering-mjames apartment-pours deep amber with nice smooth white head. aroma of coconut, woody, currants and blackberries, oak. Flavors of marshmellow, oak aging, sugar, licorcie. dry finish and very complex.