Magic Hat Hocus Pocus

Formerly brewed at Magic Hat Brewing Company
Style: Wheat Ale
South Burlington, Vermont USA

Serve in Shaker, Weizen

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Pours a medium amber color, darker than I expected, with an impressively thick white head. Aroma is also surprisingly hoppy, much more assertive than I anticipated. Definite lemony wheaty scent, dry and a touch hoppy citric. The hops and lemon flavors work very very well together. Flavor is much less hoppy than the aroma would indicate, although hops come through somewhat in the middle and finish lightly in the end, providing a very pleasant clean dry finish when coupled with the wheat malt. Very very slight clove taste. Flavor is mostly crisp and dry wheatiness, with little in the way of esters. Body is light, carbonation is definitely active. While i wouldn't really like this any other time of the year, this is definitely lawn-mowing beer. Not bad, better than I expected. It's no german hefe, but it did the trick today.

Bottle left in bottle tastes bit citrus with some grass and wheat. Not good I don’t like magic hat hA

12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear golden color with a medium sized fizzy white head. The aroma had mildly sweet malt, grassy notes, mild citrus and wheat. The flavor has mild lemon citrus, wheat grass, some light sweetness, but pretty bland overall.

Bland, predictable summer fair, but it was only $1.99 a sixer, so I’ll quit sounding like a condescending prick. Yeasty, with a tartness that plays off the weak malts and invisible hops. No hefe notions to be found, either. Okay, so I still sound like a condescending prick, but this beer’s pretty weak. (10/08)

Reviewed from notes. Poured a really light yellow color with a bit of a white head and some clearly visible carbonation. The nose is some light citrus along with quite a bit of grain. The taste is grainy and has some light lemon notes. Light and crisp, this was a pretty good summer brew. Serving type: on-tap Reviewed on: 11-14-2010

Lemony gold in color. A lemonhead citrus nose and flavor. Very light and fresh, a great summer beer. Notes: ’05 Bottle (opened Nov ’09)

Bottle. Pours a golden straw color with a small white head. Aromas of grass, citrus, and some sweet malts. Flavor is similar, a little citrus and some yeast. Nothing outstanding, but not bad.

Draught at MacGregor’s in Rochester. Pale golden color with lace. Golden malt aroma with wheat, light hops, butter and citrus. Nicely hopped flavor, but not too much. Creamy, buttery, wheat malt with fruit and citrus. A nice summer drink. Dry, fruity, lightly champagne-like finish.

A- transparent golden yellow body with thin white head that quickly disappears. Leaves no lacing. S- excellent. wheat, yeast, and citrus immediately hit the nostrils as you pour this one. T- Initial taste of sweet malt and citrus. Then light refreshing hops. Sweet caramel lingers. P- High carbonation and light body. Goes down easy. O- This was a solid offering from Magic Hat. I would venture to have this one again. Its taste and mouthfeel make it very drinkable. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 05-21-2007 16:05:44

Beers that promote themselves as “summer” beers lend themselves to an extra degree of criticism since using such a label makes the consumer think of a tasty, citrusy, lightweight brew. However, having sampled a few different beers of the type this summer I’ve been surprisingly disappointed. Everything’s been easy to drink but lacked flavor, but this is not the case with Magic Hat’s Hocus Pocus, which is a summer wheat ale not unlike a hefeweizen. It’s tasty and smooth, but perhaps a bit heavier in body than you’d expect. Regardless, it’s what I like in a summer beer.

POUR, COLOR AND AROMA

This particular brew might be a little less carbonated than your average beer because it pours extremely smooth and forms a very small white head. There is some bubbling action apparent after the initial pour, but the beer is quick to settle down and take on the appearance of a glass of tropical fruit juice.

Of course, most fruit juices aren’t cloudy like Hocus Pocus. It’s a wheat beer, not a lager, so cloudiness isn’t unusual. It’s extremely blonde in color, almost to the point of being bright yellow. The citrusy aroma, especially of lemon zest, is quite potent and very pleasant to the nose.

TASTE & FINISH

Isn’t it ironic how fruit-flavored beers are often frowned upon for being too gimmicky, while any beer with “summer” in its name is expected to have a citrusy taste? I’ve been disappointed by a few summer-themed beers for having an odd mix of citrus and spices. I think the goal of all brewers is to basically emulate the taste of Corona without the need for a lime.

The funny thing about Hocus Pocus is that it does have a citrus flavor to its palate, but it is by no means sour or tart. In fact, it’s quite mild, but judging from the other reviews of the beer on this site, it may be a bit too mild for some.

At least the mild taste lends itself to a smooth, easy-to-drink beer. There is absolutely no bite or harsh aftertaste to this beer and is one of the easiest beers to drink that doesn’t have the word “light” or “lite” in its name.

BODY

The only problem with Hocus Pocus is that it’s a bit weighty. It’s by no means a full-bodied beer, but it’s certainly heavier than you might expect. What would take three or four light beers to fill you up can be accomplished in just two bottles.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I know Magic Hat’s Hocus Pocus is by no means a Hall of Fame beer, but it’s definitely a viable option for your summer drinking needs. It’s a great weekend beer for watching the ball game or just chilling outside. It would probably be a great beverage for any BBQ or snacks, too. It’s just one of the beers that you just plain like.

Bottle. 12 oz. Pours rather clear orangish gold with a thin white head. Aroma of citrus, wheat, hops, and foloral hints. Loose, thin body with a soft, yet crisp and refreshing palate. Not a bad summer beer. Very sessionable.