Magic Hat Humdinger Series - Graupel

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

Serve in Snifter

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Hoppy for a barley wine. Golden little head medium body not much else to say try it for yourself and see if you can give it a better rating

Pours slightly hazy copper color with off white head. Caramel and dough aromas with some light citrus. Sweet caramel flavor with some candi sugar, pine and grapefruit. A little boozy. Medium to full body with moderate carbonation. Quite impressive for a Magic Hat beer.

On tap: The aroma consists of honey, citrus, peach, and spice. It’s a transparent amber with a small white head that quickly fades to a thin ring around the edges of the glass. The flavor starts with honey, toffee, and fruit. The finish has moderate citrus hops with a touch of spice/pepper and alcohol. It’s medium bodied with mild carbonation and a somewhat sticky mouthfeel. Overall, it’s pretty solid and by far the best Magic Hat beer I’ve had in years.

Been away for a few weeks, always give my liver a break at the beginning of the year. First rate of 2013, must preface this by saying I am not a fan of Magic Hat but this was gifted to me and I am intrigued, even though I was completely underwhelmed by Burnpile rendering from the Humdinger series. Corked & caged 750 to CBS snifter. Lots of pillowy yellow/white head with cloudy orange liquid. Lots of sticky white lacing hanging around, mellow nose just a bit of spice methinks. It’s a little hot right out of the gate, mid-palate is really nice lot of flavor; cardamom, mesquite honey, burnt banana. Finish is more heat and something astringent. Almost kills it for me. Mouthfeel is all over the place; full to start, medium in the middle, again really big astringent finish. Overall, this was better than expected and might be even better in a few years, still haven’t been won over by this brewery.

Large bottle from Capone’s, I think 750 cc, and one of the top 3 Magic Hat beers I have quaffed. Pours turbid orangy-copper, with 3-finger convex head. Nose was citric hops, orange marmalade, black pepper, honey, funky hops. Tastes complex, rich, smooth, with flavors of black pepper, Simcoe hops, tangerine, pineapple, and fine cognac. Finishes super smooth, velvety on the tongue, with well hidden -OH, but some heat late, and an almost nitrogenated drinkability as it warms. Oh, hell yes.

Pours hazy amber with a huge creamy sandy white head. The aroma has some light sweet resiny and viney malts, like a subtle barleywine. The body is not super thick, so it is quite smooth for the style. The flavor brings sweet malts almost like a dry wine, a bit perfumey, and a bubbly body.

First rate of this beer, does that mean its fresh? Who the fuck knows. 750ml bottle, corked and caged. Painted glass. Wrapped in foil. Quite a nice presentation actually, for a $8 bottle. Pours a clear amber with a decent sized white head. Aromas of malt, wheat, a little bit of candy and some floral hops as well. Hmm. This may actually be a good beer. First sip reveals some sweet malts, along with some candied apple, bitter piney finish. The alcohol is completely hidden, with no warming or burning at all. Fuck me. Is this really made by Magic Hat? I would have never had guessed that if it was a blind taste test. This beer is on par with some of the upper tier barleywines that I’ve had. Not that that is saying much, because I haven’t exactly had a million of them, but this is pretty good nonetheless. Jesus. Damn fine beer they’ve made here.