3.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: DEC 15, 2005 I actually really enjoyed this beer -- it’s flavor holds a unique location between summer and autumn. Hey everyone -- this is not a winter ale, so stop expecting a strong smoked beer when that’s not the point. It had the aroma of a fall/winter ale (nice brown sugar/smokiness), but a light body and soft palate. The sweet, malty flavor and drinkability is perfect for those "not quite fall yet" days in September and October. This beer gets good marks from me.
2.9 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
This beer is an amalgamation of many of Magic Hats different brews. Considered a smoke beer but that isn’t really evident. This medium brown beer poured with a sizable head that receeded quickly with much lacing. Earthy fruit aroma with a tiny touch of stale smoke. Malty with a tart fruit tang to taste without much hop to break things up. The higher than normal ABV may be cause to try this beer but it doesn’t really lend any complexity.
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20
I like the style, so I didn’t mind this beer. Decent flavor, not that smoky, but none the less a solid beer.
2.7 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 10/20
Tap, Buffalo Brew Fest. Medium amber color, off white head. Mild aroma, a bit of spice, brown sugar. Flavor is malty, earthy, with some caramel, brown sugar and lacking smoke. Medium bodied, fairly easy drinking for having moderate strength. Somewhat enjoyable but leave it to Magic Hat to make a smoked beer with no smoke flavor.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Copper with an off wite head. Plums, brown sugar, cherries. Flavor is kind of sour malt, brown sugar & plums. A bit of chocolate in the finish.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
[bottle]
Clear, very dark brownish-red with a nice, white blanket that clings to the sides of the glass. Toasty dark malt aroma with a subtle smokiness surrounded by tart fruit notes. Sweet smoke with none of the expected dark malt bitterness, though some late toast character. A little sourness from fruity esters that compliment the dark malt/smokiness fairly well. The problem with this beer is its residual sweetness--there is no bitterness to balance it. Full body and stick with moderate carbonation.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Shockoe Brew Fest. Copperish red, roaasty aroma. Cookie and biscuit malts, some hop bitterness on the finish, but not hop oriented at all OK, but not quite hitting it either.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Walnut red with a tan half-inch head. Aromas are clean, and a little sweet brown sugar/clove/honey to go along with the light out-of-doors smoke on the malt. Delicate aromas are balanced by a more aggressive beer on the palate. Aggressive but thin. Sweet finish is less of spice or fruit and more of candy sugar.
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