Magic Hat Single Chair Ale

A little sweet and very refreshing. Magic Hat continues to surprise me with great tasting beers.

I can’t get this beer in Mass. I drive 3+ hours 3 or 4 times a winter for this stuff (and some feast of fools of course). This is one of my fave’s. I think it’s like a #9 without the fruit but still slightly sweet. Great atsing, refreshing and worth the drive (for 20 growlers, thank you!).

Several months old. A magnificient pour showcasing a thick, very frothy, rocky white head that keeps being replenished by natural and healthy carbonation. Hazy rather pale golden hue. It is beyond me how this came about being a winter seasonal, but struck me as what would make a terrific summer seasonal. Excellently extracted grainy, hay-like, strawy, fresh malts procure a firm cerealic feel in mouth. Medium bodied and displaying a belgianesque carbonation. Not very hoppy at this age, but still gently floral and softly spicy. More surprising is the Ringwood yeastiness that has just a soft buttery note to an otherwise rather estery, fruity flavour profile. Very coherent Ringwood+malt combo, delicately done. Felt more of a belgian ale to me and very drinkable at first, though I must confess I grew a bit tired after my first glass, but that’s probably just because Orval was following. Very fine stuff imo.

Sampled @ brewery. Bright gold color with a fluffy head. Aroma is malt, butterscotch and yeast. Taste is slightly hoppy but clean. Finishes strong. Nice tasting for what it is.

Magic Hat Beer Tasting, Brighton, MA -- I was totally unimpressed by the boring yellow color. Almost cringing, I lifted it to my nose and was greeted by a bright and fruity aroma. Curiously, I lifted it to my lips and experienced a strong bitter attack that spread into a much broader, mild finish. The bitter linger at the end sat far back on the tongue. Not bad at all.

Experienced again in 2005 from the bottle, it was a less thrilling experience, however.