Magic Hat???

[EamusCatuli]

Hey all,

Has anyone heard of or tasted Magic Hat? Its on tap at one my local bars, I cant tell if I like it or not, but one thing is for sure, I want to know whats in it.

Anyone know?

 

[wrangler]

which magic hat? #9? some sort of apricot flavoring - not to my taste for a pale ale

 

[EamusCatuli]

which magic hat? #9? some sort of apricot flavoring - not to my taste for a pale ale

Yeah that sounds right, it was just bugging me. Def. not my favorite beer.

 

[Coastarine]

Like he said^...Magic Hat is the name of the brewery. I like some of their stuff, and if I see something new from them I usually try it. The only beer from them that I've seen on tap is #9, and I've seen it a number of places. It's a pale ale flavored with apricot. I like one once in a while. I always try to get SWMBO to like it but she still can't get past the hop flavor.

 

[Spames]

After all I've read about #9, I finally found a place with it on draft. Wow, was I disappointed. It was like drinking a very dry peach flavored iced tea. Maybe I'm partially biased, because I don't think fruit has any place in beer

 

[the_bird]

#9's - at risk of sounding like an EAC - a very girlie drink. With that said, my brother buys it by the case (and he ain't a girlie man). I had one down there for the first time in years last weekend, and was struck by how artificial the flavoring tastes. It really tastes unnatural, not just that it's a weird pairing but it tastes like it's done artificially.

 

[Funkenjaeger]

If you want nasty, try just about any of their other beers. #9 may not be the best beer on the planet, but it seems great by comparison to most of their other stuff. I still shudder every time I think of their 'fat angel', which made me think of a bitter crabapple, and I'm definitely not a fan of their bland 'circus boy' hefeweizen that they insist of including in every single variety pack they produce, even in the winter... It's too bad, because they seem like a microbrew with some imagination, but they can't seem to pull it off.

 

[Glibbidy]

It's overated and all marketing.

 

[sleepystevenson]

^ I agree....

Just picked up a case of their spring mix (pandora's box) on Friday. After a healthy tasting of all 4 flavors, (#9, Circus Boy, Odd Notion, and H.I.P.A), the only one that I like is the ipa.

They just all seem to have some sort of weird "artificial" flavor to them.

I can stand a #9 on a hot summer day, though I would rather have a lot of other stuff!

 

[Evan!]

It's overated and all marketing.

QFT.

I've never had a Magic Hat that I cared to finish.

 

[the_bird]

I'll keep throwing it out there...

Roxy Rolles.

Good, hoppy, medium-aggressive amber ale. The best MH I've had, and a beer I really enjoy.

Glib's right, but they do have at least ONE beer that's really good. Most of the others (except #9) I find to be drinkable but not outstanding; acceptable, certainly a step above BMC. But yeah, it's 99.99% marketing.

 

[NWernBrewer]

Never had a Magic Hat ale - although I have had beers made by their latest acquisition - Pyramid. Another over-hyped, over-marketed beer.

The best I can say for it is meh,

I used to like their Snow Cap a few years ago, but either the recipe changed or my taste buds did.

I don't mind fruit in beer if done right... but lemon slices in American wheats and artificial flavors (if it tastes fake it most likely is) in a beer is no good.

All IMHO.

 

[bigjohnmilford]

I'll keep throwing it out there...

Roxy Rolles.

Good, hoppy, medium-aggressive amber ale. The best MH I've had, and a beer I really enjoy.

Glib's right, but they do have at least ONE beer that's really good. Most of the others (except #9) I find to be drinkable but not outstanding; acceptable, certainly a step above BMC. But yeah, it's 99.99% marketing.

+1 on the Roxy it is there best beer. I liked the H.I.P.A up until this year. I don't know if they changed the hops they were using or something else but I tried one recently and it was overly bitter and just plain nasty.

 

[Glibbidy]

They just all seem to have some sort of weird "artificial" flavor to them.

I'm convinced it's their yeast and fermentation temps. AFAIK they use Ringwood for all their beers. I just can't get past the fruity esters of that yeast.

My fav was Blind Faith which they discontinued long ago. I used to enjoy their beer in the early 90's. Seems the quality of their products have gone down hil over time. IMHO they are the AB of craft beer.

I'll have try try the roxy. Are they in bombers or six bangers?

 

[the_bird]

Six bangers, but I think it's seasonal.

 

[bigjohnmilford]

Six bangers, but I think it's seasonal.

yes on the sixers and yes on the seasonal. I beleive it's their winter offering.

 

[Jester369]

Yeah, MH has never been one of my favorites. Especially when we've got Vermont Pub & Brewery (Greg Noonan) and The Alchemist so close by!

 

[EamusCatuli]

For some odd reason, I think of Magic Hat like I do many things that I try and convince myself to keep trying. Everytime I see it on tap I think to myself, well maybe it tastes better this time and ill come around to it. I never do :cross:

I didnt even know that had other beers, but based on the opinions, im not going out of my way.

I personally hate sly marketing and advertising, even if its not sly. One of the bigger reasons I quit advertising in college, I realized what was in the belly of the beast. For example, those new miller lite commercials where they are essentially trying to glorify their beers with distinction and quality when really they are the beers you buy when you cant afford anything else. Who are they kidding?