Magnifico - Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

bum732

Maryland

3.1/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

S: Bitter, perfume-like hops, light grapefruit peel

L: Cloudy golden yellow, creamy white head dissipates. Decent lacing.

T: Bitter, dry maltiness up front. Medium high herbal/citrusy bitterness with some herbal hop flavor. Light malt character with a dry, slightly chalky finish.

M: Medium light bodied, medium carbonation.

Kind of an older bottle (June 2012). So maybe unfair to judge, but not a huge fan of this beer. Very bitter and dry.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 04:43:35 | More by bum732

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22oz bomber poured into a pint glass. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a copper/golden color with a slight haze. Fast-moving streams of carbonation rush to support a very cratered yet creamy looking bone-white head. Retention is good, and a thin blanket of lacing coats the glass.

S: Oily and floral hops with a subtle leafy backing. Yeast scents are slightly chalky and lightly spicy with a ghost-like hint of clove. Malt is light but multi-dimensional. Bready with that lightly fruity aspect- definite Munich. There's also a cookie-like expression and just a touch of sweetness. The nose is good. Light but playful.

T: Yeast character at the outset with a brief wash of chalk and vague spice. Hop oils follow that up with floral and spicy/leafy tastes. Grass too. Bitterness is very tame. After a touch of initial sweetness, the malt base goes dry with tastes of cracker, sugar-free cookies, and dry biscuit. The finish is bone dry and abrupt, leaving only fleeting thin, grainy cracker tastes and slight oily hop bitterness.

M: Light in body, but full in the mouth with a semi-firm malt texture that creates the illusion of some weight. Ample prickling carbonation. Some astringency and enamel-scraping.

O: The playful complexity on the nose didn't really translate to the taste. It's just too dry and astringent for me. The chalky yeast tastes were a bit out of place too. I feel very indifferent about it, and really, what's the point of a session ale if it doesn't leave you wanting another?

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 03:47:34 | More by ryan1788a5

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

¡Magnifico! is a homological name, it expresses a property which it itself possesses. ¡Magnifico! looks exactly that: magnificent. Its golden complexion shimmers and, as most sediment stays caked to the bottom of the bottle, maintains a clean, more or less clear complexion. Its head is like something from a lotion commercial; there's as much froth on the top of the beer as there is on the sides of the glass.

Pine-like tree resins and great, budding leafiness give this aroma the (literal) air of a Northwest forest. Add to it faint grapefruit and herbal spice and you've got yourself a more than noticeable hoppiness, albeit one that doesn't boast hops as ends in and of themselves. There is plenty of biscuity, bready maltiness to temper things (and even a little bit of yeast, too). Things are shaping up nicely...

Note that ¡Magnifico! has exclamation marks at *both* ends of its name. The first, I assume, relates to the honeyed, bready malts that initiate the flavour, and the second the earthy, vinous hoppiness that concludes it. In this flavour, sweet and bitter shake hands like two world leaders. This beer witnesses a wonderfully harmonious, Kumbaya moment between the two seemingly opposed features.

A highly hopped, low alcohol beer may appear a new style but it’s actually not that novel an idea. So-called "session" or "table" beers are historically common in nations like Belgium and England. The idea is something flavourful that can be casually (perhaps copiously) quaffable. ¡Magnifico! is exactly that: it has as much barley as grandma's heartiest soup and hops so crisp you could cut your teeth on them.

¡Magnifico! provides exactly what a low-gravity session beer should: carefree enjoyment and flavour that is both plentiful and balanced. The people at Pretty Things know what they're doing. It's a brewery that if you ask anyone from New England about it, and they've tried their beers, they'll say: "They're great! I love their beers!". And if they haven't, you'll probably say to them: "They're great! You'll love their beers!"

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 16:26:05 | More by biegaman

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is golden amber with some haziness visible in the glass. The head pours nicely at first but has larger carbonation bubbles than most other beers. Solid lacing. Classic ale smell with a bit of hopiness on top of it. The taste is phenomal for a beer this low strength - how they crammed this much flavor into a beer this mild is a feat. Solid hops and malt flavoring - from front to back - not leaning in any particular direction but still a very nice clean flavor. The taste even lingers for a bit. Well done, and definitely sessionable (many sessions).

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 22:00:00 | More by Oakenator

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Perfectly clear gold. Lively carbonation. Head is creamy, bright-white, and leaves some nice sheets of lacing. Head retention is good. Small cap lingers for the duration.

Smell: Grassy. Pale malts. Graham cracker and bread crust. Mild herbal/earthy hops. Very pale. Slight push of grains. Nice floral edge with something approaching raw honey. Very mild.

Taste: Clean, floral, and pale malts. Some cracker. Mild earthiness. Grass. Extremely light. Maintains that mild raw honey edge found on the nose. Nice depth. Very mild yet complex. Small touches of yeast. Mild spiciness in the back. Toasted just a touch. Everything is done minimally.

Mouthfeel: Body is a bit on the thin side, but it works with the lively carbonation and delicate flavors. Some slight dryness.

Overall: It's mellow and it's incredibly drinkable. This is a fantastic summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 18:42:18 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled in: June 2012

A: If you pour it straight into the glass like the bottle recommends, a huuuuge, bubbly yet pillowy, crater-filled, towering, white head forms. Slowly falls leaving behind a ton of lace. Hazy, pale, golden-yellow in color.

S: Big bouquet of yeast, hops, lightly toasted malt, spices, and wildflowers.

T: Pale malt, floral hops, yeast. It's so smooth and fresh that I can't go any deeper than that to find flavors. It's insanely drinkable (as it should be) and the finish is fantastic. Dry, hoppy, and with a bit of yeast.

M: Incredibly smooth, right amount of carbonation, tons of flavor for the ABV. I can't say anything bad. If I wanna get picky, I'll say the body is a bit thin at the front but from the middle to the finish, the body beefs up and becomes perfect for the style.

O: If someone on the street told me that Pretty Things made a bad beer, I would slap them. This is a ridiculously good, well-crafted beer!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 21:15:15 | More by Gatch

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A-Magnifico pours a brilliant glowing orange color. Head is frothy and gigantic and it lasts forever. Light lacing. The bubbles rise in strict columns. Looks awesome.

S-Lemon and lime zest. Sweet muffin malt. Candied citrus hops and floral hops. Light grains and buttery biscuits. More intense than you'd expect from a 3.4%er.

T-Lemon and lime zest again. Grassy and flowery hops along with light citrus. Sweet bready malts and lightly spicy grains. Taste is fuller than most American Pale Ales I come across. Really tasty.

M-No skimping here. Body is (in the context of a low ABV beer) surprisingly full. Also has plenty of bitterness and lingering dryness. Sessionable for days.

O/D-Pretty Things once again demonstrates how multifaceted their brewing expertise truly is. A beer under 3.5% ABV with this much flavor is impressive. It also doesn't hurt that the beer just plain taste great. Kudos.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 19:19:02 | More by VelvetExtract

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 5

Bottled June 2012

A: Nice head and lacing.

S: Dusty yeast, bread and leafy hops.

T: Doughy and yeasty with herbal hops that are a bit bitter on the finish. Fairly balanced flavor.

M: Initally very carbonated, hits a sweet spot, and then quickly flattens out.

O: Remarkably flavorful beer for the abv. Unsurprisingly, it's very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 02:04:31 | More by greybeardloon

Celtics76

Rhode Island

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an interesting one. Had seen it at Bottles for about a month before finally deciding to pick it up. I guess the low 3.4% ABV scared me off for a while.

I poured this as directed, half of it straight down the middle. After letting the 1/2 inch of head settle, poured the rest. Hazy gold in appearance.

As expected, this has a mild taste. Citrusy, light hop flavor. One of the most drinkable beers I've ever had. Paired very nicely with a dinner of stuffed scallops and grilled salmon. The finish is bitter, which lingers afterwards. This surprised me but was welcomed.

Recommended, especially with a seafood dinner. What I don't recommend is pairing it with an episode of Real Housewives, which is unfortunately what I had to sit through while enjoying this.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 13:14:10 | More by Celtics76

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bright gold with a very large, very Belgian thick, fluffy head. Looks magnifico indeed.

Strong aroma of course grain and swampy hops. A little buttery. Tastes like it smells: course grain and a boat load of swampy ass hops. Very sharp and dry mouthfeel.

Dry, swampy and nasty. A love it or hate it beer I guess. I'm party to the latter.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 15:43:35 | More by donkeyrunner

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz.bottle served in my DT tulip. Pours a lovely straw-gold with a bubbly, half inch, bright white head and just the slightest haze to the clarity. Head eventually settles into a consistent skim with a bullseye dollop. Some small spots of lacing present during the session. Nose is very subdued, but expresses some medicinal phenol, citrus and a grassy character. Taste is very much subdued, but bright with a mild, albeit distinct earthy hoppiness. There's also a slightly skunky/yeasty quality - not bad, but definitely prominent. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with a crisp carbonation that leaves a residual tingle on the tongue. Overall, this is perhaps one of the best low abv beers I've tried to date. I continue to be impressed by the variety and quality the Pretty Things puts out.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 23:53:01 | More by Jwale73

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into a CCB pub glass, formed a 1/2" off-white head over the clear golden brew. Head lasts well, with spotty average lacing. Aroma is lightly of citrus and sweet pale.

Taste starts with a peek of sweet, then dominated by citrus hoppiness through the middle, and closes moderately bitter. Lot of flavor for 3.4%. Mouthfeel is soft with a touch of prickliness, and drinkability is excellent. Would revisit, again and again.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 00:58:36 | More by ppoitras

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks so much to tenderbranson69 for sharing this with me -enjoyed chilled in a double-walled tumbler.

The color is deep golden with light amber hues, clarity is mildly hazed, the head is white and falls to about 1 finger in width. The smell is very fragrant with hops the aroma is slight grass which gives a pleasant herbal and pine tinge with light pear and orange blossom from the yeast. The feel is thin, dry, bitter and slightly creamy with yeast and toasted malt with semi-high carbonation and light astringency in the finish.

The flavor has tangy apricot elements with subtle hint of grassy and herbal hops with a light pine tinge and slight malt essence but very gentle with light pepper and hint of cracker-like flavor of dry grain with mild citrus rind as it finished with mostly dry herbal taste. Overall a solid brew in every way, a great session worthy beer which I could enjoy anytime and the price is reasonable.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 18:35:16 | More by Slatetank

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into an oversized wine glass (they always seem to be drinking from them...)- pours a hazy golden straw color with one finger of head, mild retention and only a few dots of lacing.

Smell is mild but interesting- definitely some malt (maybe a little rye as well), as well as a subtle hop presence. Nonetheless a pretty earthy smell.

Taste is surprisingly complex for such a low alcohol content beer- definitely seems like there's some rye to this one; I get some sharp notes mid-palate after initial malt sweetness. Bittering hops take over towards the end, perhaps in conjunction with yeast, to provide a nice dry finish.

Mouthfeel is pretty good- a little resin, light body, moderately carbonated. I love this one- an excellent summer refresher.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 19:49:03 | More by Hopdaemon39

pburland23

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into this Hoegaarden Grand Cru tulip Ive had sitting around waiting to be filled.

Appearance: Beer pours a hazy light orange. Three fingers of bright white head shot up the glass and hung around for several minutes before leaving some moderate lacing in its wake.

Smell: Very grainy with some pronounced cracker notes. Slight lemon zest too.

Taste: Wow. A lot of taste in a little (ABV) package. It's malty, grainy and quite citrusy. The finish is quite dry, seems to be a Pretty Things trademark and very bitter. The bitterness sneaks up on you, but it gives another dimension to a fairly complex beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a pleasing level of spritzy carbonation. The drinkability is, obviously, through the roof.

Overall: Pretty Things turns out a tasty and complex, sessionable Belgian Pale Ale at 3.4%. It's pretty remarkable what they've been able to do with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 23:31:05 | More by pburland23

Dope

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly cloudy very pale orange. Huge fluffy white head. Fades slowly, leaving substantial lacing behind.

S: Nice citrus and grassy notes. Bready malt backs it up. A little bit of belgian yeast.

T: Grassy throughout with a hint of citrus (mainly lemon). Yeasty, grainy bread. A little bit toasty.

M: Pretty light but impressive for 3.4% ABV. I've had thinner beers that were 50% stronger than this.

O: A light and refreshing brew for summer. Super low ABV but surprisingly full flavor, mouthfeel and aroma. Still, it's an obviously simple beer. Very sessionable as you would expect.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 05:21:04 | More by Dope

Kinsman

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Hazy and bright orange in the glass with a nice bit of white head. Some bready and doughy notes on the nose which sit nicely alongside a slight fruity character. Some grassy hop character as well.

A good balance of flavors in a light package. Malts stand strong but don't over power the more delicate hop flavors. A nice mix of earthy/grassy notes with some nice Cascade citrus pop and rounded out with a healthy dose of IBU's.

Mouthfeel is a light and a bit bubbly. Overall, low-ABV beer that goes big on flavor making for a great easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 19:04:22 | More by Kinsman

andrewinski1

Maine

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a wine taster. The color is slightly hazy straw. There is a small off-white head.

The aroma has a lot of crouton and bready malt with a soft touch of citrus hops.

The taste is full of spicy Belgian yeast that adds a dose of peppery flavor. There is a nice integration of hops adding a citrusy component to the taste towards the finish.

This is light with a lively mouthfeel. This is very delicious, with lots of flavor and very refreshing. Yum.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 23:38:08 | More by andrewinski1

Bendurgin

Maine

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Shared by Andy and poured into a tulip. This one pours a hazy golden straw color with a finger of white head. Leaves a bit of sparse lace.

Light mellow aroma with faint bitter hops and some grainy malts. Nice balance on this one. The pallet has some buttery notes with nice rustic grains and a good bitter finish.

Medium carbonation and a bit of a heavier body than expected. It seems to really stick to the pallet.

Overall this one is pretty well done. Would love stuff like this in six or four packs because I'd love to have something like this around to kick back with.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 23:34:00 | More by Bendurgin

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours thick, almost milky pale yellow with a white foamy head that does not last.

Grain husk and dusty yeast in the nose. Dry harsh aromas.

Bitter, harsh, watered-down flavors. Grain husk, earthy yeast, some spice. The malt needs some level of sugar, and there is none. Long and bitter in the end.

Lighter bodied, carbonated, a little watery.

Not something I'd wan t again. An experiment gone wrong. Nothing you want to session or even share. Not wholly undrinkable, and the structure is appropriate, so I cannot give them strikes for it. But I did not enjoy this. A rare miscue by this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 03:33:47 | More by OtherShoe2

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Salty Pig. Served in a pint glass.

A- Appears a slightly orange golden color with about a finger of white foamy head with good retention. About average to slightly above average carbonation. Leaves some lacing.

S- Grainy, floral notes, some lemon zest, hops, a little grassy.

T- Grainy, some lemon zest, light spices, hay, light hops, some floral characteristics, finishes very bitter.

M- Light, bitterness + carbonation adds a little bit of a tingly feeling to the feel, slightly above average carbonation.

O- I wasn't a huge fan of this beer. It was definitely a little bit overly bitter for me. For 3.4% abv it didn't have a ton of flavor, and the flavor present I didn't really care for. It was just too bitter and grainy and tasted more like a farmhouse. I probably wouldn't session this beer, but it might just be my preferences. There are plenty other BPAs I prefer. For now I'm going to stick with some of Pretty Things' other beers- I like a lot of their stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2012 00:04:01 | More by jaasen64

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz btl into a pretty things wine glass like glass lol.

A: poured with gusto! And being patient to let the head settle and then continuing on at the end of my pour I was left with a fat fingers worth of white head.... That dissapates nicley. the body of the beer is a light, slightly hazy golden/amber straw.

S: earthy barnyard hay likeness and toasty grain. Some earthy hops and citrus notes.

T: tons of flavor for such a low abv brew, toasty grains with some light earthyness and bready yeast. rustic hops with a touch of pine and then citrusyness on the finish, again tons of flavor here. Very enjoyable hop flavor, especially once it warms a little.

M: super drinkable, medium creamy body with a sharpening carbonation that really accents the hop bitterness... Which kinda gives you a slight kick to the plate in the finish. Deffinatly a dry finish, with a bitter hop aftertaste.

O: this really grew on me as I drank it and now that this review and my glass are almost finished, I'm wishing I had another bottle. Tons of flavor here, nice hop bite, some toast grains, a great refresher for a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 04:41:19 | More by PeterIngemi

ridedammit

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is Pretty Things session beer. I think I could drink a tone of them, one of the tastiest and yet light beers I have ever had. This is one that I could simply put my feet up and drink all evening. One of the best parts about it was the mug. A giant PRetty Things mug for their beer, I want one!!

Color is light, not too light, at least I don;t think it was (It was dark in the bar so hard to tell if it was more to the golden or pale side) Smells nice and malty but not overly so, no heavy hop aroma,. which is good, it is after all a sessionable beer. Taste was remarkable for such a light and low ABV brew. Dan really knows how to create a tasty beverage. Kudos again PT!

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2011 19:35:00 | More by ridedammit

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tap at Armsby Abbey, despite being the evil presence in a great Asimov book, Magnifico is now a beer.

Served in a big mug, pours a huge overflowing creamy 2 finger head that fades at a med pace, crystal clear pale orange color.

Nose light toasty straw malts, fruit almost lager like fruit, light rustic saison farmhouse aroma, some light citrus almost spicy hops.

Taste comes with light crisp malts, light straw and toasty pale malts, some light grassy and fruity hops and bit of citrus, some lager fruits, gets fairly bitter, juicy, starts to get astringent on the finish, cracked straw rustic malt finish, lingering hops and bitterness, bit creamy even, but dry and slightly sticky.

Mouth is med to a bit lighter bodied, decent carb.

Overall pretty good, nice malt flavors, decent hops until it gets astringent, drinkable. a nice hit from Pretty Things but not right on target as there is barely any Belgian kick to this except the hints of rustic farmhouse malts, but not much of the yeast flavors, and the hops get too bitter and astringent for it's own good, the American hops add a different kick to it as well.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 02:20:41 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at the Armsby Abbey's 3 year anniversary event on 8/24.

A - Poured into a standard pint glass a clear yellow straw colour with a two finger head that left heavy, heavy side lacing.

S - Rather light on the nose with super soft herbal and grassy hop notes. Even lighter grain notes too.

T - Really tasty here. Some really nice hoppy/floral notes that are quire smooth. Earthy grains and good citrus notes.

M - Very good mouthfeel here. Nice carbonation. Good and crisp.

O - Of course, this is super sessionable. Just because its low in ABV doesnt mean its low in flavor. Definately packs a hop whallop.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 03:25:03 | More by rudzud