Troubadour Magma Special Edition 2011 - Cascade Hop - Brouwerij De Musketiers

KansasBeerLover

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bomber in a tulip glass.

First, pour this one slowly. My first pour was about 2/3 head, which was rich, creamy and composed of both large and small bubbles. The head dissipates to a thin, partial layer with nice lacing.

Color is dark orange and cloudy, reminiscent of an unfiltered wheat.

Aroma a strong. Lots of citrus hops with a background of honey.

Flavor is a complex mixture of hops, citrus, spices and honey. Very well done. The 9% ABV is there, but not overwhelming.

Mouthfeel is tangy, somewhat bitter. I would call it a blend of a smooth Belgian and an imperial IPA.

An extremely well-done ale. I need to buy two more. One to share and one for myself.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 01:21:21 | More by KansasBeerLover

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Troubadour cervoise at The Firkin.

While drinking this, I wondered what hop the usual Magma utilizes, only to come up empty (it doesn't help that I refused to do any research whatsoever to alleviate my curiosity). Oh well. This stuff pours a bright hazy amber topped by over a finger of dusty off-cream foam. The nose comprises mandarin orange, ruby red grapefruit zest, light cilantro, lemon rind, and light honey. The taste brings in more of the same, with the citrus qualities being co-opted by a combination of mandarin orange syrup and booze, creating a minty/fruity expression with a light burn trailing behind it. The honey also asserts itself much more fiercely now. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a lightly syrupy feel. Overall, a nice enough beer, but one that's too boozy, too sweet, and too syrupy for me to really enjoy as much as other Belgian IPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2011 02:05:23 | More by TMoney2591

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle purchased in Akron for $13.99. A triple IPA I think, although the way the label is worded this looks like a tripel/IPA... It advertises lots of American hops, led of course by Cascade.

It pours with a huge head, 5-7 fingers of foam which sits and lasts. A deep copper color with lots of haze but no floaties or anything like that. The aroma has citrusy hops but less than you'd expect, more of a spicy sweetness than anything pungent and fresh. Sort of a honey character in the nose too, and a strong undercurrent of alcohol.

It tastes delicous, this beer has a lot going on. The hops are diminished (maybe a little old), good Belgian character from the yeast and muted hops. Noticeable burn in the aftertaste so the alcohol is definitely there. Very sweet throughout, and again I swear there's honey in there too.

I've only seen this beer at one location so far, maybe it'll become more widely distributed but who knows. If you see it I recommend it, a very nice late night beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 22:56:06 | More by TurdFurgison

wagenvolks

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review #1200!

750ml orange-foiled bottle into a Brooklyn tulip.

Troubadour's Magma 2011 Cascade pours with a hazy, tangerine-tea hue. A bit dingy in color, with a hint of carbonation fueling a well-retained tuft of eggshell-khaki head. Superb lacing, with sticky webs coating the inside of the glass. Juicy, insanely tropical fruity aroma dripping with notes of sugared orange slices, mango, pineapple juice, and pear. The belgian yeast is subtle in its spiciness, which I appreciate. Malts are mild, with some bread and cereal notes.

The spice is amplified in the flavor, and so are the hops. Gone is the juicy sweet fruitiness, and instead the Cascade hops hit with bitter, floral resins and woody pine. A bit soapy, but it's forgivable, especially since the hop flavors are still big enough to linger long after each sip. Malts provide a delectable balance--grainy and slightly sweet. Mouthfeel is crisp and well-carbonated with tight, tiny bubbles coursing throughout the sticky, medium body. All in all, a delicious beer and one of the better examples of the style...West Coast meets Belgian IPA. More, please.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 04:22:32 | More by wagenvolks

ReyG006

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Large frothy head pours very hazy.

S: Bitter Cascade hops!

T: Piney throughout but it never becomes harsh at all, just a smooth consistent bitterness that lingers for a long time. It begs to you take another sip. A bit of grapefruit is prevalent throughout. Be careful, at 9% this one is dangerously smooth and sessionable!

M: Not too much carbonation, slight creamy feel.

O: An outstanding Belgian ipa with an american twist. If you can get a bottle of this I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 04:55:53 | More by ReyG006

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange-ish to yellow color with an off white head. In the aroma, pine like hops and ripe peaches. In the taste, dry pine like hops, a small fruitiness, and a note of alcohol. A small hop bite and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry pine and fruit aftertaste. Big pine hops and balanced with some ripe fruit, I can dig it!

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 21:08:23 | More by OWSLEY069