Single Chair Ale - Magic Hat Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Magic Hat presents this in literature as a cream ale. Sampled at the brewery. Was OK, malty aroma, lace in glass. Hops, herbal, balanced. Spiciness.Golden colour. Tad of fruit and spot acidic. Served up quite fresh. Light mouthfeel. Nothing special for Magic Hat.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2005 04:16:47 | More by northyorksammy

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I don't know what rock I've been under, but according to the back label of this 22 oz. bottle, corporate ski lifts are a huge menace in Vermont, and Magic Hat has come to the rescue, it seems.
Color is cloudy golden, with a small, but firm white head.
Nose: fresh and fruity, soft and citrusy, but a faint whiff of spice.
The actual ale, however, had little impact on me and my taste buds. Light hops, light malt, light everything, really, although not altogether lacking in taste. Drinks down real nice, too, so that wasn't a problem. I geuss I was looking for something special that I just did not find.
But the next time I see one of those corporate ski lift baddies, I'll sock 'em in the nose!
thanks again to paceyourself!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2003 16:23:21 | More by feloniousmonk

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap 10/17/2010 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a large white head that fades slowly and leaves a spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains light caramelized malts, some hops and some faint citrus.

T: The taste starts out with bready flavors of grain and a light malt character up front. Then some mild caramel and citrus sweetness comes in along with a decent hops presence to provide a good balance. The after-taste is slightly bready.

M: Smooth and crisp, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not filling at all, mild kick, decent representation of style, it's not the best beer overall, but it's very poundable and beats the typical swill beers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2010 15:42:05 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Brought a growler home from Vermont after visiting the brewery. The beer poured out as a clear golden color with a good looking white head on top. The smell of this beer is almost a splitting images of #9 without the apricot. The same goes for the taste... remove the apricot flavor and you have Single Chair. I found it to be interesting that they were nearly the same brew in my opinion. I like #9 and I found Single Chair to be good also. This was nice to have back at home because it's one of their brews that isn't distributed. Overall, enjoyable refreshing brew

Serving type: growler

07-03-2011 05:17:12 | More by Knapp85

jwc215

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours straw yellow with a sizeable white head that leaves thin patchy lacing.

The smell is grainy - a bit cereal-ish - slightly grassy with some floral notes.

The taste is of light grain - some grassy/floral notes with ginger-like spicing. Finishes dry.

It is light-bodied with ample carbonation. Dryness lingers.

I received a kegerator as a gift. On a whim, not having had this beer, I decided to get a sixtel. Nice choice (lucky gamble?) This beer would appeal to both craft and macro drinkers as it is light, subtle and drinkable. Has characteristics of a typical macro lager (though I know it is not) with a ginger-y spiciness. Interesting - and certainly an "easy session" brew.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2010 03:30:44 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pale golden color with a slight haze to it, egg shell white head forms nicely leaves fine speckled lacing behind. Aroma has a bit herbal hops, biscuit malts with a hint of rust/metallic edge, something earthy similar to the wacko beet infused beers aroma. Flavor wise it's a clean biscuit malt profile hints of herbal/earthy hops with a fruit malt driven light golden ale, pretty unoffensive at it's core. A beer I've never tried from Magic Hat and I've been trying their offerings since the early 2000s. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied sturdy carbonation somewhat creamy texture to it especially for a straight forward golden ale. Overall a decent easy going drinking beer that should be looked at for pure simplicity of the flavor. When you have had too many Double, Imperial offerings and you're ready for something you can have a couple of then grab something like this come summer.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 01:38:47 | More by WVbeergeek

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.3/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours with a white, two-fingered head, fades soon and leaves a good lace. Medium carbonation. Clear pale yellow color. Nose is hoppy, starts and finishes hoppy with some bitterness. Lingering hoppy aftertaste. $2.99 for a 22oz bottle from Drum Hill Liquor, Chelmsford, MA.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2004 22:46:37 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date. Clear pale golden color, white head does its job of keeping together or at least as long as it takes to finish this brew. Smells of pears, dusty biscuits and delicate wild flowers. Ample crispness, very smooth with a lighter body. Clean palate, maltiness is a bit watery but with some chalky biscuit graininess. Mild fruitiness meets the modest bitterness from the hops. Dry finish.

Not too bad, easy to drink with a no frills attitude. If you are looking for something with a bit more oomph then this might not be your beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 03:48:45 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

2.68/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

32 ounce growler fill.

Pours light straw, hazed , unimpressive lack of a head, just a thin off white collar and no lace left behind. Boo

I cant smell a thing...Boo

Thin flavor, just the faintist hint of hops and malts.

Very unimpressed with this one. Never been a big MH fan, and I never have any sort of expectations for their beers, but this is truly a new low.

Serving type: growler

07-07-2011 04:02:34 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22ozer from Waterbury Beverage, Waterbury, VT. Underside of bottle cap said "To make Someone smile is Worthwhile."

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a big 1+" white head, which has a reasonable amount of staying power and laces excellently. Aroma of pale malts and slight hops over this straw hued brew. Taste of slight bitterness through the delicate grains. Very drinkable brew, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2004 21:07:00 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to grassrootsvt for this...
Appears a hazy light gold with a small white head and scattered lacing around the glass.
Smell is of lemongrass and light cream filled dough.
Taste is of the same aromas with a mild soapiness to the flavor.
Mouthfeel is lightly lemony and thin.
Drinkability...nothing knocking my socks off here. Seems pretty average.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2006 04:32:44 | More by weeare138

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -33%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

First had: on tap at Casey's, Newtown Square, PA

Poured into a pint glass, a clear, very light, straw yellow with a finger and a half of foamy white head, that laced well and receded to a thin layer after a minute or so. Aroma was very light, but grains and floral hops were noticeable. Very light in taste too, almost like an adjunct, light sweet malts, and crisp hops; crisp and clean overall, but not very flavorful and a bit watery. Light-bodied and quite drinkable for even the most conservative drinker, but not something I'd ever get again...just too bland and light for me.

Magic Hat just isn't that good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 22:54:44 | More by Rifugium

plaid75

New York

3.6/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a medium cloudy straw hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light dougy malt and some subtle citric hop aromas.

The taste consisted of a smooth grainy malt balanced by a light grapefruit hop.

The mouthfeel was toward the lighter side.

Overall a servicable ale. Nothing too exciting, but certainly an easy drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2007 14:34:09 | More by plaid75

Brad007

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev +31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light gold color with a one-finger head into my pint glass.

Aroma is full of grainy malt and light hop bitterness. A bit sweet as well, like a pils.

Taste is smooth and full of grainy malt and very light hop bitterness. Not too sweet. As the review below says, I can agree that it seems like No.9 without the apricot.

Mouthfeel is somewhat dry and the hop bitterness shows up more at the back of the throat. Again, smooth and decently drinkable.

I have to admit that I didn't like this beer when I had it at the brewery a few months ago. However, it really is underrated. I could drink pints of this because the low ABV makes it easier to enjoy.

Serving type: growler

01-31-2009 20:28:53 | More by Brad007

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Magic Hat Single Chair Ale

Pours a bright clear straw, decent foam forms and recedes to nothing and no lace. Aroma of grain, wheat, cat pee, hop pellets and alittle citrus. In the flavor, biscuity malt, herbal tea like hops and a more or less clean finish. Alittle lemony, alittle tart. Kind of an odd ball beer, and average at best for an American pale ale. Closer to an American blonde in style.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 05:15:36 | More by Stinkypuss

twiggamortis420

Texas

2.7/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle with a best by stamp of SEP302011. Pours a lightly hazed, gold color with a bubbly white head. Retention is good and lacing is not.

Nose is fruity and floral hops with a light grain and biscuit malt background. Straightforward and simple.

Taste is quite tart, was not expecting that at all. Lemony and grainy with a mild floral hoppiness. Lots of carbonation, little bit of zest here and there. All in all, this beer is unremarkable. Glad I only got a single of this, and as an APA (as classified here) a pretty big disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 18:17:33 | More by twiggamortis420

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Notes: 22oz bomber bottle/best before may 2003. This is my third beer from Magic hat and it is another great one! This beer pours a nice light yellow golden colour with a big, fluffy, cool-whip head on top. This has some great belgian-like gigner aroms, as well as some floral hops aromas, and some light malt aromas. The taste was less spicy and more malty. This beer had a good dose of hops in it and the mouthfeel was very crisp and satisfying. This could be an excellent summer beer. I hope they keep making this stuff. The drinkability is great too!
Cheers to paceyourself for this sample!,
F.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2003 10:05:34 | More by francisweizen

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

somewhat less than a pale ale in my opinion. pours almost clear beach sand color with a one inch white head that dies out after a couple minutes. the small is qute malty, but on the lighter end of the spectrum. no hops to really speak of aromatically. flavor is a bit more balanced than the nose. this is just an easy drinking session beer, with nothing to really set it apart. the hops only present themselves in the finish, which is mildly bitter. feel is fine, lighter in body and well carbonated. i tend to like my pale ales with a little more going on, fuller body, more hops etc., but if you want a nice cruisy drinking pale ale, this could be your beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2012 15:23:01 | More by StonedTrippin

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

2.13/5  rDev -36%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

16oz draft on tap, I have no idea why i chose this, i was not thinking, don't judge me.

Single Chair pours a basic pale golden color with some light orange within, a loose head died into a cap that stayed, but left no lace. This smells like, nothing, i mean, i really get nothing. Some pale sweet malt and that's about it. I can't smell what's not there. Let's make that for the taste as well, a really bland tasting pale that's bordering on adjunct with a semi rice thing going after time. No citrus at all, nothing, Im not joking. No really. This tastes like all of MH's other light offerings, I guess it's the yeast, well their yeast strain sucks. The feel is light bodied and carbed pretty well with a slight crisp on the tounge so it's got that going for it. The drinkability suffers because this is not good, but i drank it, because i paid for it. I wish I got a bottle of this, it would of been the same thing with less carb. Add this to the list of Magic Hat beers that are blah.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2010 22:25:20 | More by onix1agr

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.88/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not a big fan of Magic Hat, but the name of the beer intrigued me, and it's not a bad beer. An orange color with a small head. It had a floral aroma, with some fruit (?pear) detectable. It had a sweet taste, nicely hopped. Fairly assertive. I would drink this beer again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2006 12:08:44 | More by lordofthewiens

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Crackly, tight head of blinding white sits on top of a washed-out sunny yellow color. Looks very U.S. lager meets (very pale) Belgian pale ale. Tons of bubble activity.

Very clean floral aroma, but also straw, faint honey and a slight hint of sulfur. Grassy. I'm not thinking "American Pale Ale" at all, but then the bottle only says "Golden Beer," so I won't hold it to any style category. Cramming beers into small style compartments is dangerous business.

Light grass/hay, some honey, and earthy creek stone/mineral tones rule the flavor, but that's a generous use of the word "rule." Some pilsner-like sulfur hangs out too, while the hops are very polite, floral and crisp. "Understated" is the word. Although very bubbly, visibly and texturally, it has a lightness of body and a soft caress. About as nondescript in feel as it is in flavor. Ultimately it goes down without any trouble but unfortunately without much to shout about.

I don't know anything about Mad River Glen, which the label says Single Chair celebrates (a ski resort, I presume?), but I can't help but imagine it deserves better celebration than this beer. It's not bad really, just one of those Magic Hat beers I feel very "ho hum" about. It happens. Next.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 21:19:36 | More by Metalmonk

ngeunit1

California

3.88/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Beer was a nice light golden color with a finger of white head. The head had okay retention and left behind some lacing.

S - The aroma has a bit of sweetness from the malts. There is also a a nice wheat smell that comes through.

T - Starts off with a bit of wheat and grain and a touch of the malt that really balances well. There is a transition to a pinch of hops and some citrus and honey. The finish is a nice lingering sweet wheat flavor.

M - Medium-light bodied with a medium amount of assertive carbonation. Mouthfeel is super crisp and refreshing.

D - Extremely drinkable. Also a bit more flavor than I was expecting overall, it is still a little on the light side, but there was enough flavor there. Really refreshing beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2010 23:13:19 | More by ngeunit1

Pencible

Virginia

3.13/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: This poured a clear straw color with moderate white head.
S: It smelled like lots of wheat bread and lemon zest, with a little grass and coriander and wax.
T: It tasted like sweet biscuit and wheat bread and honey, with some corn and lemon and coriander. It had a somewhat clean and sweet aftertaste.
M: It was watery with a little carbonation. Kind of thin.
D: This was more like a witbier or blonde ale than an APA. The bottle claims it's a ""golden ale."" Either way, it wasn't very good. Not very clean or crisp, lacking refinement and body. Easy to drink (or chug), but not worth trying otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 15:11:27 | More by Pencible

Boto

Connecticut

2.6/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Big Bottle: A bit of a pale golden, almost yellow color. I didn't get a whole lot of head in mine. A bit of a fruity aroma, although it wasn't too strong. A bit of malts and some spiciness (ginger?) to the taste, but not much else. A hint of bitterness in the aftertaste. Somewhere between light and medium bodied. Not likely to be bought again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2003 21:11:02 | More by Boto

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured a hazy, yellow color with white foam that clung to the inside of the glass. The smell was minimally malty. The taste was malty and somewhat bready with modest hoppiness. The mouthfeel was smooth and dry with medium body and low carbonation feel. The aftertaste was lightly bready malt. This was an easy-drinking pale ale.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2005 22:57:58 | More by UncleJimbo