#9 - Magic Hat Brewing Company

mocktm

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This review is a long time coming. A staple of my college drinking days, Magic Hat #9 has long been one of my go to session beers. It only seems appropriate that the bottle I chose to use for this review also sports my favorite cap slogan reading:"If Jerry were here, we'd buy him a beer." This of course refers to the late and great Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, whose improvisational yet brilliant nature match almost synonymously with the character of this beer. Anywho, back to the review...

A: Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a custom #9 pint glass, the beer pours a bright golden orange with just a slight bit of haze. A moderate pour yields one finger of white frothy head that slowly settles decorating the inner glass with a small amount of lace.

S: Smells real sweet with heavy emphasis on apricot and a slight hint of grapefruit citrus. Not much else is detectable.

T: Fruit sweetness matched with a crisp dry finish and just the right amount of hop bitterness for balance. This is one flavorful and tasty beverage. While I've had other apricot ales, none really come close to the unique balance this brew boasts.

M: Crisp and well carbonated with a silky smooth character. Glides nicely over the tongue and around the mouth. A seriously drinkable brew.

O: While Magic Hat may catch alot of flak for their inconsistency, which is very well deserved, their flagship beer continues to be a staple within my fridge. This is almost strange since I am not a fan at all of most fruit beers and especially dislike lambics. However, I'd be willing to throw down a few bottles of this unique, refreshing and well balanced brew just about anytime. Their recent appearance in cans also makes them ideal for outside activities in the coming summer months. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 17:42:17 | More by mocktm

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