#9 - Magic Hat Brewing Company

flagmantho

Washington

3.36/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tumbler. I finally decided to give this a try, despite being possibly biased by the Georgetown 9lb Porter dispute.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a haze-free body and a thin layer of ivory head. Not too bad, I suppose.

Smell: light, sweet malt with a light biscuity character. There's also a light, almost strawberry fruitiness. Not exactly my bag, but not too bad.

Taste: strawberry flavor right up front with a light malt behind it. There's a little bit of harshness around the edges; not terrible, but there are fruit beers that handle this a lot better.

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a decent carbonation and an alright creaminess. Not too bad, actually.

Overall: I guess if you want a lightly flavored strawberry-type beer, this might be for you. That said, though it does not suit my palate, it's relatively flaw-free. So, I won't be drinking more of this, but someone might want to.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 14:40:01 | More by flagmantho

SometimesIfart

Michigan

2.48/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25

A - Pours a clear amber with a moderately dissipating slight off-white head that stands two fingers in height. Left decent lacing.

S - A little bit of pomegranate followed by some malt.

t - Pomegranate up front, quickly followed by malt and some sour cherries.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation,

O - Overall, It was pretty bland and artificial.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 00:07:28 | More by SometimesIfart

tomakeanend

California

3.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

I strongly suspect pomegranate is in this 'secret recipe'. Honestly, the beer was kind of a letdown. Too bubbly and friendly on the pallet to be truly deep. But, its flavor is somewhat unique. A kind of effervescent fruit ale. I don't see Pale Ale in it at all, but it is... different.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 03:30:30 | More by tomakeanend

rlee1390

Indiana

3.66/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear orange, not much carbonation, one finger head.

S-Wheat, orange, lemon, apricots and green apples.

T-Sweet and fruity. Apply, oranges, tad bit of what and no bitterness.

M-Light not much carbonation though.

O-Had it before, never reviewed it until now. It was actually better than I remembered, but still nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 21:57:24 | More by rlee1390

Kelly42

California

3.84/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Not quite pale, for sure. I love the IPA's and and this has allllmost the flavor. My husband doesn't like the IPA's at all, but he likes this one, and I'm hoping this is the gateway. He tastes rasberry, I do not, but a slight fruitiness is present. Pleasant aroma, a little citrus, a little fruit. Lighter body, not too heavy, good flavor! Like alot, would enjoy again!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 00:40:28 | More by Kelly42

JamesTurkey

California

1.93/5  rDev -43.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.75

Appearance: Golden honey with a thin white head, which dissolves quickly and leaves little lacing. Good carbonation keeps it bubbling throughout.

Smell: Slightly sweet and fruity, but I can't put my finger on exactly what it is.

Taste: Some of the same as the nose: a little sweet and fruity, but I also get a strange buttery taste. Malt and bread presence at the end. Surprisingly light, quite off-putting.

Mouth: The carbonation offsets a slight thickness. I have nothing else to say here.

Maybe it was the fact that it had to be shipped to the West Coast, but this beer wasn't very good at all. A good flavor is key to a good beer, but it completely falls flat in that category. Unfortunately, this is one of the notably bad beers I've known.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 22:40:15 | More by JamesTurkey

fx20736

New York

3.3/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, served at fridge temp.

Amber minus one apple juice, clear with a thick, fluffy offwhite head. Nice lacing.

aroma: faint, apples wood, pale malt

mouthfeel is ok

taste; not much going on here. faint apple fruitiness tints the pale malt with only a touch of bittering hops. leaves a slight cidery aftertaste.

notes: pretty underwhelming. this goes down easy but has almost nothing to make me want to buy more.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 04:59:35 | More by fx20736

Neorebel

New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear copper color, with carbonation and an average head. Minimal lacing. The aroma consists mainly of the added fruit flavors (apricot) and the hops.For the taste, #9 is a decent pale ale with the fruit infusion. In my opinion, it is not overly sweet/cloying as some have claimed, nor does it taste overtly artificial. It's a very light beer that can be quite a refreshment if you're in the mood for it. Personally, I dislike many flavored beers, such as Cherry Wheat by Sam Adams, and flavored lambics. (sugar bombs) Despite this, like I said, I enjoy this beer. For many (myself included) this is a great gateway beer to Magic Hat and microbrews in general. It taught me that beer can taste quite different from the BMC staples of American suburbia. Overall this is highly recommended on a summer's day, if you have a sweet tooth, or if you want to introduce someone to craft brewing for the first time.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 17:12:04 | More by Neorebel

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.74/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: Dark gold with very heavy bubbles on the body with slight haziness to it. Looks good at first but personally i believe every beer deserved head (no pun intended), and there is none, no head whatsoever.

Smell: Light fruit scent, peaches galore. you smell hops a bit but the fruit is pretty strong. It's not as potent as you would like but it beyond satisfy the nostrils.

Taste: Heavy fruit, obviously apricot/peach that lingers in your mouth. Hops to it but doesn't feel that bitter. You feel the

Mouth: Easily medium to heavy, this is crazy because the beer barely produced head. Sweet after taste coming off heavy in fruit.

Overall: After years of drinking this beer it is amazing that i have never reviewed it. it is good but when it comes to apricot beers there are a few other that take the extra step into perfection. Regardless Number 9 will always be a classic, when you go into a bar and need something to please most crowds on a hot summer night this beer is one of the obvious "go-to's". Enjoy one on me...Salud!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 03:29:00 | More by BlurryVisi0n

scratch69

Missouri

2.79/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

I poured a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance- Slightly hazy golden color with a fingers worth of quickly disappearing head. Light amount of lacing.

Smell- Funky almost rotten fruit aroma.

Taste- Faintly fruity sweet flavor with a faint floral hop aftertaste.

Mouthfeel- Light bodied and smooth. Light amount of carbonation.

Overall- I was totally disappointed with this beer. The smell was one step above nasty and the flavor was uninspired. The best thing about this beer was it's appearance and even that's not impressive.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 02:20:21 | More by scratch69

bibidiva

4.28/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Just tried this on a whim, and was a bit disconcerted when I first opened it. Checked my hands, and the candles I had burning, What was that perfume scent?? It was the beer, and I was thinking, oh, I'm not going to like this. I like things on the line of Fosters Green, Newcastle Brown Ale and the real Guinness stout- a touch of bitterness with some durable body. I don't like frufru beers dressed up with flavors. Glad I tasted it. The nose above the glass is strong of peach scent (not fresh peaches, more like perfume), which is pleasant, but not what I'm looking for. The taste is GOOD, with the aftertaste I like in a good ale, a little bitter, a little lasting on the tongue. The taste has a bit of mandarin orange, NOT peaches, which fits well with the body of the beer. It didn't linger in the aftertaste other than a little citrusy bitterness (which I actually enjoy, I like bitter tastes) or overcome the character of the ale. Speaking of body, a good fullness without being heavy, a little bit of zing, like soda water does. I wasn't expecting an adjunct flavor, but this one, which I perceived as the mandarin, was very pleasant. The only thing that is off-putting to me is the nose of peach perfume when I take a sip. Not fond of that. However, I will buy it again, see it as a good summer beer, and will offer it to my female friends who are reluctant to try a "better" class of beer but aren't fond of the stronger body that a good beer has. And of course, I love the wisdom of the bottle caps, but they've never topped "The devil is in the potato salad"!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 00:34:47 | More by bibidiva

scot_chale

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Pale orange body, very active carbonation, 1 finger of pillowy head that hangs around. Very pretty beer. I love the clarity.

S- not too crazy about the aroma. it's faint, sour, and slightly fruity, but mostly confusing. The blend of this soury fruitiness kind of puts a bad taste in your mouth. Almost like rotting garbage or a septic tank.

T- It's drinkable. There's a fruit character that's not defined (i'm told its apricot), but other than that it's kind of thin. I'd say watery. I don't really know what they were going for here.

M- It's spritzy, but in a good way. It's kinda dry, which I like. It's pleasant in the mouth, almost lager like. Easy drinking.

O- Not great, not horrible, and a fun challenge. I think this is good for home brewers and craft beer drinkers to sit around and debate on what they get out of the flavor and aroma. As far as my take on it, i'll never buy it again, but I can get through these six without complaining. I have had other offerings from this brewery and I like what they do, this one just isn't worth my money.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 23:29:55 | More by scot_chale

dar482

New York

3.41/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

This beer is a less offensive than people make it seem. It's a good session beer. It has big juicy cherry and apricot flavors. However, it cuts off a bit short and tastes too sweet at times. I wouldn't drink too many at once.

The beer could use more complexity and body, but I wouldn't despise having this once in a while.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 05:42:04 | More by dar482

smakawhat

Maryland

2.21/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured from the bottle into a Dogfish Head Ale glass.

Barely a finger of simple white head is made, not too soapy, has a little bit of puck staying power. Body color is a very clear copper bronze, some mix of rising thin carbonation coming up some slow some fast, but most of it is pretty small. Looks like a brew, but sort of half dead.

A real odd grainy, weird fruit, and smell of bile on this. The vomit smell really starts to dominate. Hints of weird somewhat sweet beet/root vegetables also. Not attractive.

Surprisingly the palate comes off as really neutral and muted. Wetness is what feel primarily, very watery. Fruit hints come out some sort of candy fruit, but I can barely taste it. Watery malt, there is practically no depth to this beer at all.

Overall what strikes me isn't that it necessarily tastes bad, it's just flavorless and there's nothing going on. Time to move on, even for a fruit brew this isn't really delivering.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 23:53:20 | More by smakawhat

Hendy011

3.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - Nice finger head with lacing - lasts a while, 5, 10 minutes.

S - Smells fruity - maybe a little too fruity. Not too strong, just a little strange.

T - Less fruity, a little more bitter than the smell. Sweet aftertaste.

F - Some carbonation, smooth but not enticing.

O - Calls itself a "not quite pale ale," tastes like a fruit beer minus some sweetness. Pretty good, but really weird.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 03:51:03 | More by Hendy011

mjshearer1

Michigan

2.93/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Pours golden, good amount of head. Sweet fruity smell translates to the taste as well, though has a bit of a macro aftertaste/finish to it. Decent enough, and a good beer to help convert someone to craft. I wouldn't actively seek it out but wouldn't turn it down if offered, either.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 01:24:08 | More by mjshearer1

Kulrak

Australia

3.36/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish gold color a minimum of head that fades away pretty quickly. Smells like yeast and .. some kind of sweetness, I can't really pick it out. It's not really malty. The taste is mostly clean, but with some fruity sweetness. Not much in the way of hops or bitterness. Mouthfeel is heavy and a little fizzy, but not bad at all. Overall, it's a decent beer, doesn't come on too strong, but isn't too light, either.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 11:13:45 | More by Kulrak

dertyd

California

1.5/5  rDev -56%
look: 5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25

A-nice amber copper 1 finger head verry little laceing

S-almost no smell light mango

T-not good bitter sour fruit no beer taste

M-kinda sticky in mouth

Overall

Wow!!! Realy let down on this one was exspecting a lot more almost dosent taste like beer taste like a realy bitter wine/wine cooler.will not drink this one again!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 09:07:23 | More by dertyd

tectactoe

Michigan

2.71/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

On tap at Stone Pub. Pours a mellow amber-orange color with highlights of burnt sunburst around the edges; slight haze but not enough to completely cloud your eyesight to the other side. Fizzy, bone-white head goes almost as quickly as it comes. The aroma is fruity, light, and crisp; apricots, oranges, peaches - sounds great, right? Unfortunately the smell comes off a little too contrived, artificial, and errs on the side of medicinal. Not enough to abhor the beer already, but it doesn't bode well for how it's probably going to taste. Hits the palate with a thin-almost medium body, crisp, snappy, and fizzy. Takes over with the fruity sensation right away - apricots still in the forefront, with some peaches, tangerines, and pears on deck. The strange, vitamin-like medicinal character is actually less apparent on the palate then it was in the aroma, which is a good thing, but I still have to smell this sucker every time I bring the glass to my mouth. A bit of grain and pale malt flavors along with a flower-like hop character which is unfortunately mostly shoved aside by the fruitiness. Low bitterness start to finish, highly carbonation with an aftertaste of artificial fruits and a touch of yeast.

I commend this beer for being almost somewhat of a "gateway" brew that brings people from macro style lagers to the wonderful world of craft beer. It's lighter, not abrasive, easy on the palate; so it's easy to see why newcomers will enjoy it. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold a candle to the rest of the craft world, and once you expand your tastes, this one is easily forgotten, and in many cases, eventually frowned upon for having a weird, medicinal astringency.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2013 13:01:34 | More by tectactoe

cjoc83

Pennsylvania

3.19/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Pours a crystal clear golden straw color with an initial 2 finger eggshell white head that fades fast to a ring. Spotty lacing.

Doesn't really smell like a pale ale, and I'm wondering why they bill it as such on the bottle. I think the bros got it right labeling this a fruit beer. Anyway, pale malt mixes with some peach and apricot in the nose, with a slight fruity hop presence. Pretty nice.

Not too much going on in the taste though. Some slight peach/apricot flavor up front gives way to pale malt, grain, and finishes with a little earthy hops. Pleasant enough flavor but very subdued.

Lively carbonation throughout, light bodied. Easy drinking.

This was one of my go-to beers when I first got into craft years ago, but having had so many other amazing beers since then, this brew just doesn't really stand up to what else is out there. An enjoyable session beer, but definitely not something I would go out of my way to find.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 22:54:20 | More by cjoc83

TheMarkE

California

3.19/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Sweet, with a strong floral aroma and just enough malt and citrus hops to make it interesting. A decent session beer, but not one I’d put at the top of the list.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 01:07:49 | More by TheMarkE

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Looks great...copper gold color, very clear, nice head hangs around for awhile. the aroma is very strong of apricots. Flavor is a mix of fruit (apricot, kiwi, white grapefruit, persimmon) with light malt, mineral water, some astringency...tart sweetness. While I enjoyed the smell...perhaps hoping for a sour, the beer seems almost industrial like a Heineken with Apricot extract added. I prefer the Pyramid Apricot.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:41:49 | More by DenverLogan

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.53/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – Served an orange amber colored brew with a small white head. The head faded rather fast to leave a tiny amount of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is sweet and consists of fruit, candied sugar and caramel. The fruits are of the lighter variety with aromas of pear, peach and apricot present.

Taste – The taste begins with the lighter fruits that were detected in the nose. Peach and apricot are the most pronounced and are mixed with a subtle bready flavor. As the taste advances some caramel and candied fruit flavors with a more grainy like flavor come to the tongue. It the very end, a light floral hop taste joins the rest leaving a mostly light colored fruit flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the lighter side in terms of its thickness with a carbonation level that was rather average. The two when combined with the fruit and sweet flavors make for a nice very easy drinker.

Overall – Overall a quite tasty and easy drinking brew. It’s fruity and sweet, but not really cloying. A nice session style brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2013 01:05:57 | More by Darkmagus82

merc7186

New York

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Applebees in Amherst NY, poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear Amber/Golden Straw Hue, Passes All Light, Thin White Head, Decent Lacing

S: Heavy Apricots, Corn

T: Corn, Mild Peach, Mild Apricot

M: Decent Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter

Overall, beer for the masses, but I'm the exception, not the rule.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2013 21:14:45 | More by merc7186

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a medium muted gold colour with a couple fingers of fluffy head. Steady slow carbonation. Wonderful lacing.

Smell is an initial strong jammy berry note. Some stonefruit (apricot), with a bit of of hops coming through. Overly sweet.

Taste has a nice initial fruity flavour, with malt and a citrusy hoppiness. Seems a bit unbalanced but the flavours work decently with each other. Finish is dry, and fruity, herbal.

Mouthfeel is watery, little carbonation. A bit syrupy. Not that great, but is decently refreshing when cold.

This is certainly not without its flaws, but it is all in all a decent beer first. It is interesting, though not always in the best way possible. I won't actively recommend it, but it drinks decently and is certainly unique.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:31:10 | More by mick303