Encore - Magic Hat Brewing Company

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.44/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle a hazy orange-gold with one finger of off-white head. A whisper of lacing left behind.

Aroma of wheat and light malts along with a hint of grassy hops and caramel.

The taste was quite different than expected. No real hop presence. Mainly caramel malts and wheat notes.

Medium bodied and smooth with a lighter carbonation.

A very "OK" IPA from Magic Hat. Give a boost to the hops and we might have something here.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 02:22:29 | More by Monkeyknife

Hophead101

Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Great pour. Hazy orange in color. Huge off white taupe head. Frothy and stuck around forever leaving an awesome, thick and haphazard lacing throughout the glass

S: nice citrus smell, mostly orange. Faint banana in there as well assuming from the yeast.

T: pretty decent taste. A little hoppy bite with citrus. Not much wheat components in the taste. Would say this was just a regular IPA if I didn't know otherwise. But that is not a bad thing.

M: digging the overall mouthfeel. Very crisp and bright and finishes mostly dry with a slight bitter aftertaste which is enjoyable.

Nicely done beer. Not a huge fan overall of MH beers, but this was a pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 03:14:56 | More by Hophead101

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle served in pint glass.

A: 1 finger head with orange body. Nice lacing.

S: orange peel citrus, grapefruit, malts and hops.

T: Nice citrus, hops and floral notes come in at the finish and provide a nice bitterness.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

O: If a hop head I think you would enjoy this. I did. Not a fan of Magic Hat but this one is ok.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:24:22 | More by Damian74Shensky

BS-

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

Hazy, matt, almost muddy gold with a nice bubbly white head that died off quickly. The lacing was nice while the head lasted, though.

Nose is aromatic. Honey with bready malts and a good measure of a pineapple-ish citrus. Hop aromas are rather subtle beside the pineapple, some pine and grassiness can be detected.

Underwhelming. The malts present in the nose were entirely absent from the taste. Hop flavours were stunted and rather uninteresting. Some citrus and some pine. A weird cross between grass and pineapple. Kind of like almost-stale Benson and Hedges cigarettes. Maybe it’s because I smoked earlier today, but the flavours are just muffled and… not really there.

Mouthfeel is decent, light with lively carbonation.

Overall not a BAD beer, but far from great. Very far.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 11:08:44 | More by BS-

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: cloudy orange body, trace off-white head, ok lacing

S: wheat, mild grassy

T: lemon peel, firm wheat middle, mild piney bitter finish

M: med body, light oily mouth

O: Better beer by MH, not my fav.
Would not seek out again, but solid.

SOLID; NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 18:19:41 | More by BeerLover99

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Purchased from a mix pack in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours a hazy yellow-orange body with a huge white head that leaves some nice sticky lacing.

S- Earthy, malty, citrusy with an uninviting slight cigarette aroma. Nothing strong or anything that stands out.

T- Malt, caramel, slightly piney. Somewhat one dimensional. Lacking much hop character.

M- Medium mouthfeel/carbonation.

Where are the hops in this brew? For an IPA, there wasn't much hop presence. It was more like a weak pale ale. Mediocre at best.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 05:14:03 | More by gcamparone

DannyHartman

3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

As I pour a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass, a nice thick 1-2" off-white head appears atop a beautiful hazy/cloudy brew which consists of an orangish/gold outlining that leads towards a light brown center.... The head diminishes quickly, but has good retention and leaves nice lacing.

I take a whiff and get a lot of piney hops with citrus like that of grapefruit and orange... There's also some sweet caramel malt with a bit of woodsy and earthy notes.

The taste is mostly hoppy with spicy and citrus hops, along with a bunch of bready "wheat" malts.... There's just the slightest sweetness, as well.

I'd say this is a medium-bodied brew that is well carbonated.... It has a slick/oily feel going down, and leaves a dry, tart, citrusy aftertaste.

Overall, I think this is a very interesting and good brew.... You certainly get a little from both worlds of wheat and a decently hopped I.P.A... An easy and tasty drink that I think is a great concept.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 19:40:44 | More by DannyHartman

AdamPenna

New York

3/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Duvel glass because I am alone here today, finally, and so I can. Nice foamy head--about three fingers, which lingers--perhaps the beer's best attribute. Lacing ok. Amber orange in color. Cloudy, murky as I expected from a wheat beer. Smell some hops, pine, not much citrus. Taste the hops, but not too strong. Watery on the tongue, but can sense a little little oiliness. A dry finish I like even if I don't entirely understand the beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 18:10:09 | More by AdamPenna

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

got this encore in a variety pack from magic hat. the smell is piney like an ipa but there is a little sweetness swirled in. it has a honey brown color, and is cloudy like a wheat beer. the taste is fresh and bitter, with a little caramel and a citrus kick. this isnt a huge tasting ipa, but it has enough of a kick to wake you up a little. there it some nice lacing left in the glass. not a bad effort at all from magic hat.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 02:17:07 | More by mattkoon

silverking

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It pours a hazy orange with a light tan head that lasts about 45 seconds with moderate lacing. There are Aromas of fresh hops accompanied by citrusy, malty wheat beer aromas. It has a lighter mouthfeel with medium/heavy carbonation. The bitter hops are apparent immediately on the palate with notes of grapefruit and malt. It is a pretty straight forward beer with little complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 18:52:16 | More by silverking

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Cloudy, almost syrupy looking. Gold, almost orange looking. Had a head, didn't stick around for long.

Smell: Didn't pick up anything at all, to be honest.

Taste: I don't get any wheat without letting this sit around in my mouth for a little bit. Even then, it's scant. Hoppy, but not really hoppy, and not floral or anything... interesting. Just hoppy. Little bit of citrus on the back. Pretty average.

Mouthfeel: A little overcarbonated, otherwise not bad. Medium bodied.

This was pretty boring, and I don't think I'd pay to have another. I'd drink it if given to me though.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 03:58:27 | More by ColdWaffles

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Strong wheat, grass, dry field aroma. Large white head of considerable thickness at first with some lingering lace on the glass. Cloudy copper gold color. Served from bottle in tulip glass.
I like both IPAs and Wheat beers and this American Wheat IPA is both full bodies and refreshing. The IPA component gives big body to this wheat in bitterness, grassy flavor, almost a touch of oak from the dryness. I could probably drink two in a row and not feel like I was suffering!

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:11:38 | More by DenverLogan

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: A cloudy honey hue topped by an impressive head; the retention was very good, as was the lacing

Smell: A bit citrusy, with a grainy aspect

Taste: Bready, up front, with a growing bitter, citrusy character; harsh bitterness, after the swallow, without the malt bill to back it up

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: An interesting twist, which would benefit from a more rounded malt flavor to shine the American wheat aspect

Thanks, acurtis, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 21:02:29 | More by brentk56

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle from Wegman Syracuse NY for 2.50$

Appearance - Hazy copper colour with an above average size fizzy off-white coloured head. There is a fair amount of carbonation showing and there is some decent lacing. The head lasted for over 5 minutes.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste caramel and malts mixed with hops. There is also some grapefruit and some candied oranges. It ends with quite a bit of hop dry hop bitterness.

Overall – Not really what I was expecting based on the style, but a good beer nonetheless. It basically tastes like a american pale ale/IPA, I don't really get the wheat aspect in the flavour. A good beer that I'd drink again.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 00:42:06 | More by spinrsx

zbkai189

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass. Off-white, thick (beautiful), frothy head that dissipates slowly. Opaque amber brew.

S - Grapefruit. Tingly, and spicy.

T - A lot like it smells. Lots of grapefruit. Smooth & slightly bitter finish. Medium-bodied but light enough to drink a few. Pale malt.

M - Tingly and smooth. Slight tang from the citrus.

O - Nice medium-bitter wheat IPA. The head is the best part.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 22:00:09 | More by zbkai189

searsclone

Arizona

2.83/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

bottle into a globe glass

opaque butterscotch color with a grayish whit head and good lacing

smell is pine and followed by a touch of butterscotch

taste is hops and that's about it.

watery mouthfeel with thin finish

overall, just average. for me, the only thing the wheat did was cause it to be hazy.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 02:19:33 | More by searsclone

beerthulhu

New Jersey

2.05/5  rDev -43.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: A murky oxidized orange with a dirty bone covering shows little reistance and lacing. Small presence of carbonation. Was expecting a wheat ipa to be more pale in coloring but thats okay.

S: Nose was a bit of soapy oranges and citrus. washy delivery very weak in strength. Encore aroma is en-hiatus.

T: Again the flavor mirrors the nose with some washy, soapy, and detergent like flavoring. (he checks but finds no bottling info). Washed out oranges, bitter but not in a good way, more musky with a catty hint of greenery and moldy orange grinds. Starchy content, old mushy apples and citrus with some wheat and sweat (yeah you read right). Small warming of toasted grain and sour moldy hops leave an unpleasant aftertaste.

M: Wow no surprise here, washy mouthful, detergent like alkaline feel. A bright tart mention of oranges appears out of nowhere to turn to a sour moldy fade.

O: A total washout overall. Feel good about a solid 2.0 unimpressed rating here, has about as much wheat and hop character as i do sympathy for this. no encore sampling here.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 23:11:28 | More by beerthulhu

mactrail

California

3.15/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Quite lovely in the tall Peroni glass, with plenty of head and a golden amber cloudy color. A nice mouthful of carbonation with a pleasant watery mouthfeel.

This stuff does indeed taste like an IPA, to the detriment of what start out as nice wheaty flavors. There is a fleeting hint of warm malt. The fruity esters get lost in the bitterness. The hops seems to be pretty much just the bittering variety. I can't get much aroma from this. This would be a workmanlike IPA for those who like the straight hop chaser, but to me, this blending of styles would work much better if it was like the Belgian-style IPAs where the yeasty and malty flavors are allowed to come through the bitter taste.

12 oz bottle from Bine & Vine in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 05:10:51 | More by mactrail

babaracas

Florida

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy amber with two fingers thick of white foam, settles to a half inch with a few rings of lace down the glass. Smell: grapefruit, orange juice. Taste: grapefruit...rindy, spicy, light caramel sweetness, wheat 'twang'. Medium bodied, active carbonation into a drying finish. Decent.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 06:52:32 | More by babaracas

tdm168

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Hoyt for sharing this one.

A - bright orange with a big, white head that has great retention

S - wheat, spicy, earthy hops

T - wheat, spicy hops, peppery

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This isn't a bad beer, but it leaves me wanting more. I liked the wheat presence and the balance of the hops, but ultimately it was simple and became boring. It would make for a nice session IPA. Anyone who is enjoying this new trend of wheat IPAs should probably try this if for no other reason than due diligence.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 01:56:25 | More by tdm168

Zorro

California

3.15/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Chill hazed orange with a small white colored head, pretty average.

Smell is malt and hops with a distinct citrus edge to it. Scents of wood, tea and grapefruit. Smells a little woody.

Starts out semi-dry with a tea and wood after taste. Gets a little sweeter as you drink it but the flavor is mostly tea and wood with grapefruit oil, drinkable but could be more complex.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall an OK beer but not one I would buy often, better beer is out there.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 03:10:11 | More by Zorro

JG-90

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

bottle into chalice

A- hazy golden color, pours a 3/4" head which recedes to a small head and moderate lacing

S- Bready, citrus, hops, spicy, malt

T- Most noticable is a spicy hoppiness. Also nice citrus, malt, and caramel flavors

M- High carbonation, medium-full bodied, a bit of a bready feel

O- I really enjoy this beer, a good mix of wheat beer and IPA, my favorite Magic Hat brew tried so far

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:41:37 | More by JG-90

Shaw

Florida

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle supplied by the brewery.

A hazy amber after swirling the final ounces in the bottle. A short sticky head.

Mild herbal hop aroma. Too mild.

The taste is better. It's sharp and bitter with light bread flavors of a wheat beer. Citrus hop flavors too.

It has the puffy body of a wheat beer.

Overall it's pretty good. After the disappointment of the light aroma, this beer makes it up in flavor and body.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 03:26:45 | More by Shaw

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

kind of a hybrid between english and american ipa styles in taste, but its a wheat ipa. it pours more like an amber, quite hazy though, with a little yellow glow, and a slowly fading white head. the nose is unique, lots of citrus hops, a little piney too, but with a bigger english caramel malt body, not sweet, but round and full. the flavor is the same, fresh bitter hops first, bready malts in the finish. a little of that grapefruit flavor carries through, as it still finishes crisp somehow, but this is more malt forward than most american india pales. the wheat i feel like isnt strong as a malt, but the yeast seems to be something more commonly found in a hefe than an ipa, which works great here. the feel is nice with that little bit fuller body, excellent carbonation, and a quick finish. this was my thanksgiving turkey smoking beer, and i had a fair few of them. expertly made this one. one of my favorite selections from the winter mix this season. id like to see more wheat ipas come around.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 22:16:11 | More by StonedTrippin

mckenziac

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. Taken from a Magic Hat "Winterland" seasonal variety pack.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, pale golden color. Has a large, foamy head that dissipates slowly and leaves some decent lacing.

Smell: Smells strongly of grapefruit hoppiness backed by some wheat and unfiltered yeast aromas.

Taste: Strong citrus hoppiness up front. Finishes wheaty and spicy with a nice hoppy aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated.

Overall: A well-made wheat IPA. I like the general idea of blending wheat beers with IPAs. Sam Adams does it slightly better with their Whitewater IPA, but Encore is close behind. Magic Hat's IPA series is pretty solid too and this is another worthy addition to that group.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 01:22:17 | More by mckenziac