Chaotic Chemistry
Magic Hat Brewing Company

Chaotic ChemistryChaotic Chemistry
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From:
Magic Hat Brewing Company
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
9.9%
Score:
89
Avg:
4 | pDev: 12.5%
Reviews:
73
Ratings:
84
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 28, 2014
Added:
Dec 29, 2002
Wants:
  41
Gots:
  3
Infused with the copper glow of more than 1,000 setting suns. This exceptional offering had infinite body ... a big, sweet malty tumult followed by a long, balanced, hop symphony.

50 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BlissJunkie from Michigan

Jul 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by cnwillis31 from Vermont

Apr 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Jan 23, 2013
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

2.88/5  rDev -28%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
750ml bottle of Batch 2, poured into a 25cl Duvel tulip. Really glad I finally got to try this after hearing Hopstoopid120 and Knifestyles go on and on about it for so long. Too bad this bottle as a dud.

A: Hazy deep amber body under a wispy off-white head. Ok.

S: Old, over-aged, and disappointing. Toffee, plastic, must, and boringness.

T: Follows the nose. Toffee, caramel, must, and cracker. At least the plastic doesn't come through.

M: A little thin, a little watery. Not great.

O: This one didn't hold up at all. Pity.

Cheers!
Jan 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by beerpadawan from California

Aug 27, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by rangr514 from New Jersey

Aug 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by GuidedByBill from Massachusetts

May 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 18, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Turbodog666 from Connecticut

Jan 10, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 26, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by waiting4lunch from Massachusetts

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
reviewed from notes, bottle sent by bill that I aged gracefully for over a year and poured into a snifter.

dark brown color with some light highlights of orange and red around the edges. Small off white head rises up and settles quickly with only minimal lacing and a bare top is left after only a few minutes. Aroma is rich, caramel, toffee, light hops and hints of oak all coming through fairly easily. Nice balance here but not getting that overwhelming barrel aged aroma I was hoping for. Warming does not do much now either as it just seems to bring in more of the hop and hints of boozy alcohol. Light carbonation masks the medium body and leaves the flavor to work its magic now. Smooth, even malts are stealing the show. Rich caramel and earthy tones round out a lightly hot flavor. Almost a popcorn like flavor coming through for me mid palate, buttery and creamy with a boozy finish
Jul 09, 2011
Photo of Kshock
Reviewed by Kshock from California

4.14/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Awesome deep red/ brown color. no carb at all, completely flat.

S- Great aroma of caramel sweetness and bourbon.

T- Super sweet up front but subsides quickly. Great finish on the palate. Lots of bourbon qualities to it, but not nearly as hot as the nose leads on.

M- Light bodied, with a little syrupy quality but not in a bad way, gives it some body to it.

O- Really good beer, lucky to try it. this beer was brewed the year i was in my sophomore year of high school and released the year i graduated (2004). Im now 25 and drinking this. kickass!
Jun 17, 2011
Photo of far333
Reviewed by far333 from Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Batch 1
Bottle 385
Bottled 11/12/02
Aged 36 months in bourbon casks
Bottle conditioned

Purchased at the brewery many years ago from the inaugural batch. Approached this with some trepidation as I've never aged anything this long. Cork is in great shape, pronounced pop as the cork releases, and a wisp of steam rises up.

Golden orange, brassy color with a firm head of orangey-beige foam that settles out to soapy bubbles. Low aroma of citrus and honey.

Flavors of honey and orange rind, boozey bourbon/brandy notes, some Grand Marnier mixed with vanilla and woody flavors, some low mint and grassy nuances. More like a sipping liqueur than a beer.

Low carbonation, slightly watery mouthfeel, but finishes tannic. Slight warming feeling and vapors rising up the back of the nose. Interesting beer, not high drinkability because it's really a sipper and not for everyday, but a nice after dinner drink with friends.
Mar 07, 2011
Photo of JohnGalt1
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho

3.79/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Ditmier I think has been saving this one for a while... Thanks Eric!! Never thought I would get a chance to try this one... especially an old bottle.

This is the cool shaped bottle.... bottled on 11/1/04... Bottle #386.

Pours with a thin white head atop a hazed brown.. not much in the way of retention or lacing.

Nose shows pretty strong woody components melded with a fair amount of bourbon and a little caramel... a bit of sherry shows its age, but it isn't too distracting.

mouthfeel seems a tad thin given the bigger body and the EBW category.. again, some caramel and lite toffee combine with the bourbon vanilla notes and a bit of background lite cherry essence... plenty of wood (maybe too much) ... a little oxidation seems appropriate, but gains with room temperature. I personally think this bottle was on the downslope, but Sam and Eric seemed to really like it... and I am damn appreciative for the opportunity to try it... Thanks again Eric!!

3/4/4/3.5/3.5
Nov 02, 2010
Photo of McKibben25
Reviewed by McKibben25 from Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
For such a high ABV brew, I think they have done a great job. I really enjoyed the strong smell of whiskey in the beer. The color was rich and full. Like a nice coffee. It wasn't terribly heavy or filling to drink. It was actually rather light. Kind of like a strong dark Belgian ale. The carbonation and head were what I expected from a barley wine. It was a little hard to drink. The alcohol taste was definitely prominent and could have been masked a little better. But overall a good beer that I hope they brew again.
Mar 01, 2010
Photo of BigMcLargeHuge
Reviewed by BigMcLargeHuge from Arizona

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Batch#3, bottled in 2004, bottle #884. Pours amber with tiny tan head. The aroma is rich barrel notes of bourbon, vanilla and smooth even oak. I also get a thin layer of caramel in the background. The taste is sweet up front with sweet bourbon, vanilla and cameral to start. By midway smooth oak notes enhance the other flavors. Into the finish some dark fruity esters are noticed along with persistent vanilla, caramel, bourbon and smooth oak running deep into the after taste. This beer is a bit out of balance with the barrel notes smothering the beer. It could easily age much longer too. Good stuff.
Oct 07, 2009
Photo of tpd975
Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

4.37/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
2004 bottle brought by the Barleywine king ibrew2or3!

A: Pours a beautiful amber hue with a very small whispy head. No retention or lace.

S: Beautiful aroma. Tons of wood, real vanilla bean, dark fruit, brown sugar, and booze. The aromas are so bold but are really married to one another. Don't know how this is fresh, but when laid down for years it is a REAL gem.

T: Shit its good. To call this complex is an understatement. Tons of barrel goodness. Mild oak with nice french vanilla. A nice roasted sweet malt component hangs around with notes of brown sugar and gooey toffee. Molasses soaked Dark fruit notes dance in your mouth, and in the finish despite the age there is still a nice dose of quality bourbon.

M: Full in body, Rich, Bold, Smooth.

D: One that is a joy to sip. No doubt the best beer I have ever seen Magic Hat produce. That being said this Vintage will hold its own against most any Barleywine.
Jun 04, 2009
Photo of shanem
Reviewed by shanem from Vermont

3.27/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
A: dark amber with no head really at all

S: All hot bourbon heat. Rich alcohol sting with small bits of oak

T: sweet malty flavor with a touch of the oak and maybe some vanilla in the distance but all quickly consumed by very strong bourbon flavor

M: Medium bodied with a slight lingering sweet flavor and more alcohol

D: I've tried this many times, really wanting to enjoy it, but it just seems to alcohol rich even for a barleywine to me. an interesting brew, worth a check, but not really the greatest thing they do
Apr 03, 2009
Chaotic Chemistry from Magic Hat Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 84 ratings