Magic Hat Brewing Company

Client Brewer in Rochester, New York, United States 🇺🇸
Owned by FIFCO USA
Associated Venue: Magic Hat Brewing Company - Out of business

Established in 1993

Closed in 2025

Contact
445 St Paul St, Rochester, NY, 14605, United States
Description
The idea of Magic Hat began where so many good ideas before it began: in a bathtub. This bathtub, located on Vermont’s Goddard College campus and devoid of a plaque of recognition, is where Bob Johnson brewed his first batch of beer. After years of honing his craft, Bob was finally ready for the big time. Soon after he realized his readiness, he re-met Alan Newman, a serial entrepreneur with whom Bob had worked in a past life. Bob told Alan of his plans and before a handshake could take place, the two were jet-setting to the West Coast for research.

Upon their return to Burlington, Bob and Alan began their search for a space to call their own. That search landed them in an abandoned factory on Flynn Avenue in Burlington’s South End, where Bob would finally brew Bob’s First, Magic Hat’s debut ale and, soon after, the first batches of #9, Fat Angel and Blind Faith.

Admin Note: In July 2020, Magic Hat sold their production facility and broke ties with the state of Vermont. All beers are brewed at the FIFCO owned Genesee Brewing facility in Rochester, NY.

     Show


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Can from mix pack from Food Loin. Pours non-drankin' pee yellow with a frothy off-white head. Aroma is citrus peel, cigarette ash. Flavor is sweet orange, bread crust, Flintstones vitamins, green grass. Turns out to be not overly sweet, but these initial flavors (and aftertaste of the FV) are obvious. Long, lingering finish... still happening throughout this review... hint of honey in the extreme back end.

Tried from Can on 22 Mar 2019 at 00:30


6.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Can from mix pack from Food Loin. Pours murky golden-orange with a soft off-white head. Aroma is lightly juicy orange, grapefruit peel; not in-your-face, somewhat subtle. Flavor is juicy orange, grapefruit rind, light bread crust, hint of tropical fruit. Lacking a punch of flavor (expected). Finishes bitter.

Tried from Can on 20 Mar 2019 at 22:59


4.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 4

Pours dark brown with a thin creme head. Aroma of toasted malt, butter herbs. Taste is watery and relatively plain. Palate has a nutty note on the nose, slight smokey element on the tongue. Not bad.

Tried on 19 Mar 2019 at 00:30


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

bottle oro carico quasi ambrata quasi limoido discreta schiuma buona nota maltata amaro medio poco fragrante probabilnente non freschissima

Tried from Bottle on 14 Mar 2019 at 23:55


5.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

Sampled on draft this beer poured a red-brown color with a medium sized creamy beige head that left decent lacing. The aroma was dark fruit, caramel and malt. The flavor was woody and malty with sharp dark fruits a bit of astringency and a touch of leather. Long finish. Medium body.

Tried from Draft on 10 Mar 2019 at 02:18


4

Ew. Malty stuff.

Tried from Can on 23 Feb 2019 at 21:38


4.4
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5

Pours hazy amber with a thick white head. Aroma of tropical fruits. Taste is hoppy, slightly resinous. Palate includes an oak element on the nose, continued tropical fruits emanating from the hop backbone. Not bad.

Tried on 10 Feb 2019 at 02:00


7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 8

Pours hazy amber with a thin white head. Aroma of grape must and hops. Taste is delicate, floral and lightly hopped on the tongue. The palate has a delightful grapefruit presence on the nose. Really good IPA.

Tried on 08 Feb 2019 at 02:53


5.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Pours hazy amber with a thin white head. Aroma of tropical fruit and grapefruit flesh. Taste is elegantly hopped, slight earthy notes are dominated by the zingers of lemon and citrus. The palate is characterized by a lingering citrus mouthfeel and slight hop notes that are present on the nose. Not bad.

Tried on 07 Feb 2019 at 23:03


6.2
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

From a 12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear gold with an off white head. Aroma of pine. Flavors are bitter and grassy.

Tried from Bottle on 19 Dec 2018 at 14:41