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.

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6.2/10 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

5.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
From backlog. 355ml bottle @ SUSHISAMBA, Las Vegas. Smooth, easy going and slightly stuffy yeasty hefeweizen with hints of spices and banana. Decent.
Tried from Bottle on 02 Dec 2018 at 07:00

4.9/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 4.5
Pours cloudy golden with a thick white head. Aroma of hops. Tastes like a wheat ale with some mild hop notes on the back of the tongue. Palate is devoid of anything but slight cereal and hop smatterings. Plain, well crafted.
Tried on 30 Nov 2018 at 02:30

4.2/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 4 Flavor 6 Texture 2 Overall 4
Pours clear golden with a fluffy white head. Harsh bread aroma. Taste is similar to that of a pilsener, very sweet aftertaste. Low hop and malt profile, Palate unremarkable. Very drinkable.
Tried on 30 Nov 2018 at 01:00

5.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 4 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
Pours cloudy golden with a thick white head. Aroma of yeast and bread. Taste has earthy notes as well as a sweet honey aftertaste. Palate includes spices and carbonation. Good ale.
Tried on 29 Nov 2018 at 23:43

6/10
0,5 litre Can from Total Wine and Spirits, Las Vegas, Nv. Golden/ orange with white head. Malts, hops,Caramel, bitterness.
Tried from Can on 27 Nov 2018 at 06:53

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
From a 16 oz. can. Pours a clear gold with an off white head. Aromas are of tropical fruit and hay. Flavors are bitter citrus peel with some malt sweetness. Lingering bitter finish.
Tried from Can on 08 Nov 2018 at 00:14

7.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Can shared at Columbus tasting 27/09/2018. Many thanks! A mostly clear bright orange coloured pour with a lasting halo of beige head. Aroma is orange rind, pine, petrol, toffee. Flavour is composed of semi sweet, sticky pine, big firm hop bitterness, woody pine. Seriously old school, . Agressively bitter. Paalte sisemi sweet sticky, moderate carboantion.
Tried from Can on 02 Oct 2018 at 21:00

6.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
Can split at L6, thanks to Leighton, 27/09/18. Hazed golden orange with a well presented off white head. Nose is bitter orange, caramel malts, grass, bitter tropical fruits. Taste comprises grassy bite, pine dusting, raw tropicana, toasted malts, orangepeel. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with earthy hop bitterness. So so old skool affair.
Tried from Can on 01 Oct 2018 at 16:28

7/10
Tried on 27 Sep 2018 at 19:23