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

This looks like your average American Pilsner. Golden color, whte puffy head. Slight hop aroma. The flavor is slightly sweet with just a touch of hops. Light almost watery body. Nothing really great here.

Tried from Can on 15 Sep 2004 at 18:16


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

This is on tap all over NY all of a sudden, and now, reading the description, I know why - a pretty standard brown - nothing stand out about it, but all the elements are there in all the right places - that "magic hat taste" that tends to ruin some of their beers works well here - not quite robust enough, but quite drinkable.

Tried from Draft on 12 Sep 2004 at 12:42


7.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottled. Reddish amber, small head. Concentrated juicy orangey hop aroma. Dryish and malty with fairly soft butr clean mouthfeel. Very salty finish with notes of licorice, but not overly bitter.

Tried from Bottle on 25 Aug 2004 at 14:30


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottled. Reddish black, average head. Roasty, peaty aroma. Salty and woody with some chocolate and verlvetty, yet clean mouthfeel. Dry, woody finish with medium bitterness. Well balanced.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Aug 2004 at 16:20


7.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Black clear porter with a thick moka head. Nice coffee aroma and somewaht fruity. Vanilla and coffee taste, with some vinous qualities. Lighter bodied but still very satisfying.

Tried on 18 Aug 2004 at 09:05


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

[draught] Anyone that has tried a number of Magic Hat beers is all too familiar with that "Magic Hat taste" - I’m not quite sure what it is (maybe it’s hemp or some crap), but it’s there, and sometimes it works, and other times it doesn’t - well this beer tastes like nothing BUT that "Magic Hat taste" - I can’t understand it, there are no other flavors detectable, besides a moderate amount of hops - it really is the damnedest thing.

Tried from Can on 09 Aug 2004 at 16:43


6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Slightly hazy golden orange color, small head. Aroma is sharp of apricot, some yeast and hops. Taste is bit sweet, but mostly bitter and also quite yeasty. Palate is not sticky, but more bitter. --- Beer merged from original tick of Magic Hat #9 on 07 Sep 2012 at 15:57 - Score: 6. Original review text: Fruity of plums. Interesting

Tried on 16 Jul 2004 at 13:25


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

GA 14% gathering. The pour produced a clear yellow beer that supported an average sized white head. The aroma was an even balance of light hops and malt. The flavor was balanced as well, but lacked the degree of assertiveness that I like in an IPA. Clean light bitterness towards the finish. I’ve got another one to try at a later time, but I was a little disappointed in this one as the Blind Faith IPA they brew is a winner.

Tried on 12 Jul 2004 at 17:25


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

If only this beer tasted as well as it smelled. Thge aroma is very fruity making one think they will enjoy a nice american fruit beer. Sadly it just tastes like a "not-quite pale ale." It is like a retarded pale ale, one that has all the characterisitics without actually reaching them.

Tried from Can on 30 Jun 2004 at 12:55


6.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Typical wheat beer hazy yellow with a big head. Hops with malt in the background in the aroma. Sweet start and finishes with a nice wheat tang.

Tried on 17 May 2004 at 17:17