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.
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.
4.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
Tap at Thirsty Moose, Portsmouth. Color is clear golden with small white head. Aromas and flavors: Fruits, berries, sweetness and malts.
Tried
from Draft
on 05 Feb 2018
at 20:42
5.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 4.5
Bottle: Light hazed, light yellow, with a small white head. Aroma is unusual.....a sort of wheat/butterscotch/lemon biscuit-thing.....I guess. Taste is pretty plain...wheat malt, lemon.... Moderately enjoyable, but forgettable.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jan 2018
at 16:56
5.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle: Clear gold with a short white head. Wheat, lemon/banana aroma. Taste is a bit watery......semi-sweet wheat malt. Very plain, with a grainy/mineral bitter.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Dec 2017
at 17:34
6.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle. Lemon, sour milk, clove, wheat malt, and hay aroma. Slightly hazy golden yellow with large white head. Okay body. Decent for a US weizen.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Dec 2017
at 19:40
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Citrusy and grassy, generally balanced, but minimal bitterness. Semi-dry finish.
Tried
on 01 Dec 2017
at 09:05
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
bottle - Reddish orange pour. Aroma of caramel malt, citrus, and resinous hops. Moderately bitter. Medium bodied. Decent overall though it doesn't stand out.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Nov 2017
at 11:09
4.9/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle. Pours like nice lager with a good head. Head stays around awhile. Good bubbly sensations greet the palate. A little bitter, like an apa, but then tits true premium lager feel starts to come thru. Mellows out in the end but there is almost a sharp pilsner hop thing happening as teh session comes to a conclusion. Yes, something between a sharper apa and pilsner. Fihishes much stronger than the 4.8 listed here. Good craft brew.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Nov 2017
at 15:02
3/10
0,3 litre Bottle from Total Wine Henderson. Cloudy orange with huge white head. Something wrong with The carbonation? Malty aroma and taste.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Nov 2017
at 01:55
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
12oz bottle picked up at the state store
Pours dark brown with a small beige head, light lacing. Aroma of dark roast malts and chocolate powder. Flavor of roasted malts, coffee, caramel, ashy and chocolate, leather
Ok
Pours dark brown with a small beige head, light lacing. Aroma of dark roast malts and chocolate powder. Flavor of roasted malts, coffee, caramel, ashy and chocolate, leather
Ok
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Nov 2017
at 22:20
4.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 2
Texture 6
Overall 5
From May 2007
Compliments of jwc215. Thanks, Joe!
This pours from 12oz bottle a clear bubbly amber with a good head of foam that remains for the entire session and it has good lacing.
The smell is *very* fruity and has some floral notes.
The taste is very fruity up front...mainly pear; then it gets a bit earthy and has some hop spice come into play and finishes on the bitter/dry side. Interesting flavours but they don't work together
all that well for me and I'm having a tough time finishing my glass but...I'll manage. I'm still glad I got to try it.
Compliments of jwc215. Thanks, Joe!
This pours from 12oz bottle a clear bubbly amber with a good head of foam that remains for the entire session and it has good lacing.
The smell is *very* fruity and has some floral notes.
The taste is very fruity up front...mainly pear; then it gets a bit earthy and has some hop spice come into play and finishes on the bitter/dry side. Interesting flavours but they don't work together
all that well for me and I'm having a tough time finishing my glass but...I'll manage. I'm still glad I got to try it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Oct 2017
at 10:14