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.
From mu brother: pours hazy orange with a white head. Aroma is resiny, some citrus, hints of pine. Definitely on the bitter side but it maintains a drinkability.
Bottle pour into nonic pint glass from Fresh Market, Bedford. Appearance is clear, dark reddish brown with no sparkle, 1/2-finger width foamy beige head with poor retention and trace lacing. Aroma is roasted malt, up to the edge of being burnt, molasses. Taste is relatively muted ashy/roasted malt with molasses and bitter ending. Palate is light-to-medium bodied with watery texture, soft-to-average carbonation and bittersweet roasted malty finish. Overall, showed some early promise but ended up being an underwhelming offering that I am finding all to prevalent from this brewer.
Bottle for 4th of July scrapping together whatever ticks were available at local price chopper. Yellow pour. Faint floral and herbal nose. Tastes herbal, floral, yeast faint citrus. Not much here but fine for lake viewing
Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a hazy bright golden color with a huge foamy yellow-white head that lingered and left decent lacing. The aroma was yeasty and citric with bubblegum and black pepper. The flavor was bitterish and dry with mustiness and bubblegum. Long finish. Medium body. Ok.
Bottle. Corn, barley malt, and grass/hay aroma. Medium yellow with giant white head. Mildly sweet corn/vegetal, barley malt, and moderately bitter quinine/hay flavor. Weak body. Wow - this is City Brewery worthy at 2-3 times the cost.
Gold, gefiltert, schöne Perligkeit, ordentlicher Schaum. In der Nase ungewöhnlich würzig, keine Ahnung was genau ich da rieche. Im Trunk limonadig, Erdbeeren, mittig Malz, fruchtig, hinten bitter. Nicht schlecht - sehr unkonventionell.
Pitch black pour with a thick mocha head and great retention. Spotty lacing. Charred malts and light hops flavors. More dark than hops. A good mix of styles. Best black IPA I’ve had.