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
+1(802) 923-1421
consumeraffairs@nabreweries.com
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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Maverick

5.2
Maverick (5091) reviewed #9 from Magic Hat Brewing Company 10 months ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

A bit too much of the fruit aroma for me that throws the whole thing off. I never really got this beer.

Tried on 20 May 2025 at 00:51

Maverick

4.8
Maverick (5091) reviewed Circus Boy from Magic Hat Brewing Company 10 months ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4

yeah - well I don’t care what they call it but something tasted off about this, I don’t know if it was the tap or what.

Tried from Draft on 20 May 2025 at 00:48

jerseyislandbeer

6.8
jerseyislandbeer (5992) reviewed Circus Boy from Magic Hat Brewing Company 11 months ago
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Old rating from 2010 - Pours golden with a white foamy head. Aromas & tastes of banana, lemon, pear, apple, cracker, hints of spice & wheat malt. Medium body. Dry clean moderate bitter finish

Tried from Bottle on 21 Apr 2025 at 10:39

tnkw01

7.4
tnkw01 (4092) reviewed Roxy Rolles from Magic Hat Brewing Company 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. I didn’t really notice the malts like some others noticed but I really tasted the hops. It was really a citrus, floral pleasant type of hoppy taste. I enjoyed this beer very much and problably will drink it again. Somehow, it tasted different from most of the amber ales I have had in my days. Recommeded.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2025 at 05:16

tnkw01

5.4
tnkw01 (4092) reviewed Wacko from Magic Hat Brewing Company 1 year ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

Ok, I can see why this is called Wacko. It really is a weird beer. Since I work in the food industry I know beet extract is a dye and not a flavor and beet sugar is just like cane sugar so, this is not suppse to have beet flavor (thank God). To be honest it taste like Miller High Life. So I’m probably being very generous with my score but I love the color.

Tried from Can on 24 Mar 2025 at 05:16

tnkw01

7.1
tnkw01 (4092) reviewed Lucky Kat from Magic Hat Brewing Company 1 year ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. Actually a nice tasting IPA. Nice hoppy flavor balanced with malt. Recommended.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2025 at 05:16

tnkw01

6
tnkw01 (4092) reviewed #9 from Magic Hat Brewing Company 1 year ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Bottle. This was a good beer. Smelled of bread like malt and fruit. Taste was of apricots, with a good malt-hop balance. A good quenching beer.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2025 at 05:15

tnkw01

5.2
tnkw01 (4092) reviewed Vinyl from Magic Hat Brewing Company 1 year ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Bottle. Just an average beer. Has a nice amber color but everything else about this beer is so average.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2025 at 05:13

tnkw01

7.6
tnkw01 (4092) reviewed Howl from Magic Hat Brewing Company 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. Aroma, coffee, chocolate, burnt toast. Appearance, dark color. almost black. Taste, strong coffee. Really good. I enoyed it.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2025 at 05:11

tnkw01

7
tnkw01 (4092) reviewed Humble Patience from Magic Hat Brewing Company 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle. Great beer. Deep amberish-cooper color. Nice head. Great floral, malt and hay aroma. Good flavor that was extremely well balanced.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Mar 2025 at 05:10

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