Sharp hop fizz deepens corn syrupy honeyed oats sweetness and husked wheat dryness. Glutinous wheat mouthfeel confirms thick malting. Robust considering lager status. Perfect early evening prelude.
All posts by John Fortunato
MAHOU CINCO ESTRELLAS LAGER
Sharp musty-scented pale-bodied artesian lager retains crisp barley-hopped sweetness, grassy bottom, and watery simplicity, but generic soapy finish lowers rating to half of its Spanish ‘Five Star’ moniker.
MAHARAJA LAGER
Fine smoked beer with perky hop-spiced fizz increasing burnt wood overtones and ashen-grained pale malts. Lighter and less dynamic than the nearly perfect Rogue Smoke Au Rauch, therefore less worthy.
MAGIC HAT THUMBSUCKER VERMONT IMPERIAL STOUT
Spectacular cedar-barreled bottle-conditioned ‘epic elixir’ with ebony hue and swirled sienna head conveys convincing alcohol-fueled Wild Turkey whiskey entry for bourbon-sherry-port theme thickened by stewed prune perpetuity, sour raisin-fig sequence and maraschino cherry serenade. Creamy chocolate syrup richness conjoins medicinal warmth countering dry vinous oaken vanilla finish, preserving initial dewy dried fruiting.
MAGIC HAT SINGLE CHAIR ALE
Aromatic grapefruit-peeled green apple mildness coerces dry floral-hopped citric souring of softly flowed diacetyl-ridden pale body. Tart lemon, apricot, blood orange and white grape illusions secure ginger-snapped wheat-backed tether, pine needle residue, and earthen fresh cut grass remnant.
MAGIC HAT SAINT GOOTZ
On tap, mildly medicinal, murkily clouded, unfiltered dark wheat ale brings bittersweet prune-fig propensity to tropical citric rush, faint banana-clove souring, and cocoa-hazelnut dash. Woody cherry-smoked dryness and charred tobacco hint add further eccentricities. In bottle, depleting ashy coarseness saps fruity subtleties.
MAGIC HAT ROXY ROLLES
Enormously piney-hopped coppery amber ale needs floral red-orange-fruited nosing to be more pronounced in the mouth since modest flavor profile lowers overall appeal. Taunting toasted rye base picks up astringent buttery pecan nuance to resinous black molasses finish. Distant cannabis, pekoe tea, and peanut oil hints detected.
MAGIC HAT RAVELL
Resilient sienna maroon-hued ruby-highlighted vanilla porter brings Tootsie Roll-like milk chocolate sweetness to sour burnt coffee froth. Bourbon and port notes surface, complementing tart red grape, black cherry, fig, and hazelnut undertones. Espresso finish deepens inspiring vanilla latte resolve, creamy lactose urging, and teensy cinnamon swirl. A sheer joy.
MAGIC HAT PARTICIPATION BROWN ALE
Got free glass with this creamy burgundy-port-like suffrage tributary featuring mahogany-marooned hue rising above ravishing ruby-garnet sash. Dried fig, raisin, date and bruised black cherry linger atop vanilla-chocolate souring, infiltrating earthen peat bottom and impending tobacco chew, hazelnut and walnut mirage, finishing with molasses-like Scotch malt twist.
MAGIC HAT ODD NOTION HONEY ALE
Enigmatic winter-seasoned braggot-mead combination pairs enticing honeyed heather-jasmine sweetness with less expressive orange-peeled peach-tangerine tang. Temporal herbal-spiced chamomile tea bitterness and withered grassy bark-twig dryness counter maple-sapped malted wheat spine. Off-putting vegetal acridity and dank metallic sear nearly ruin lemony white wine bid.
MAGIC HAT ‘9’ NOT QUITE PALE ALE
Swanky Sangria fruitiness awakens nose as up-front sweet-tart raspberry essence and cereal-grained cherry-apricot follow-through given easygoing orange rind bittering to dry-hopped wheat spine. Creamy caramel malt sweetness and juicy berry illusions join forces for perfect summer brew or light dessert fodder. On tap, floral peach distinction ups it another notch.
MAGIC HAT MOTHER LAGER
Musty-scented russet-cleared lager pits sour malt pungency, musty tangerine tang, bitter lemon rind niche and peppery herbal spicing against modest grassy hop dryness. Second passing finds cracked wheat and honeyed oats advancing.