Embittered citric frontage perfectly counters piney hop blackening as floral illusions and ambrosial nuances paint honeyed caramel corners. Lemon-peeled orange-dried mango sweetness caresses aromatic evergreen permeation to mineral water base. ’09s hazier version featured Grateful Dead-styled label artwork and brisker hop intrigue. ’11s updated summer offering retained refreshingly juicy grapefruit rind bittering and brighter stone fruiting, besting previous efforts.
MAGIC HAT HEART OF DARKNESS STOUT
Weak tawny-headed, garnet-hued, resin-hopped faux-oatmeal stout with dry-roasted coffee bitterness, chalky mocha desolation, faraway metallic nuttiness, and breezy raspberry wisp stays a bit too fizzy. Lack of firm chocolate creaminess and toasted grain depth truly hurt its slim chance.
MAGIC HAT FEAST OF FOOLS HOLIDAY STOUT
Jet black-hued reddish meringue-headed stout retains up-front maraschino cherry and Black Forest cake illusions, settling to frothy espresso-coffee finish. Dry prune deepness tucked beneath tart raspberry-blackberry-grape confluence receives minor tar-charcoal-molasses recess, retaining citric acidity of brewers’ fruitier fare.
MAGIC HAT FAT ANGEL ALE
Perky bubbles rise to top of ester-fruited ‘paler shade of ale’ marketed towards aged-in-the-wool hippies. Candied sour apple resonation fades to spice-hopped floral-dashed coriander-seasoned apricot-orange elegance aloft sweet butterscotch-tingled barleymalt bed.
MAGIC HAT CIRCUS BOY HEFEWEIZEN
Unfiltered golden-clouded pearly-headed summer wheat offers rigid sour lemon tartness affecting edible floral waft and raw honeyed penetration. Juniper embitters peppery hop trod and earthen piney trail subsuming wispy banana flirt.
MAGIC HAT BRAGGOT ALE
Honey-soaked Mardi Gras-themed light-bodied curiosity pits up-front ginger-mint-eucalyptus herbs against currant-dried orange-cherry-berry medley and floral jasmine waft. At second passing, noticeable tealeaf influence soaks through maple warmth.
MAGIC HAT BOB’S 1ST ALE
MAGIC HAT BLIND FAITH INDIA PALE ALE
Dusky resinous floral waft, lingering piney hop bitterness, dulled lemon limed candy sweetness, and bland grapefruit mouthfeel receive creamy caramel roasting. But wavered ruddy copper-hazed medium body ultimately lacks distinction, firm character, and stylistic bite. On second passing, soured citric dryness regales hop- charred wood-sharp bittering, gaining pink grapefruit tang to cracker-like Pacman yeast bottom.
MAGIC HAT BLACK LAGER SCHWARZBIER
Dry roasted hop char, burnt barleymalt brusqueness, and walnut-hazelnut coarseness befit deep brown German-styled lager. Hefty raisin-pecan-fig penetration sweetens earthen tobacco core and cherry jubilee tinge before anise-laced port finish beckons.
MAES PILS
Fair pale-toned bubbly-headed German-styled Belgian pilsner with unassuming corn-soured aroma, dry metallic mouthfeel and buttered biscuit cereal graining. Subtle lemon-laced mist provide easy drinkin’ flow for weak, metallic light-bodied Belgian. Insufficiently thin malt backbone strictly for lightweights.
(MAD RIVER) STEELHEAD SCOTCH PORTER
Truly complex tawny-hued maroon-highlighted lactic porter (with lovely cascading tan bubbles surfacing on initial pour) plies luxuriant whiskey nose to sweet maple-powdered cocoa linger. Responsive chocolate-hazelnut affluence stormed by peat moss, tobacco leaf, fig, and date as adjacent cherry-raisin illusion builds. Then, charred pine, black tar, and charcoal bluntness thickens bitterly off dry finish.
MAD RIVER STEELHEAD DOUBLE INDIA PALE ALE
Honeyed citrus nose rivals grapefruit-peeled peach-pear-apple fruiting before creamy toffee-butterscotch midst encounters dry spice-hopped bittering. Murkily saffron medium body never lets loud 8.6% alcohol burn impair flavor, but surprisingly mild bitterness may preclude ‘double’ IPA grandeur.