Desert Magic IPA
Mudshark Brewing Co.

Desert Magic IPADesert Magic IPA
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From:
Mudshark Brewing Co.
 
Arizona, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #3,484
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
77
Ranked #27,117
Avg:
3.33 | pDev: 18.32%
Reviews:
33
Ratings:
106
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 20, 2022
Added:
Mar 01, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  24
f your not a hop head put this beer back. We use crisp deser t water, a strong malt profile and a double dose of dry hopping will make you a believer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LXIXME:
Photo of LXIXME
Reviewed by LXIXME from New Mexico

3.47/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
I've had this on several different occasions and this batch that I am now drinking (4-26-2016) is the best one I've got to try. Definitely a worthy cheap 6 pack with this taste. Dry tasting with light citrus fruits coming through.
Feb 08, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.36 by MJSFS from Florida

Nov 20, 2022
Photo of laketang
Reviewed by laketang from Arizona

3.61/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Bright straw clear with good retention.
Earthy notes. Not a lot of scents here.
Hop bitterness upfront. Grapefruit rind,
Citrus. Not a malt bomb as some report.
An old version of this certainly could tho.
More towards bitter than balanced.
I would buy another fresh single.
Apr 14, 2022
Photo of Sweedinistic
Reviewed by Sweedinistic from Arizona

2.79/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Not great, also not horrible. Poured from a can, purchased at Fry’s, with a date of, ahem (clears throat), 4/20/21 stamped on the bottom. Poured into pint glass. 1/4 inch or so bright white head that dissipated quickly and left an ultra light lacing. Nice, clear, golden to amber shade with adequate carbonation. Tastes breaddy and bitter without any clear hop flavor profile. Far too malty for a Hop Bomb, in my opinion. Everything about the flavor was indistinct and generic. I wouldn’t turn down a free one, but I wouldn’t buy it again.
Jul 24, 2021
Photo of Swadesternaz
Reviewed by Swadesternaz

4.93/5  rDev +48%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is one of my top 3 favorite beers of all time.They did go through an over and under carbonating issue in the past but seem to have gotten it under control.If I could figure out the hops used I would make it instead of having to buy it @ about $10 per six pack.But still a favorite.
Jan 20, 2020
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

3.64/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. can - Canned on 8/15/19:

Pours very slightly hazed golden. A thin head leaves some lacing.

The smell is mild - some grain, some spicy/floral/citric hop notes.

The taste is of sweet grain that leads to floral and citric (grapefruit) bitterness in the finish.

It is refreshing. Lighter bodied for the style, but not too too thin or watery. A pleasant bitterness lingers.

Inoffensive, a bit basic, but enjoyable and easy to drink. Nothing particularly special or unique but a nice "old school" American IPA.
Oct 03, 2019
Photo of entropysquared
Reviewed by entropysquared from Finland

2.09/5  rDev -37.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
I tend to agree with the dissenters, on this one.

I had one poured from the “draught.” Let’s see...bitter, without citrus or hop flavor justification. Perhaps I had a bad pour, from a stale keg...or something.
Apr 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.53 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Mar 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.31 by corywalston from North Dakota

Jan 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by rspauldi from Texas

Dec 20, 2018
Photo of D89f07
Reviewed by D89f07 from Arizona

1.25/5  rDev -62.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5
It might just be me, but when I buy a craft IPA I don’t expect it to taste like a malt beer I had in college. If anyone reading this has ever had Milwaukee’s best otherwise known as the beast , it’s the closest in taste to this as I can describe. That’s being said anyone who likes the malt liquor tast (Old English, Colt 45) but wants an IPA at the same time go for this.
I tried to be neutral but in all honesty this is the only beer in my life that I couldn’t finish, horrible taste and it isn’t even that strong.
Aug 14, 2018
Photo of dgoosed_2000
Reviewed by dgoosed_2000 from Arizona

4.41/5  rDev +32.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
pint glass crystal clear light amber tint frosty pale head pleasant notes of sweet pine and tinge of citrus clean crisp mouthfeel high Carbonation and heavy malt backbone well balanced my overall impression is a solid go to IPA easy to drink
Feb 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Jan 23, 2018
Photo of REBROKER
Reviewed by REBROKER from Arizona

4.75/5  rDev +42.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours semi-clear with a deep yellow color. features a rich white frothy head. Fresh grapefruit aroma. Drinks with a tart and invigorating hop bitterness. Finishes with the grapefruit presence but with an unpresumptuous balance. No real note of bread or cereal.
7.2 ABV
Sep 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.13 by Sayb from Arizona

Apr 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4.18 by JALANCon from Arizona

Aug 03, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.41/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dark yellow color, 1/2" white head, smells barely like hops, old school c hops with those grapefruit notes.

Taste was lightly toasted malt, minimal caramel, some varied hop flavors of the usual descriptors, gave more than just bitterness. Paired well with food.
Mar 22, 2016
Photo of RyanK252
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California

3.17/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Bottle poured into a BarrelHouse Brewing Co pint glass

A: Pours golden amber with a frothy light tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves some nice lacing.

S: Citrus, candied orange, floral, bready malt, and honey sweetness.

T: Floral, lemon, orange, a little spice, a bit grassy, maybe even a little fruity, with some bready malt and honey sweetness. The finish has a fairly rough bitterness and a little alcohol that comes out.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.

O: I grabbed a single bottle on a trip through Arizona. No bottling date to be found which always makes me nervous. Given the other reviews I can't imagine the bottle I got displays anything too out of the norm. I'd be willing to give it a second chance under more controlled circumstances, but for now I'm not a fan.
Mar 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by ssimpson89 from Illinois

Mar 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.31 by Azz from Illinois

Dec 06, 2015
Desert Magic IPA from Mudshark Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 106 ratings