Santa's Magic
Mickey Finn's Brewery
- From:
- Mickey Finn's Brewery
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
Ranked #75 - ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #17,854 - Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 7.27%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 14, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 30, 2008
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Jimdiet from Wisconsin
4.35/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
4.35/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Mickey Finns is Illinois’ oldest brewery and this is by far, their best selling beer. The ABV is mislabeled above at 7.2% when it is really 8.2%. I have had it on tap, in growlers and in cans. Love them all. Though definitely not a session beer, drink several of these and no matter how old you are, you WILL believe in Santa. I guess that’s the magic.
Jan 14, 2024
Rated by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tasted from growler on December 20, 2014
Dec 20, 2014
Reviewed by maxcoinage from Illinois
3.86/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
(copied from RateBeer app, had on 11/29/13)
Appearance - draft at bar into snifter, 2 in white head settled down quickly, beer is light gold
Aroma - a bit weak , hints of caramel, toffee, bread
Taste - fruity Belgian yeast, sweet malt, a hint of honey
Mouthfeel - medium carb, creamy, medium body
Overall - great Belgian warms ya up on a cold night
Nov 30, 2013Appearance - draft at bar into snifter, 2 in white head settled down quickly, beer is light gold
Aroma - a bit weak , hints of caramel, toffee, bread
Taste - fruity Belgian yeast, sweet malt, a hint of honey
Mouthfeel - medium carb, creamy, medium body
Overall - great Belgian warms ya up on a cold night
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois
3.49/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Served in a snifter at the brewpub.
Mike talked this guy up, so I had to grab a pint. It pours a clear golden straw topped by a couple fingers of white froth. The nose comprises wheat, rye bread, rice husks, light egg yolk, light nutmeg, and clove. Something seems amiss here. The taste rebounds a bit, holding notes of cinnamon, banana, clove, pepper, sourdough, cardamom, and a light bit o' lemon. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a scratchy feel (though I'm not sure I know what I meant by that anymore...I guess I just trust myself too much...). Overall, pretty good brew, but I don't think I can agree with the others that raved about it. It's not all that bad, but falls short of any real greatness.
Dec 17, 2010Mike talked this guy up, so I had to grab a pint. It pours a clear golden straw topped by a couple fingers of white froth. The nose comprises wheat, rye bread, rice husks, light egg yolk, light nutmeg, and clove. Something seems amiss here. The taste rebounds a bit, holding notes of cinnamon, banana, clove, pepper, sourdough, cardamom, and a light bit o' lemon. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a scratchy feel (though I'm not sure I know what I meant by that anymore...I guess I just trust myself too much...). Overall, pretty good brew, but I don't think I can agree with the others that raved about it. It's not all that bad, but falls short of any real greatness.
Reviewed by Vdubb86 from Illinois
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served in a snifter on tap at Mickey Finn's
Now that it is the day after Thanksgiving, Santa's Magic gets released! This beer is a nice golden amber color when served, not much head to it, but as strong pales go, it's not that unappealing. The smell was of lemon, caramel and clove. The taste was rather similar, but more pronounced on the caramel and clove. The belgian flavors come through more on the palate than through the nose. This is rather nice on the palate as well, it's not astringent in the slightest. It's highly drinkable and I recommend it above all else at the brewpub if you go during the holiday season.
Nov 27, 2010Now that it is the day after Thanksgiving, Santa's Magic gets released! This beer is a nice golden amber color when served, not much head to it, but as strong pales go, it's not that unappealing. The smell was of lemon, caramel and clove. The taste was rather similar, but more pronounced on the caramel and clove. The belgian flavors come through more on the palate than through the nose. This is rather nice on the palate as well, it's not astringent in the slightest. It's highly drinkable and I recommend it above all else at the brewpub if you go during the holiday season.
Reviewed by robbyc1 from Illinois
3.63/5 rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.63/5 rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Well made not so magical. Poured into a large snifter 14oz? For $6 only during the winter season. Pours a lovely light gold, clearish with a 2 inch white head.
Nose is yeasty with notes of banana, bubblegum, and fruitiness. Finishes dry. But hark, where are the supposed spices? Not detectable, possibly due to a too cold pour, but it's there beer so they should know. I was hoping for ginger or cinamon or something, maybe it's so subtle I missed it, in that case folks not aware will miss it too.
Flavor replicates a belgian golden ale with no complexity, kind of light bodied, but an easy satisfying drinker. It's solid but not exciting.
Dec 12, 2009Nose is yeasty with notes of banana, bubblegum, and fruitiness. Finishes dry. But hark, where are the supposed spices? Not detectable, possibly due to a too cold pour, but it's there beer so they should know. I was hoping for ginger or cinamon or something, maybe it's so subtle I missed it, in that case folks not aware will miss it too.
Flavor replicates a belgian golden ale with no complexity, kind of light bodied, but an easy satisfying drinker. It's solid but not exciting.
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