#9 | Magic Hat Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Magic Hat Brewing Company
Vermont, United States
magichat.net
Style: Fruit / Vegetable Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.10%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
A beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A sort of dry, crisp, refreshing, not-quite pale ale. #9 is really impossible to describe because there's never been anything else quite like it.
20 IBU
Added by BeerAdvocate on 06-09-1998
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 5,720 | Reviews: 1,708
4/5 rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tricky situation, here.
Overall, #9 is a decent beer...but it's definitely old school. I mean, it popped up in the mid nineties, somewhat as a pioneer in the craft beer scene. They did things with beer that no one had ever done, before. Apricot flavored beer? What?
It was different, and stood out in a crowd. Jeez, back then, green bottled imported beer was "fancy," and most people (in the northeast) were just drinking Bud. Beer was beer...all the same...bottles were better than cans...etc, etc.
Then #9 appeared. People were like: what's that?
Fast forward to today, and the flavor trend has shot into the stratosphere...only, the flavor comes from hops....hops that didn't even exist back then. So...cheers to Magic Hat for paving the way..sort of.
Today, there are certainly some fruit puree flavored IPAs out there that sell well...
What I liked was that I found a Can-tastic mixed 12-pk. Let's face it, cans are where it's at, today. Three cheers for the "old man" keeping it "young."
And, anyways, they've been bought and sold a few times...they aren't quite who they used to be.
So, as a beer goes, when you have a #9, you're drinking a pioneer...enjoy it for what it's worth... I do.
1,198 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tricky situation, here.
Overall, #9 is a decent beer...but it's definitely old school. I mean, it popped up in the mid nineties, somewhat as a pioneer in the craft beer scene. They did things with beer that no one had ever done, before. Apricot flavored beer? What?
It was different, and stood out in a crowd. Jeez, back then, green bottled imported beer was "fancy," and most people (in the northeast) were just drinking Bud. Beer was beer...all the same...bottles were better than cans...etc, etc.
Then #9 appeared. People were like: what's that?
Fast forward to today, and the flavor trend has shot into the stratosphere...only, the flavor comes from hops....hops that didn't even exist back then. So...cheers to Magic Hat for paving the way..sort of.
Today, there are certainly some fruit puree flavored IPAs out there that sell well...
What I liked was that I found a Can-tastic mixed 12-pk. Let's face it, cans are where it's at, today. Three cheers for the "old man" keeping it "young."
And, anyways, they've been bought and sold a few times...they aren't quite who they used to be.
So, as a beer goes, when you have a #9, you're drinking a pioneer...enjoy it for what it's worth... I do.
1,198 characters
3.57/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
The clear apricot/amber colored beer pours into a shaker pint glass with a 3/8" head of foam that recedes slowly and doesn't leave much lacing behind. Sipping creates a few scattered patches of lacing.
The aromas are slightly malty but heavy on the apricot.
The flavors focus on the apricot and some caramel malt sweetness without much in the way of hops showing even during the ending of the beer.
The mouthfeel medium is bodied and fairly soft with the moderate carbonation.
A drinkable beer but one I'll not be revisiting. While it is tasty and fruity, that's about all it offers.
589 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
The clear apricot/amber colored beer pours into a shaker pint glass with a 3/8" head of foam that recedes slowly and doesn't leave much lacing behind. Sipping creates a few scattered patches of lacing.
The aromas are slightly malty but heavy on the apricot.
The flavors focus on the apricot and some caramel malt sweetness without much in the way of hops showing even during the ending of the beer.
The mouthfeel medium is bodied and fairly soft with the moderate carbonation.
A drinkable beer but one I'll not be revisiting. While it is tasty and fruity, that's about all it offers.
589 characters
3.5/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.81/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.31/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I had two and really enjoyed them. Although I wouldn't want to drink too many. It was very filling, with a sweet fruity taste. Almost no head, but a really nice color.
169 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I had two and really enjoyed them. Although I wouldn't want to drink too many. It was very filling, with a sweet fruity taste. Almost no head, but a really nice color.
169 characters
2.54/5 rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
This is my first review, so I may not use all the correct vernacular, although I read the "How To Review A Beer" thread. This beer is described by the brewer as "Not Quite Pale Ale" and I should have known better than to let the eye catching can fool me. This beer is less than stellar, being of thin body, flabby in flavor, and slightly under-carbonated for my taste. This reminds me of a sweeter version (and by sweeter I do not mean maltier) of a readily available commercial English Pale Ale, a beer I hold in low regard. Oddly, on a positive note, I enjoyed the aftertaste more than the beer itself.
605 characters
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
This is my first review, so I may not use all the correct vernacular, although I read the "How To Review A Beer" thread. This beer is described by the brewer as "Not Quite Pale Ale" and I should have known better than to let the eye catching can fool me. This beer is less than stellar, being of thin body, flabby in flavor, and slightly under-carbonated for my taste. This reminds me of a sweeter version (and by sweeter I do not mean maltier) of a readily available commercial English Pale Ale, a beer I hold in low regard. Oddly, on a positive note, I enjoyed the aftertaste more than the beer itself.
605 characters
3.5/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
With pulled pork sandwich for lunch, on tap at the New American Cafe in Boston... medium amber with a finger of tan foam... had a moderately fruity and earthy character... smooth and easy-drinking... cafe called it a pale ale but it was darker, maltier, and less hoppy than most I've had; not sure why the site categorizes it as a fruit/vegetable ale, but then again, I'm not sure if it is brewed with any additives... Decent enough, but not to my usual tastes...
463 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
With pulled pork sandwich for lunch, on tap at the New American Cafe in Boston... medium amber with a finger of tan foam... had a moderately fruity and earthy character... smooth and easy-drinking... cafe called it a pale ale but it was darker, maltier, and less hoppy than most I've had; not sure why the site categorizes it as a fruit/vegetable ale, but then again, I'm not sure if it is brewed with any additives... Decent enough, but not to my usual tastes...
463 characters
3.56/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
1.13/5 rDev -66.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.25
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.25
3.04/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.25/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.57/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a hazy gold into a fifteen ounce glass mug the same temperature as the beer. Two finger white head that dissipates rapidly to a thin rime. Really pretty lacing.
Mild fruit with hints of apricot and apple.
Tastes bright and clean. No funk at all. Fruit is definitely not the predominant flavor. Thought it would be more fruity. Reminds me of a weak lager except for the lack of hop bite.
Light and refreshing on the palate. Good carbonation. Faint sweet finish.
Overall a nice beer. Very drinkable. Mild is the best word I can think of to describe it.
569 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a hazy gold into a fifteen ounce glass mug the same temperature as the beer. Two finger white head that dissipates rapidly to a thin rime. Really pretty lacing.
Mild fruit with hints of apricot and apple.
Tastes bright and clean. No funk at all. Fruit is definitely not the predominant flavor. Thought it would be more fruity. Reminds me of a weak lager except for the lack of hop bite.
Light and refreshing on the palate. Good carbonation. Faint sweet finish.
Overall a nice beer. Very drinkable. Mild is the best word I can think of to describe it.
569 characters
3.46/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I drank this one right out of the bottle at a picnic. The color was a golden amber. I couldn't tell about the head and lacing. The nose was intriguing: malty, with apricot and interesting spices. The first thing I tasted was apricot and bready malt with some sweet vanilla or caramel. It's medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. You don't even notice the 5.1% ABV. Honestly, I expected a little more from Magic Hat. It was okay to drink with burgers and hot dogs but I wouldn't seek it out.
495 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I drank this one right out of the bottle at a picnic. The color was a golden amber. I couldn't tell about the head and lacing. The nose was intriguing: malty, with apricot and interesting spices. The first thing I tasted was apricot and bready malt with some sweet vanilla or caramel. It's medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. You don't even notice the 5.1% ABV. Honestly, I expected a little more from Magic Hat. It was okay to drink with burgers and hot dogs but I wouldn't seek it out.
495 characters
#9 from Magic Hat Brewing Company
Beer rating:
30.3% out of
100 with
5,720 ratings
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75