Batch 375
Magic Hat Brewing Company

Batch 375Batch 375
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From:
Magic Hat Brewing Company
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.43 | pDev: 16.33%
Reviews:
48
Ratings:
53
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 19, 2015
Added:
Aug 06, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TrickKnee:
Photo of TrickKnee
Reviewed by TrickKnee from Connecticut

3.62/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer is a real roller coaster. At firststip it is extremely bitter with from what i could tell is tons of cascade hops rushing to your pallet. However right after the sip there was almost no taste at all. TIs good to see Magic hat jump into the double IPA ring however i think this does need a little tweaking if they do bring it back. Definetly worth a try however.
Oct 08, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.15 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Oct 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Sep 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Mar 02, 2013
 
Rated: 1 by AndrewMichael from Virginia

Dec 31, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by waiting4lunch from Massachusetts

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of yesyouam
Reviewed by yesyouam from New York

2.88/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The Summer Mystery Beer is a slightly opaque red-orange with a thin, splotchy white head. It smells like a homebrew, but not in a fresh way. The aroma has a bit of cider, some hop spice, and some yeasty bread. The body is medium to medium light. It is well-bittered early in the boil. I wish there was more aroma to go with all this hop flavor. There is some sort of off flavor, like apple cider vinegar. Skunked, perhaps. I can taste the alcohol. Not a failure, but not the best IPA around.
Jan 03, 2009
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

3.34/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance- Dark copper color with a head that recedes after a minute or two.

Smell- Strong piney scent with some fruitiness.

Taste- Very strong hop punch. Piney with some fruitiness and a strong alcohol warmth

Mouthfeel- Leaves a slightly bitter sting on the mouth but nothing serious. Not as strong as the last batch I had.

Drinkability- Not a session ale. Only recommended for serious hopheads.
Apr 07, 2007
Photo of kernalklink
Reviewed by kernalklink from Arizona

3.12/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured nice dark amber, slightly slick hops are big on the nose. Some notes of malt, but not much. Huge punch of overly bitter hops at first, then a lipsmacking bitter aftertaste with not much flavor- expected green hop flavors, mabe some citrus from the aromas but none to be had- just straight-up bitterness on the loose wreaking havoc. Finished slick, almost sticky on the tongue. While i like my hop bombs, i like some flavor too which was absent here.
Mar 07, 2007
Photo of HurricaneMo
Reviewed by HurricaneMo from Virginia

2.76/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I am not a huge fan of this style, however I don't think this matched up to its counterparts.

A - Beautiful pale color with exceptional clarity and good head.
S - Hoppy and fruity.
T - Hops. Bitter with not enough fruit or yeast to balance the taste.
M - Light/Medium and well-carbonated.
D - Just a little too intense.
Jan 29, 2007
Photo of rarevos
Reviewed by rarevos from New York

3.05/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Poured into pint glass.

A: Pours a cloudy light copper, and almost looks like cider. Very small amount of head that disappears almost instantly. Becomes a slight ring around the glass and a few little islands. Small amount of carbonation.

S: Grapefruit up front with a tangy malt presence. Bit of pine forest.

T/M: Not like the aroma. Somewhat coppery, metallic flavor up front with a small citric hint, but it's not really grapefruit (more like lemon zest, or sour lemon juice). There's a bit of a pine flavor toward the middle, but it's not very bold, and loses out to the metallic flavor. Finish is bitter, latex-y, and sharp. Mouthfeel is a bit oily (slick, not all that carbonated).

D: The aroma was promising, but it wasn't really a piney-grapefruit beer in the end. I like some of Magic Hat's mystery beers (#374, the grassy amber ale, was pretty good, with a far more interesting hop profile than this), but I can't say this one's much of a keeper. It's pretty one-dimensional in its hoppiness and not all that complex. I don't ask that all my beers have a hundred complicated and generous flavors, but a three-flavored beer has to be really sure of its three flavors. This one isn't.
Jan 03, 2007
Photo of dbalsock
Reviewed by dbalsock from Vermont

3.35/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Thanks lpayette for this one too... first magic hat review (weird)

Appearance: Hazy orange amber with a quarter finger of white head. Looks like it has heavy carbonation, but that and the head leave quickly.

Smell: Sweet fruits... like the standard grapefruit mix with an excellent malt base. There's some very nice bready notes too, but they aren't as sickly sweet as in some other magic hat brews.

Taste: The hops overpower the malts in an odd fruitish way and bring out the bready characteristics a little too much. It's ok, and doesn't taste bad, but isn't as amazing as many dipa's running around.

Mouthfeel: Great carbonation and consistency, but the bitterness is profound and unbalanced with the taste.

Drinkability: Doesn't quite hit the spot, and not a first choice when going for a nice dipa.
Dec 31, 2006
Photo of tempest
Reviewed by tempest from New York

3.38/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Nice to see Magic Hat include a DIPA in a sampler, its too bad it wasn't a little better. I'm not sure I'd even classify it as a DIPA, it could pass for a ballsy IPA. The beer looks nice with a light amber boby and some lacing. Smells of piney grapefruit, not great but somewhat promising. The tast just doesnt deliver quite enough. Alcohol is evident and the bitterness is harsh. The hops have an odd fruity quality to them, like there was an english yeast (ringwood-esque) strain used. It's not bad, but I wouldn't get it again.
Dec 19, 2006
Photo of msubulldog25
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

3.66/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a standard pint; best by: end of Jan ('07). This, and two more Magic Hat brews, received courtesy of Metalmonk - thanks, Jeff. Beneath the cap says: "Those who Share are Free of Care" - appropriate when acquiring new beer from a super trader and all-around great guy.

Anyway, the beer...

A: Hazy golden honey-colored, which clears abit as any sediment settles. Quite a few lively streams of tiny carbonation bubbles billow up to a one-finger thick pillowy cap. Good retention and some nice-looking clinging white lace.

S: The hops in the nose were surprisingly subtle. Citrus (grapefruit and lemon zest) were concealed by a cracker-y, bready maltiness. I also detected just a little metal in there, wonder if this oxidized slightly. Overall, smells are still appealing.

T: Good and filled with tangy citrus hops. Aggresively spicy and with a tongue-grabbing bitterness. However, it finishes with a wheaty-tasting maltiness, which reminds me more of an APA than anything else. As this is a "mystery beer" according to the label, I was surprised to see it recorded on BA as a Double IPA.

M: Keeps the tongue busy. Medium/full mouthfeel and a bit of tingle, both from the carbonation and the spiciness of the hops. A bit of a astringency, not very smooth.

D: Pretty good beer overall. Balance flavor-wise is good, though there's a lean toward bitter hops. I wasn't blown away by it, nor was I disappointed (of course, how can you be disappointed by a beer you know nothing about?). Recommended for a try.
Dec 18, 2006
Photo of shirfan
Reviewed by shirfan from New York

3.88/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy orange-brown with a thin lacing, nose of muted piney hops and something like yellow cake.

Taste: "Pow!" is the immediate phrase that comes to mind...hiding behind a mediocre aroma is a nice, juicy hop bite. Piney and a bit floral without being especially bitter. Sweetness is high without quite being cloying. Only in the aftertaste does a mild amount of bitterness become apparent.

Mouthfeel is ok, smooth carbonation and sugar level make it easy to drink.

I just glanced up and saw that this is 7.5% abv... no way does it reveal that upon drinking. I'd have guessed a standard IPA by taste alone.

A good beer from a brewery I'm a little cautious of.
Dec 05, 2006
Photo of wingman14
Reviewed by wingman14 from Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a hazy golden orange with a foamy white head. Smell is dominated by hops, with some fruit notes mixed in. Not overpower, but inviting. The taste is fruit/sweet upfront followed by a huge hop bouquet. The aftertaste stays consistent and has a small hop bite. The bitterness is not over powering and is balanced well with the flavor. The mouthfeel is a medium light body with good carbonation and good flavor. This one is a good IPA, strong in flavor but balanced well for the beer. I would recommend this one to all IPA fans. Enjoy.
Nov 24, 2006
Photo of mmmbeer
Reviewed by mmmbeer from Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle, best by November, 2006 I'm guessing as it came out last winter. Brewed with Columbus and Brewer's Gold hops, and 75 IBUs as per the Magic Hat website. It pours a clear bronze/amber with medium carbonation and a finger of off-white head that leaves good lacing. The bouquet is buttery, with apricot and light peaches and tastes of strong, bitter grapefruit, apricot, and notes of diacetyl, pine, and citrus. It is drying on the palate, with medium body and carbonation, and it leaves a long, bitter finish. A good stab at a double IPA, but the bitterness is a bit unbalanced and it's not quite complex enough.
Nov 19, 2006
Photo of Bierguy5
Reviewed by Bierguy5 from Ohio

3.56/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle. Drink by Jan., so hopefully 2007. A hazy orange/amber colr, with a lot of carbonation. Thick white fluffy head has great retention, and leaves some good patches of sticky lace as it disappears. Citrusy, floral, earthy, and herbal hop aroma. Malt character is pale for a DIPA. Finishes with earthy, spicy and herbal hops, with a touch of citrus. Almost seems a bit musty. Some fruit comes through as it warms, such as apricot and banana. Seems more like an IPA. Seems to lack the big malt and hop character. Medium body, and still a decent brew.
Nov 17, 2006
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

3.41/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
AP: Golden Amber color, lively, created a rather thick and frothy cream colored head that measured two fingers high, leaving some sticky but spotty lacing behind.

Nose: Spicey>Herbal hop dominated.

Taste: A VERY tart and bitter hop hit at first (cringe!) then it gets spicey and floral with a mild herbal effect. Finishes with a bitter and earthy hop bomb. Bitter is the key word here.

MF:Medium body, feels rather substantial and thick with a strangely smooth effect.

DA: A very unbalanced bitter-hop dominated brew (even for a DIPA) The bottles I have was just the right amount.
Nov 13, 2006
Photo of sacfly
Reviewed by sacfly from Maryland

3.67/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12oz, drink by December notched.
Pours a very hazy orange color. Thick off white head of huge bubbles. Hints of citrus and pine combine with apricots in the aroma. Taste is sweet malt with grapefruit rind and a touch of pine sap. Grapefruit bitterness comes hard in the aftertaste. You will notice the trademark funky Magic Hat yeast, rather distracting. An average IIPA. Enjoyable, but doesn’t match up to others in this category. Still my favorite of the Night of the Living Dead pack this year.
Nov 12, 2006
Batch 375 from Magic Hat Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 53 ratings