Was Magic Hat #9 better before NAB bought them out?

No. It always sucked. I had it years ago and it tasted like Coors Light. I had it again last year, but this time I had the balls to ask the bartender if he'd actually given me Coors Light. Magic Hat as a whole is worthless unless you're a 19 year old hippy. Blind Faith is their only decent recipe.

 

I haven't had it in ages, but I can honestly say that Magic Hat #9 helped get me into craft. I am pretty sure it was the first six pack I legally bought.

 

Agreed. #9 and SNPA were my go to 6ers I'd bring to parties when everyone else had 30s of Natty Ice. Those brew made me seek out better stuff, and 13 years later you have the proud BA sitting here.

As to Magic Hat overall, they are fine for the pricepoint, they have some real stinkers (Pistil??), most are drinkable if not noteworthy, and a few (Ticket to Rye, Heart of Darkness, Demo) aren't half bad. They don't have a truly great brew IMO.

 

Used to love #9, been years since I had one. I always ponder buying a 6er for old time's sake, but there's just so much better out there at the same price point.

 

I was always confused about the whole Magic Hat thing. I've never been impressed with anything I've ever tried from them, but they seem to have a solid 80+ for almost all their selections on this site. I do think Heart of Darkness is a pretty decent beer, though I still don't think I would ever pay for a sixer of it. I always just assumed I was alone in thinking that Magic Hat was extremely underwhelming. Just goes to show BA ratings don't mean very much when 80s suck.

 

The only time I had it was right before they were bought out. I thought it sucked. Way too much apricot flavor. "Not quite pale ale?" Well no shit, guys. It doesn't taste like a pale ale at all.

 

Also what is it with them changing their seasonals like every couple years? Seriously, if they focused on putting out 4 solid seasonals a year and sticking with them, maybe they wouldn't be so bad. I'd much prefer them trying to perfect a few recipes then to keep starting from scratch and coming out with more shit that I'll never want to drink. Even something decent like Heart of Darkness will probably be replaced in another year by something worse, I thought Howl blew.

 

An accessible beer for most people. I don't hate it. I think it's underrated in this commuted. Would much rather have it than BMCs and lot of horrible bar options.

 

The only decent beer I have had from Magic Hat is Hi.P.A IMO.

 

How those guys can stay in business now amazes me.

 

My girlfriend likes it so its always in the fridge. I haven't noticed a change, and don't think it's a bad beer. Fruity and refreshing.

 

Yeah not so good in the first place

 

#9 always sucked....

 

It's what BMC guys drink when they want to look cool when they go out and upscale it. We used to do that with Heineken back in the day.

 

I hear these words a lot from craft guys "my girllfriend likes it alo", so my guess is that they're selling it to crafty girlfriends, or a bunch of dudes who won't admit they like it.

 

Ugh I can't stand #9. The first time I ever had it, I thought it was ok because it was different from the BMC macro lagers that I was used to, but once I developed my palate a little bit more I really came to hate this beer. I don't know why but I cannot stand it. I am pretty much this way with all of Magic Hat's offerings.

 

Obviously it's not the greatest, but I agree it is refreshing and inoffensive.

I also loved the shit out of their new HICu (cucumber & hibiscus beer).

 

I had it for the first time a couple months ago and pretty much hated it. Smelled good, but that was it.

 

It's always tasted like aspartame to me. I'm guessing it's the flavoring they use.