Source
r/beer•
LittleKnown

Magic Hat continues to disappoint me. Recommendations?

I bought a six of Howl, their winter seasonal tonight, because my liquor store occasionally runs a sale where it's $6. It's by no means undrinkable, but just seems very average. Considering I could have gotten much better beer for only a few dollars more, I'm a little disappointed. I've had most of their readily available beers - Hex, Blind Faith, HiPA, Wacko, Circus Boy, and the #9 was one of the beers that got me into crafts, but none blow me away.

Bottom line, I find Magic Hat to be servicable but generally lacking and average. Are there any great brews by them that I've overlooked? I love their bottle art and overall style, and I want to love the beer, but none of it hits me as memorable.

Posted Oct 15, 2011, 1:22 AM UTC

1218
iccccceman•

I think you have pretty much covered Magic Hat. They are a great starter beer and I used to be a big fan before my tastes started to outgrow them. I thought the IPAs on tour, a few of which you mentioned, were pretty tasty but generally the MH brews are pretty tame and leave something to be desired. If you haven't tried their Lucky Kat then try to get a hold of that.

13
LittleKnownOP•

Is that it, though? I guess it might be, I just don't really want it to be true. I haven't had Lucky Kat, but I guess it's a red that is probably not comparable to any decent red around. I'm just trying to figure out if it's a brewery that has hidden gems, or is kind of a gimmick intro selection. I have such fond memories of my first couple 9's, and still drink them to this day, but everything else just seems like a boring knockoff of better beers. I've not had one of their seasonals that has been better than average.

1
iccccceman•

It doesn't have hidden gems. I've never seen any of their brews outside of 6-packs. I had fond memories of 9's too but I go back to them now and find them almost watery. I honestly don't pick them up much anymore and go for better, local selections.

3
NathanBarley•

I think it's time for you to move on to a new brewery.

11
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
TheMacMan•

Beginner beer. Move on to something other than Magic Hat.

4
brystmar•

Bottom line, I find Magic Hat to be servicable but generally lacking and average.

You said it best yourself.

4
[deleted]•

[deleted]

3
Fonnie•

I think you mean Single Chair

2
Phillyz•

You can get single chair in the 12 pack variety case. I am not a fan of Magic Hat, but Single Chair is decent.

1
LittleKnownOP•

I mean, a light ale? I'm not going to seek out a light ale. That's very disappointing to hear. With their distribution, they should have the means to make excellent beers, and I keep trying it, hoping I'll find that golden ticket. I guess they might just be a middling operation that I should stay away from. It's almost impossible to resist a craft sixpack at six bucks, but they keep screwing me. Sierra Nevada Torpedos were on sale for a dollar more, and I always regret.

Edit: Not screwing me. I get pretty good beers at a cut rate price. I just wish one of them would make me sit back and have that wow factor.

1
myhouseisgod•

I've always liked the roxy rolls fall seasonal.

3
halflight420•

Juststart drinking Victory, Hopdevil is the best, stormking is amazing, v12 will blow your mind if you can find it,

3
LittleKnownOP•

Victory is fine, that's not my point. I think Hop Devil is incredibly overrated and not that hoppy, and Storm King is spectacular. I'm not looking for different breweries. Just wondering if Magic Hat has any truly great beers I've failed to try.

1
Shoegaze99•

I'm not sure what it is -- their water, their yeast strain, or what -- but to me all Magic Hat beers have a very similar something in the background I find mildly unpleasant. While they do mix it up with styles and flavors, something I find admirable, the beers are rarely bold enough to 1) overcome whatever that something is, lending a kind of sameness to most of their line, and 2) make you sit up and say, "Wow."

I think you nail it, OP, when you use the word "serviceable." If it's all that is available I'm not going to turn up my nose and refuse it, but I've had enough Magic Hat beers (15 or 18 or so) to know that I don't care for them they do.

They do have their fans, though, so for some folks they're doing something right. And that's cool. There is a beer for everyone and these guys do a good job of pleasing their fans.

EDIT: Heh. Someone went through the whole thread and downvoted every person who expressed a negative opinion of Magic Hat. Funny.

2
brewtang•

magic hat spends more time on their cap slogans than brewing the fucking beer

get with it vermont!

2
Fonnie•

What state are you from? I could recommend some local stuff.

1
LittleKnownOP•

Maryland. I know virtually everything that's good, I just want to scoop it up on a six pack sale. I'm a regular patron of Max's and Brewer's Art, I'm not at any kind of loss of good beer, I just wish the Hat was better.

Edit: I'm not really looking for recommendations as I am trying to reconcile my personal feelings with Magic Hat. I know what great beers are around. I drink them. I just secretly want something from MH to blow me away, because I sort of started on their brewery. Although after the umpteenth mediocre performance, I think I'll just stay away from it.

2
burgeralarm•

I'm also from Maryland, and was kind of down on Magic Hat for a long time. Then I moved to Burlington, VT, where their brewery is located. For whatever reason, #9 is much better up here (I think just because it's fresh). Short of that, though, I'd probably just drink more Dogfish Head.

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[deleted]

2
[deleted]•

They should come out with a beer named 'Meh'

1