Another stand out label from Magic Hat. This one by famed music gig poster designer, Stanley "Mouse" Miller. hI.P.A is the spring SeasonAle and an adequate replacement for their past IPA which was called Blind Faith. hI.P.A. pours the familiar deep orange color of most high alcohol American IPAs. Its not an Imperial or Double or anything like that, its just a solid higher strength IPA. The smell is strong, of condensed fresh hops. Its spicy and piney. There are slight smells lemon, grapefruit and fresh grass. Believe me, it goes together nicely.
This is one of those tongue-drying IPAs for sure. Along with the strong hop presence is an alcohol back and not all that much malt. This could easily be considered a rather one-sided IPA. But, if you love hops (and I do) this is still an enjoyable beer. The after taste reminds me of sucking on orange slices when I was a kid. I like beers like this, its juicy and really, really hoppy. Its not as balanced as some of the best IPAs, but its still an excellent highly hopped American beer.
BEER FACTS
Name: hI.P.A.
Style: India Pale Ale
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Location: Burlington, Vermont, USA
Container: 12 oz. bottle
Malts: Pale
Hops: CTZ (Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus)
Hops: CTZ (Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus)
ABV: 6.8%
IBU’s: 50
The Magic Hat "SeasonAles" are:
Roxy Rolles (Amber) - Winter
hI.P.A. (IPA) - Spring
Hocus Pocus (Wheat Ale) - Summer
Jinx (Smoked Strong Ale) - Autumn
2 comments:
This is Magic Hat's finest beer, hands down. Probably cuz I love IPAs. I think it's a fall brew, haven't seen it in a while.
To address your question about why some VT beers aren't available in Maine (re: Long Trail), this has been an issue for years. For the longest time you couldn't get any Magic Hat in Maine due to some licensing or distribution agreement. I think it had something to do with Shipyard (don't they brew Magic Hat for Maine markets? or used to?). I used to argue with the dude up at Burby and Bates (the best beer store in Maine-Orono) about it back in the college years/beers.
If you do a "beer store" entry, Burby and Bates is worth taking a detour if you're driving up the barren wasteland that is known as the I95 corridor on your way to the middle of nowhere.
Thanks for the Burby & Bates plug. We work hard trying to take care of you guys. I love to see our company name as the beer store to visit in maine. I showed the staff and it makes us work harder and take rpide in what we do. Thanks Pat! Burby & Bates
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