[1] Review by chedderrob from Crofton, MD, USA who has tried this beer once. (8/13/2007 10:14:14 AM)
"Reddish amber, small head. Concentrated juicy orangey hop aroma. Dryish and malty with fairly soft but clean mouthfeel. Very salty finish with notes of licorice, but not overly bitter."
Aroma:
6/10
Appearance:
5/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
6/10
Overall:
6/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $1.79 Unit Cost: $2.39 per Pint
[2] Review by Phishpond417 from Madtown, Wisc, USA who has tried this beer once. (4/26/2007 5:14:32 PM)
"Pours a light copper colour with a medium sized white head. Floral, and slightly piney- aroma is pleasently hopped. Initial taste of sweet malts which quickly pans out into grapefruit and tangerine. Finishes semi dry."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.8)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[3] Review by ante from Stockholm, Sweden who has tried this beer once. (6/4/2006 5:10:49 PM)
"Clear amber with a big thick white head. Hops along with citrus and grapefruit in aroma. Clean flavour and mouthfeel. Starts with malty flavours of brown sugar and caramel before the hops sets in. Lot’s of grapefruity hops thats dries out your mouth."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.7)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[4] Review by B-ROCK from sloatsburg, NY, USA who has tried this beer once. (4/19/2006 10:30:39 PM)
"This beer has basically no head with a strong fruity taste. I tasted grapfruits with a butter hoppy touch to it. Another different but, good beer to go along with the magic hat selection."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.8)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[5] Review by TheBeerLover from Washington, DC, USA who has tried this beer many times. (2/14/2006 3:49:07 PM)
"I have had the good fortune of visiting Magic Hat Brewing, of South Burlington, VT. This is an outstanding Ringwood brewery, well worth the trip, take the tour, and of course sample at the tap room. What is ringwood you ask? Ringwood is a very distinctive ale yeast strain that has its origins in England. Ringwood yeast has a very "earthy" aroma and produces a by product called diacetal. Diacetal gives the beer a "buttery" flavor and mouth feel, some compare it to butter scotch, or pop corn butter. Some beer lovers can't detect this. Others can and find it off putting. Then there are beer lovers, like me, who can detect it, and love it. A brewer really has to work with this strain, diacetal is appropriate in British ales, but not when the levels become too high. I enjoy a high level of diacetal, but I enjoy it more so when it is restrained, and the amount present is appropriate. With the proper amount, it gives a beer another dimension and makes it even better in my opinion.
Most breweries that use this strain brew mainly British beer styles and use a Peter Austin designed brewing system. Magic Hat does use the ringwood strain, but doesn't use a Peter Austin system. Ringwood is a very vibrant strain and open fermenters must be used when brewing this beer. I have a lot of experience with ringwood beers. I have had examples from about 20 brewery/brewpubs, in New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, and even the West Coast. Of the 20 I have personally visited 15.
In fact later in the month, I'll be headed to Syracuse, NY to first hand sample some more ringwood beers at the Middle Ages Brewing Company. A inexperienced beer traveler once said to me, he would not have an epiphany if he visited Magic Hat and sampled the beers, at its source. He didn't see the need, his line was that he could get the beer on draught and in bottles, what was the big deal. He couldn't be more wrong in my opinion, the best tasting Magic Hat beers I have ever sampled flowed fresh as can be from the taps at the brewery. There really is something magical(pun intended!) when you actually visit a brewery/brewpub and drink the beer at its source. I know when I saw those open fermenters at Magic Hat I wanted to dive right into them! You just can't get that experience popping a bottle or sitting at a bar. Of all the ringwood beers I have had, Magic Hat's beers are probably my all time favorites. I love this brewery.
Blind Faith is an IPA by style and it is a very good one. This beer pours to a deep golden color with a nice white head, and a good carbonation. The nose on this beer is fantastic. Very fragrant hop aromatics of pine, and citrus marry with the ringwood earthiness. The palate is a firm malt backbone of pale malts, and a touch of caramel. Crisp and biscuit like, slightly sweet, and with some nice butteriness from the ringwood as well. This beer finishes with a long, dry, citric, hop bitter bite, and more mushroom like earthiness. This is a fantastic ringwood IPA. Ringwood really adds another dimension to this beer. This beer is a hoppy IPA, and hop presence is a major player in this beer, but with the addition of ringwood it becomes even better. This beer is the perfect match for a good steak and a baked potato. It also works well with spicy foods, I would match this with Mexican, or Thai dishes.
"
Aroma:
9/10
Appearance:
9/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
10/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.5)
Sampled: Bottle, Forced Draught Sample Size: 12oz @ $2 Unit Cost: $2.67 per Pint
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