Heart Of Darkness - Magic Hat Brewing Company

Jason

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A hot pink swirl that flows in to a hypnotic eye adorns the 12oz brown bottle. This time my fun filled crown pop open with "Big Brother is watching TV". Freshness date clearly marked.

Appearance: As black as night with a creamy light tan head that stays for the duration. The Brussels lace looks like a frothed latté.

Smell: Some soft sweetness, slight butterscotch and light earthy musty roasted and hoppy aromas flow to the nose.

Taste: A touch of tangy roasted barley, malt sweetness and a hint of butterscotch in the start, but the goes to more tangy charcoal-like roasted flavours and burnt raisins with a simple and pleasing hop bitterness. Touch of musty earthiness. The after taste leaves more lingering roasted and light burnt fruit.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a crisp yet modest carbonation. Creamy and smooth on the palate.

Drinkability & Notes: Oh what a wonderful stout ... roasted flavours are very rich, a hefty brew to be had. A stout lovers snowy day dream it’s a seasonal brew and thankfully it has come back around.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2002 13:16:43 | More by Jason

Todd

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice opaque black colour with a tight & patchy cream/foam head. Aromas include roasted, day old coffee/coffee beans, black liquorice. Tight lively carbonation. Smooth, creamy and robust with an astringent roasted barley flavour, smoked malts, wood, black liquorice and molasses. Sweetness is mild. Hop bitterness is thin with a limey backbone that peaks and puckers for a brief moment. Dry, crisp, grain and raw on the edges of the palate. Finish brings some dryness to the mouth, as well as some lingering burnt flavours.

Dry, complex and damn tasty ... a real nice stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2002 19:40:15 | More by Todd

NormLobstah

Virginia

5/5  rDev +26.9%

05-25-2013 03:31:00 | More by NormLobstah

mattsucks

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

05-23-2013 03:24:44 | More by mattsucks

morrowd3

Vermont

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-22-2013 01:32:34 | More by morrowd3

Jimbo4430

Virginia

3/5  rDev -23.9%

05-21-2013 00:56:04 | More by Jimbo4430

ClayO

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

05-19-2013 22:07:06 | More by ClayO

KSfrost

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-19-2013 21:50:20 | More by KSfrost

LeahM

New York

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-19-2013 04:05:23 | More by LeahM

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, winter 2012 bottling. Pours lightly hazy very dark brown color with a 1-2 finger moderately dense khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Some nice soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of milk chocolate, roasted malt, toast, toffee, caramel, light coffee, and light floral earthiness. Excellent aromas with great balance, strength, and complexity of roasted malt notes with light hops. Taste of milk chocolate, roasted malt, toast, toffee, caramel, coffee, and floral earthiness. Light coffee bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, roasted malt, toast, toffee, coffee, and floral earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted malt flavors; with a good amount of robustness and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a moderately creamy and smooth mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent stout! Great balance of roasted flavors with good robustness; and very smooth to drink. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:17:42 | More by superspak

BeastLU

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-17-2013 00:56:42 | More by BeastLU

stckhndlr

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- A properly named beer as not a bit of light gets through this one. Very dark with a creamy head the thins out and just clings along the edge of the glass.

S- A good roasted nose. Very gentle blend of chocolate and coffee, some toffee notes and a fruitiness that resembles a raisin/fig.

T- Roasted malt and chocolate, with a bitterness of coffee to it.

M- Compared to other stouts that have a more syrupy, thicker feel to them, this one is more of a creamy, dry feel. Almost like a dry hoppy feel.

O- I loved the smell of this one but I am more partial to the smoother stouts that are out there. I was a little put off by the bitters left in the finish. I would prefer a sweeter finish to my stout. Still had a good nose and taste up front.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 22:11:15 | More by stckhndlr

JackMcAwesome

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-15-2013 18:36:46 | More by JackMcAwesome

Zimm

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

05-15-2013 17:11:33 | More by Zimm

ajtorres311

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

05-15-2013 16:38:51 | More by ajtorres311

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

05-15-2013 16:13:22 | More by Slatetank

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-15-2013 15:29:47 | More by twenty5

mralbertson

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-15-2013 01:17:48 | More by mralbertson

lucasj82

Indiana

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-15-2013 01:13:31 | More by lucasj82

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

05-12-2013 17:00:39 | More by mikeburd1128

karengarys

Indiana

4.01/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

pours (bottle) rich and dark, leaving a head that dissipates to lacing islands of small caramel colored bubbles. It is cold from the 'fridge, and will be done with my review before it warms up.

the nose of luscious stoutness is there - all malty, not hoppy. rich cocoa, coffee and raisins. This is really dark.

Taste corresponds to the smell, it is dark and rich. There is cocoa, and some sort of dry hoppiness finishing it off. Can't place my finger on it, but it is clean at the end.

Mouthfeel is very rich. I do not like English style beers, I think they are flatish. This is the opposite, so I like it a lot.

Overall, I can recommend this, and I would reach for another. I would look for this if I were in the mood to sip a rich brew on a cool evening.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 04:44:24 | More by karengarys

Bucktron18

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A little late for a winter seasonal, but for a dollar a piece you can't go wrong.

Pours black with a good thick head that lasts. Smells of dark roasted malts and slight hints of burnt coffee. No hop aroma to speak of. Hits first with a strong roasted malt and dark roast coffee. Slight bitterness evens out the maltiness in the middle. Finishes dry with some lingering dark malt and slight roasted fruit flavors. Great mouthfeel. Light carbonation just barely tingles with each sip. Very smooth and drinkable.

Overall a very nice stout. Not to aggressive. A very good stout for someone who normally drinks lighter beers and wants to try something new.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 17:45:48 | More by Bucktron18

ToddHolder

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-11-2013 02:12:41 | More by ToddHolder

MikeyA

New York

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

05-09-2013 22:24:55 | More by MikeyA

rph97

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-09-2013 22:21:38 | More by rph97