Heart Of Darkness - Magic Hat Brewing Company

Beaver13

Colorado

2.1/5  rDev -46.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle. Pours black with a medium creamy light brown head that retains well and laces the glass some.

The aroma is astringent (almost plasticky) chocolate malts with roast.

The flavor is lots of patent malt with heavy roast and a little sugary, lactic sweetness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and watery.

Overall, watery and lots of roasted patent malts.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:30:38 | More by Beaver13

SerialHiker

Illinois

2.41/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

Appearance: Pours obsidian with dark khaki colored head about a pinky finger thick…nice looking stout…(3.75/5)

Smell: Nothing…the faintest cocoa aroma, I had to really get my nose in there to smell anything…(2/5)

Taste: Rich malt, some chocolate, some coffee…there’s also some caramel sweetness…it’s a basic stout taste…(2.5/5)

Mouthfeel: Medium body…some carbonation, very little flavorful fluff…chocolate and malt all over the palette…(2.5/5)

Overall: At first, I wasn’t too impressed with this beer…it sorta does taste like a home brew, which is fine, but I expect a bit more from a fairly large brewery like magic hat…although, I kinda feel like all magic hats taste the same…anyway, the warmer this gets, the better it tastes…the chocolate and coffee come out of hiding and make this a much more pleasurable experience than when it was cold out of the fridge…a very pleasant chocolate, coffee and malt aroma is there too…so much better! I’m still gonna give this a 2, but if it’s served closer to room temp, it could be a 2+…(2.25/5)

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:43:51 | More by SerialHiker

waughbrew

Massachusetts

2.85/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

true to the darkness claim, but had a small, short-lived head: after a few seconds the top of the beer looked strangely like an oil slick. Decent aroma mostly made up of roasted and burnt malts and a wee bit of oatmeal. The flavor is too one-dimensional for me (and too much black patent bitterness). It seems to start very similar to how it finishes, with little change in between. I prefer more complexity in my oatmeal stouts, but being Magic Hat the brewers were probably going for a session-style oatmeal stout. And for that, it is fine. An average beer in my book.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2003 09:24:26 | More by waughbrew

blakelive784

Colorado

2.86/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

12 fl oz brown glass bottle served in a snifter, reviewed live:

A - Pours a non transparent dark brown color with tan head, two finger head. It's decently thick but retention is poor. Meh.

S - Heavy roasted malts up front. Semi-sweet dark chocolates and dark roast coffee. Light sweet, burnt caramel. Moderate strength. Seemingly well balanced and inviting, but it's missing the complexity I look for in a great stout.

T - Thin roasted malts mingle with instant coffee. I'm a little disappointed. It doesn't follow through. No cream. Bitter coffee. A bit watery, even. Lightly sweet chocolate. It's simple and bland.

M - Medium bodied, thin and way too carbonated.

D - It's an average stout. Nothing great, but not terrible. I'd pass on it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 01:41:25 | More by blakelive784

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

2.88/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle into long-stemmed chalice. 0913 on the neck of the bottle. i assume this is the best before date.

A: body is pretty black. head is frothy and a light brown hue. retention is great with some good lacing clumps left behind.

S: acrid roasty aroma. very acrid. smells dry. i find the acidity to be a bit off-putting.

T: starts quick. similar to the nose, the roasted malt is a bit burnt and almost stings the palate. chocolate and coffee flavor lingers into the finish.

M: definitely a mild carbonation that works well with the brew.

D: the acidity of the roast is a bit too much for me. both in the nose and on the palate. unfortunately unenjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 02:42:40 | More by Jimmys

JohnnyMc

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My first Stout from Magic Hat!

Pours out a pitch black with a thin mocha/tan head.

The aroma has notes of bittersweet chocolate, lactose, sugar and light roasted characteristics.

The taste is mainly the bittersweet chocolate notes, followed by the sugary type of sweetness and roasted malt. There is a hint of hop bitterness that helps to balance out the sweetness.

The body is medium and the mouthfeel is pretty creamy.

Definitely not bad, but very standard. I would have liked a bigger mouthfeel and some coffee notes in addition to the chocolate. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 01:54:47 | More by JohnnyMc

Minkybut

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this average beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was very gark and poured a really dark head. I was hopeful. The beer did not really have much of a smell to me maybe coffee hits. The beer was smooth but I got to say for a Stout, it was pretty tasteless I thought. Good lacing was present but I prefer taste. I will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 17:58:51 | More by Minkybut

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This "almost black" beer throws a small brown head with little retention. Not a lot on the nose. Maybe some slight roasted tones. Nice creamy, velvety mouthfeel. The tastes in this stout are pretty subdued. Nothing overwhelming. The body is light to medium (thin for a stout). Some of the slight tastes I pick up are sweet chocolate and java. There is a bitterness on the finish, but not much before that. A pretty average stout in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2002 21:19:31 | More by Bighuge

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Heart of Darkness- Magic Hat, "you are next in line"

H.O.D poured a midnight black with a small tan head.
aroma was of roasted coffee, nuts, chocolate.
taste was of roasted hops, malt, chocolate, burnt wood & milk.
mouthfeel was creamy up front with a ashy bitterness in the back.

overall, a decent stout that I could enjoy slowly. #9 is still the supreme beer from Magic Hat.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2003 21:30:16 | More by NJpadreFan

mlichens

3.18/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Tasty, bitter, and another interesting beer from Magic Hat. However, I was disappointed. I'm a stout fan but this lacked some of the sweeter/coffee like after tastes that you find in more traditional stouts. Always worth a try from this brewery, but I think I'll stick with Shakespeare.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 22:52:43 | More by mlichens

Jomolieri

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Good beer. Good flavor. But it's forgettable.

It's got a nice lingering bittersweet chocolate but lacks a strong creamy touch and sweetness that I would've liked and I think would've made it a bit more stand out.

The flavors are all fairly subtle compared to other stouts such as the Victory Love Stout.

The body is medium but seems a little weak.

Overall I'd recommend it as a casual beer but nothing that I'll savor every sip of.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 04:52:02 | More by Jomolieri

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Walter Payton shaker pint glass.

I wonder if ol' Joe Conrad is getting royalty checks...? Regardless, this stuff pours a bleak mahogany topped by a finger of tan foam. Darkness, eh? Not quite, buddy. The nose comprises roasted malts, toasted oats, and a touch of coffee. There we go, back on track. The taste brings in more of the same, though everything is now overly roasted and/or toasted. Dammit. At least it's not all bad this time. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a very dry finish. Overall, a schizoid little stout, one that's too thin and too roasty for its own good.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 04:33:09 | More by TMoney2591

VoodooBear

Puerto Rico

3.24/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Presentation: 12 oz. brown bottle, served in a steidel. The bottle cap reads: "Dont' mock a soul hundreds of years old".

Appearance: Very thin, cream colored, 1/2 finger head that disappears very quickly. Little lacing can be seen. It's a deep brown color, more like black when it's in the glass. Looks very mysterious.

Smell: It has a faint aroma. It's mainly a smoky malt smell with some hops in the background.

Taste: Very rich and complex taste. The malt flavor dominates with strong chocolate notes and some coffee in there as well. Overall, kind of smokey. A little hop bitterness finishes it up.

Mouthfeel: Very little carbonation, and it feels a little watery compared to other stouts that feel fuller. It's strong and creamy, finishes dry.

Overall: A very well put together stout. The chocolate and coffee notes, along with the smokeyness give it a very interesting and warm feel. It's a winter seasonal through and through, meant to be had on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 06:32:42 | More by VoodooBear

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

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.28/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Haven't seen this offering yet from MH so picked up a sixer of it. Pours a jet black with tannish head. Nice roasty aroma. Taste is medium bodied, a bit bland. Nice mouthfeel.. but I feel it's a bit lacking taste, not overly hoppy but doesn't have the usual nuttiness of an oatmeal stout. I was surprised to see this one rated so high... seems like an average, drinkable stout to me, nothing too special about it.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 04:53:30 | More by marlinsfan4

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

i bought this heart of darkness for a pie recipe that i got off magic hats website. the pie was great, but the beer isnt as bold as i would expect from something called "the heart of darkness." the color is an almost opaque with a nice slight crimson tint. the smell is nutty, maybe some hazel nut and chocolate malt. the taste nutty and smokey, but it quickly wanes to a watery nothing. i wish this was bolder, and packed a little more of a punch. over all its not worthless but when im in the mood for a stout, however, i usually want something bolder and more flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:11:55 | More by mattkoon

BWED

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.

A- Just enough light comes through to show a deep deep brown, and a little red-amber highlight under the head. Head is two finger creamy, cappuccino-like, light brown. Retains a good 1/4", just enough to get a tiny foamstache on every sip. Splatters of lacing ring around the glass.

S- Dark roasted coffee, with a sweet hint. No noticeable hops.

T- The coffee is up front, with a slightly sugary aftertaste. I have to say though, the taste is not as bold as the smell. It almost seems diluted.

M- Medium-light body with a creamy-fizzy tingle of carbonation, but still fairly smooth. Somewhat dry, too, thus fitting a one criterion of an English stout.

O- Being a stout guy, I can't take this as my favorite, but being a stout guy, I could take this a few rounds instead of sacrificing myself to Guinness or a cheap shitty light beer. It's smooth, has a moderate ABV, and is light enough to knock a few back. It wasn't satisfying enough to have just this one, but I'll remember it the next time I plan on getting fired up!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 02:56:30 | More by BWED

far333

Connecticut

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

After having written the review just below for the bottled version, I went to my favorite beer bar and found the draught version, and immediately asked for a pint. I have to say (and the rest of the draught reviews seem to agree) that the draught version is similar in all respects except the flavor and aroma. The flavor is milder and smoother, and the hop flavor takes over. The hints of chocolate and coffee seem to be lost in both flavor and aroma. The head also seemed to run away too quickly. Still a very drinkable and enjoyable stout, but the bottled version really stands out in the crowd, where the draught version is just another oatmeal stout.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2003 03:56:45 | More by far333

mactrail

California

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Very dark brown in the glass. A coarse head froths up and lies down. Medium body. Sprightly on the tongue but not at all creamy.

Interesting winey flavor. Dark and deeply roasted malt flavors. A surprising sort of Stout. Chocolatey and just slightly sweet. Kind of a mineral taste, sort of chalky. Fairly tart. Just a modest bitterness with an edge of sourness. Burnt caramel in the finish.

I'm not sure this is so sensational, but it's certainly a deeply flavorful brew. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Grapevine Liquors in Denver.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 07:13:48 | More by mactrail

pezoids

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a very dark mahogany brown color, which the light just barely shone through. Nice rich and creamy head. Roasted chocolates and coffee in the aroma. Not much body. A watery stout here. The roasted grains leave a bitterness in the back of the throat. Some perfumey and toasted flavors come out as you drink. This is a nice light stout. Not very rich, but enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2003 17:50:15 | More by pezoids

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.39/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle served in a willibecker. One of the original brews that got me into craft back in the day so let's see how it has held up. Pours the color and clarity of cola with a quarter inch, fizzy, tan-colored head. Nose reveals roast, lactose sweetness and a metallic aroma towards the back. Taste consistent with nose; however, there is also an acidity that cuts through the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium-light with a carbonation that falls just short of lively. Acidity is light, but lingers along the taste buds at the back of the tongue between quaffs. Overall, this beer has held up pretty well considering the last time I had it was in the mid 90's. That said, it's definitely not as robust as I recall, but a respectable beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 01:29:05 | More by Jwale73

silks636

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12 oz. brown bottle. Freshness date marked. Cap quip urges, “Be a winner, share your dinner”.

Appears opaque brown. Thin taupe head which quickly dissipates to a ring around the glass. Light and spotty lacing. Aroma of roasted coffee and black licorice. Very faint traces of dried fruit/raisin scents present as well. Taste begins a touch bitter then gives way to a deep roasted/burnt malt flavor over a mild underlying creamy sweetness. Some hop twang is present momentarily toward the finish, and provides a nice contrast to the semi-sweet burnt coffee taste. Aftertaste is dry with a touch of smoky grain. Mouthfeel is more watery than I would have liked.

Not a bad stout, but one I feel is a bit on the timid side. Allowing it to warm slightly definitely helped the cause. A drinkable brew indeed, but there are much better stouts to be had.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2003 21:24:14 | More by silks636

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Super dark brown, borders on black. Pours clear. Head is a light tan and drops to a wispy cap and spotty collar in short order. Pours nice and smooth. Moderate carbonation.

Smell: Roasted chocolate malts. Sweet milk chocolate coupled with some burnt bitter cocoa notes as well. Mild burst of oats. Some lingering grassy and herbal notes as well. A touch of citrus, but it's minimal and fades quickly. Chocolate chips and milk chocolate. Very sweet with some mild roasted bitterness that tries to counter it.

Taste: Slightly burnt. Bitter cocoa edge. Big chocolate malts. Some other dark chocolate lying around as well. Roasted barley in abundance. Some mild oatiness. Toasted edges. Mild hints of citrus in the back. Distinct Magic Hat yeast rounds out the back. As it warms the roasted notes take over. Slight char and acrid backing.

Mouthfeel: Slightly creamy with a higher than expected carbonation. Lingering dryness on the back. Body ends up middle of the road.

Overall: The official beer of The Heartless.

Probably the best showing by Magic Hat in the last 5 years (excluding the 1st rerelease of Blind Faith.) Nice flavor profile and a solid showing overall. Not the best in the style, but probably the best thing Magic Hat has on the market currently.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 21:13:19 | More by Goblinmunkey7

oberon

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep black with a medium off white sticky head,the aroma is chocolaty and kinda smoky smell was not that great to me.The taste is chocolaty and nutty with some definent hoppy bitterness in the finish.Not a bad beer but average compared to alot of standards.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2003 00:46:49 | More by oberon

ybnorml

Rhode Island

3.43/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A very dark brown/black beer with ruby highlights. Has a small dark beige head that leaves quickly. There is a tasty sweet malt aroma with a good coffee background. The flavor starts with a strong bittersweet chocolate character and that slips nicely into a sweet licorice finish. The mouthfeel seemed a little thin for what I expected.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2004 01:45:26 | More by ybnorml