Heart Of Darkness - Magic Hat Brewing Company

mentor

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Good fricking lord. This was a fantastic beer. Thanks to Sulldaddy for the opportunity. Poured a single finger brown head over a pitch black liquid. Smelled sweet. Of licorice and molasses, roast grains, some Fuggles hops, and a hint of alcohol. Tasted chocolatey delicious. Very caramel and toffee flavored with mild roast. A hint of vanilla and a hint of chocolate-covered-cherry (like the fine candies that have a cherry liquor. Gentle and nice with a somewhat dry, but highly refined chocolate flavor. Medium body and mildly carbonated. Could use a bit more evervesence, but I'm really reaching to find *something* to complain about. Gimme a 6er and I'll give you 6 emtpy bottles. Really a fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2005 09:49:32 | More by mentor

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice near black colour, with a cream coloured head of about a finger, and it leaves some nice lace. The aroma is roasted barley, cocoa, light roast coffee, and a hint of toffee. The taste has heavy dry cocoa powder notes, and touches of coffee and sweet roasted maltiness. The feel is nice and creamy, with a medium body, solid carbonation, and a clean finish.

Could it be?! The first beer from Magic Hat that actually impressed me! Most things have been average, so I actually put back the sixer in favour of a single...might have to revisit lol

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:54:05 | More by EgadBananas

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

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have heard pretty nice things about this beer. Random mix-a-six grab get's the job done.

A- Poured into a tulip from the bottle. If this beer was a heart it would be pitch black, blocking any light from entering it's tortured soul. The creamy head on top of the stout is nice and brown with a thick, frothy texture. Cap retention is nice and thick webs of lace form quickly and

S- Strong roast profile right off the bat, you can tell they didn't skimp on the roasted malts. These malts give a great cocoa powder note as well as hints of caramel, cereal grains and general roastiness.

T- Roast malt forward again as well. Not quite as rich as the nose leads me on to think but still satisfying cocoa, coffee, licorice, burnt, charcoal and roast notes. I also get hints of dark fruit, vanilla, nutty malt and earthy hops.

MF- The feel to the body is very creamy and foamy when agitated which makes it very smooth. The carbonation is on the higher side of thing but it suits the drier flavor (for a stout) and lower ABV.

Certainly one of the better MH offerings I have had in a while. I used to always buy the mixed seasonal 12 packs but haven't lately. Worth trying for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 03:40:06 | More by cbutova

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark, deep black with a two finger head of brown foam that sticks around for a long while. This one has some really nice lace stuck to the glass too. Excellent head retention.

S - Yoohoo, oatmeal, and a hint of roasty coffee. Caramel and fudge are present in the nose, and the initially sweet milk chocolate notes give way to more roasted oats and caramel as it warms.

T - Much more bitter than I would have guessed from the nose. Dark baking chocolate, burnt toast, and strong black coffee.

M - There is a good deal of carbonation which sort of interferes with the creaminess that should be found in this style, but it is a pretty viscous beer. Finishes powder-dry and roasty as hell.

This is an extremely well crafted stout. Has more going on in the nose than on the palate, but still tastes great! It's hard to live up to that wonderful aroma.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 15:40:15 | More by pmcadamis

wedge

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Participation Makes A Great Nation"

I have to admit, I was very excited to see this for sale at the local super market. I haven't had one of these in probably six or seven years since it disappeared from shelves in New England. This used to be a favorite and was one of the first stouts I really came to enjoy back in the early days of my craft beer drinking, so I hope it holds up to how I remember it.

Pours pretty black with a chestnut glow towards to bottom of the glass. On top is a thick mass of creamy foam with enough frothiness to leave behind some decent lacing. Chocolate, creamy coffee, toffee, and black malt aromas along with a touch of fruitiness. Creamy, bittersweet, dark chocolate roastiness in the mouth. Dark malts, a hint of vanilla, charcoal, dark fruit. Silky smooth medium body.

Well, I still like it! Is it as good as it used to be? I have no idea. I may have rated it higher a while back and I was surprised to see that I didn't rate it when I had the chance, but it's still a nice rendition of an oatmeal stout and certainly one of the better beers Magic Hat is currently putting out. It's good to see the hypnotic eye in my fridge again. Meeemoriiees...

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 00:24:47 | More by wedge

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Back on tap (only at the brewery's store) for samplings and growler fills. Poured from the growler into a tumbler on 02.29.2008.

Pours a chocolate brown in color; near opaque with burgundy hues. Creamy, off-white head that plasters the glass' sides leaving sticky, condensed lacing. Lots of webbed lacing with good strength.

Milk and dark chocolate aromas; semi-sweet. Lingering floral-perfume with touches of medicinal notes and astringency. Caramel and dried coffee beans.

Caramel and bittered chocolate up-front followed by dark, fruity esters: fig, raisin, dark cherry. Hazlenut and coffee beans with a pleasant creaminess interact with the floral hops giving off a touch of must. The finish is dry and airy leaving a bland, caramel aftertaste.

Full in body; smooth, but dry in spots that give this stout an airy film-like texture.

This beer was a classic back in the day. Either my palate has changed since its retirement or the recipe has. Disappointing to say the least, considering how happy I was to hear of its return.

Serving type: growler

03-01-2008 14:07:01 | More by NEhophead

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

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours black. Minimal light penetration. Head is great. Tan and well built. The consistency is frothy. Leaves lacing webs all over my pint glass.

S-Signature Oatmeal Stout nose. Cold coffee and handfuls of chocolate chips. Chocolate is bittersweet and consistent. Light hoppy bitterness. About a 6 on the intensity scale.

T-Hershey's Syrup and burnt coffee. Charred oats. Flat soda. Maybe a bit like flat Dr. Pepper (due to the fruity flavors I find here). Powdered cocoa. Dark and milk chocolate. Light hoppy bitterness.

M-Buzzing carbonation. Easy drinking (I am loving that this is a sub 6% brew). Enough body. Sessionable Stout.

O/D-Really solid Oatmeal Stout. I will have no problem blowing back all 6 of these. One of Magic Hat's best offerings. Not too sweet, which I am happy about. Oh, so solid!

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 18:49:29 | More by VelvetExtract

GilGarp

Colorado

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

12oz bottle served cold into a pint glass.

Nearly black in color and with a thin layer of head, it settles quickly but leaves some nice lace on the glass.

Aroma is sweet, like milk chocolate, with a slight roasty quality.

The flavor is balanced with sweetness up front but a good dose or roasty dark malt bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and lightly carbonated.

Overall a nice, robust, roasty stout.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 02:49:57 | More by GilGarp

UnionMade

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a tar black, completely opaque even around the bottom of the glass. A thick topping of darkish beige mist coats the viscous looking liquid, leaving some blobs of lace clinging to the glass. Decent retention, dropping out almost entirely with a few sips left.
The aroma is very chocolatey, with a solid amount of oatmeal lending it's distinct, almost milky, smoothness. Heaps of roasted malt, with an enticing bittersweet aroma. Some charred grain and coffee, with a slight buttery tinge. Mild black cherry and fig.
The flavor starts with impressive roasty malt. A touch grainy, with a strong chocolate taste, along with a sweetly mellowing oatmeal smoothness throughout. Some coffee flavor, moving into a cautious fig, riasin and cherry fruitiness. A bit of slick butteriness in the mouthfeel. The finish is a restrained burnt bitterness, assisted with a pinch of grassy hopping. Very smooth and easy drinking, supported by slight, fluffy carbonation. A burly medium body, assuredly assisted by a bit of yeast presence. A lingering roasty aftertaste, with a suggestion of cherry cordial.
One of my favorite oatmeal stouts, and probably my favorite 12oz offering from Magic Hat. My only complaint is that this isn't offered year round, even though some package stores try to pretend.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2004 08:07:53 | More by UnionMade

aracauna

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Good black beer with a sandy light tan head that lingers. Good roastiness in the aroma. I'm getting charcoal and espresso in both the aroma and the flavor. The roasty notes come in heavy up tops but fades into a light chocolate and bitterness in the short finish. Seems like it needs something else in there to support the roast up top. Still a good stout, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2003 06:52:48 | More by aracauna

yesyouam

New York

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Magic Hat Heart of Darkness is a solid, black ale with a generous, soft, light brown head that has outstanding lacing and retention. The aroma is kind of tangy with a fair amount of dark roast. There's a note of caramel and some sort of spice. It's smooth and medium bodied with a dry finish that's pretty clean. It tastes pretty dry and roasty with just enough bitterness to balance it out. It is pretty tangy, but not fruity. There are notes of caramel and vanilla. A light, resiny bitterness lingers for a bit after the swallow. This is a really solid offering from Magic Hat. I can down a 6-pack of this with no hesitation.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:59:06 | More by yesyouam

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a nearly pitch black colored brew with a billowy tan head. The head has a good level of retention, fading slowly to give a nice level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is quite nice and delicious. It is heaviest of a good deal of coffee some sweet caramel and some chocolate aromas. Mixed with these aromas are lighter notes of a oatmeal as well as vanilla aroma.

Taste – The flavors begin with a strong roasted malt and oat flavor mixed with some sweet caramel flavors. As the flavors advance further vanilla come to the tongue. These linger along and as the taste advances more toward the end with some flavors of a bitter coffee flavor coming in. In the end, with the roastiness fading a bit, one is left with a pleasant, dark yet somewhat sweet flavor left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is rather average in terms of creaminess with a carbonation level that is slightly below average. A little bit more creaminess in the body would have been better for the style, but considering the abv. and drinkability that is afforded by the brew, it is overall quite good.

Overall –A quite tasty and balanced stout at only 5.7 % abv. The blend of flavors and their transitions are all very nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 00:57:19 | More by Darkmagus82

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours jet black, ring of brown foam. Layer remains on top. Big rich roasted nose. Espresso loaded. Dark chocolate too. Creamy roasted flavor. Dry finish. Very flavorful. Ever so slight bitter in the close. Quite tasty. Magic Hat really pulled this one off.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 12:07:51 | More by KTCamm

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Magic Hat Heart of Darkness Stout.

Pouring it into my pint glass, the beer looks solid black with a finger-and-a-half of khaki-colored foam. Mostly dense head is populated by a sea foam-like topping and a few bigger bubbles on the surface's center. The beer drinks down with a little bit of lacing.

At first waft, the beer promotes the central aroma of dark chocolate and black coffee with hints of dark fruits and light cream. Subdued nose offers little of anything else; still malt roasty, but without any indications of burnt or hoppy notes.

Mostly chocolate and coffee on the tongue, Heart Of Darkness also has a tasty creamy note married with some now-apparent roasty grain and some delicate floral hop flavors. The hops are bittering at first, but materialize a little more in the finish. Very malty, all around, but with a manageably sweet decadence accented by semi-sweet cocoa. Both, the coffee notes and the almost-silenced hops, help to stave off the sugars and advocate a very enjoyable drink. Aiding the smoothness is a burly, but milky, medium body and near-sessionable alcohol level. The carbonation is ideal, and does not overpower or try to command attention in this stout.

I would absolutely buy this again. Heart Of Darkness is a lovely surprise from the boys up in Burlington. Wish there were more of these in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 02:46:44 | More by thecheapies

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with red highlights and alight tan head. Very attractive beer. Minor-sized head produced fades quickly but leaves samll beads of laces on the glass.
Aroma of roasted barley, espresso, black licorice and wood and earth tone. Great aromatic aroma.
Flavor notes of coffee, malted milk balls, oatmeal and earthy bitter hop notes giving off moderate bitterness.
Mouthfeel starts really well with full feel but then fades at the end to a slightly metallic and somewhat watery finish. Only quasi-nhegative about the beer.
Drinkability was high would like to try on draught to get full enjoyment.
Great stout, thanks PBrian and Beerluvr for these beauties.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2004 17:13:53 | More by CRJMellor

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a dark brown color, practically black, about a finger and a half of head, light tan color, fades at a very slow rate and leaves some small bits of lacing on the glass.

Smell has a strong cocoa aroma, the chocolate really hits the nose right away and is the most dominate feature but also blocks any other aromas from forming.

Taste is a little more straightforward, roasted malt upfront, the cocoa presence is much lighter in flavor than it is in aroma, burnt malt bitterness and a slight metallic flavor in the aftertaste, body is surprisingly thin with a carbonation that just seems too aggressive.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 20:16:28 | More by deltatauhobbit

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Easily my favorite Magic Hat beer to date, which is damning with faint praise, but I did like this one. Pours ink black with a tremendous khaki colored head that has solid retention and lots of sticky lacing. Roasty, bitter nose with semisweet chocolate and coffee notes.

Flavor is quite close to the aroma; I get lots of dry roasty bitterness, bakers chocolate, and black coffee. Finish is dry as well. Flavor is fairly bold but thin in the manner of an Irish dry stout; it makes a strong initial impression but doesn't linger very long in the mouth or open to reveal untold depths. Just straightforward and tasty.

Medium body with medium to slightly high and fizzy carbonation. Not much of an oatmeal presence in the feel.

This is a solid, tasty, un-gimmicky beer, and if this brewery would make more like it I would buy their products more than just rarely.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:46:44 | More by tobelerone

hosehead83

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Deep. oily black in color, with a nice cap of tan foam that hangs for a while.
Aroma-Dark roasted malt, coffee
Taste-Rich roasted coffee, dark chocolate, faint smokiness and tangy hop prescence. Dry, roasty finish. Not as creamy as some oatmeal stouts but every bit as flavorfull, with a drier finish. Match up with some burgers or BBQ. Yum!

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 18:00:16 | More by hosehead83

Hibernator

Massachusetts

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

I had this out of a 12 oz brown bottle and served in a tulip pint glass. Cool looking Magic Hat label design. Freshness date is notched to be enjoyed before February 2005.

Jet black color with a nice, fluffy 1 inch tan colored head. Sticky lacings are clinging all over the sides of the glass.

Aroma of licorice, roasted coffee and molasses.

A very soft bodied stout that blends roasted malt flavors and a minor hop bitterness. Flavors of chocolate, creamy butterscotch, and roasted coffee.

This is a great stout and one beer that I am glad to see on the shelves. I didn't realize until recently that this was a Magic Hat Winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2004 00:31:53 | More by Hibernator

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part of a sampler six pack.

Very black with a nice one finger tan head that lasted the whole glass and left good lacing.

Aroma is chocolate, coffee, some roastiness, butterscotch, and a little molasses.

Flavor is very nice. The chocolate is milky, there's some nice roasty malt character with a little burnt, a little coffee, and a lightly bitter finish.

Body is pretty thick and rich, yet easy to drink, with a dry finish and smooth creamy carbonation.

A damn fine beer. I'll have to see if they have sixers of this one at my local store.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 22:37:19 | More by AlCaponeJunior

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

BeerLover99

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: deep black/light rust hue, khaki finger head, standard lacing

S: chocolate, roasted malt, toffee, nuts, mild licorice

T: vanilla, chocolate, rich roasted malt, mild bitter finish

M: med body, light smooth with semi-dry finish

O: WELL DONE, MAGIC HAT!! Just when I had given
up on you, this is mighty fine. Insanely session stout.

DELICIOUS; GET SOME!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 17:44:11 | More by BeerLover99

rajendra82

Georgia

3.49/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

The beer poured out promising, looking dark brown to black, with a small head. The aromas were dominated by the carbonation at first, but opened up into chocolate and coffee upon prolonged inspection. The taste was somewhat disappointing to me, as the coffee, toffee, and chocolate flavors were nice and clean, but they felt diluted due to the thin and tinny mouthfeel. I m glad I only bought a single. A case of what could have been.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 05:04:37 | More by rajendra82