Howl - Magic Hat Brewing Company

nick76

Florida

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The appearance is dark brown with a medium head. The smell is a little off with a tiny bit of funk to go along with roasted malt, coffee, and molasses. The taste is like the aroma. The palate is average for the style. Overall this is a strange beer that grows on you as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 00:56:47 | More by nick76

jrallen34

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle drank from into a pint glass...Pours dark brown with a really nice head. Three fingers of light tan head, good retention and lacing, fluffy...A mostly dead and boring aroma, I pull plums that are lightly spiced, not bad, just not strong enough...The taste is basically the aroma, light spiced dark fruits, not offernse but just too boring. A blank finish has me wanting more.

Not something worth trying, but if you're at dinner and in a pinch like me its ok.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 01:17:45 | More by jrallen34

cjgator3

Florida

3.3/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle

A- Pours a black color with light tan head.

S- The aroma is slightly roasted grains with a little bit of sweet chocolate notes as well.

T- The taste has a little bit of sweetness up front with some roastiness from the malt in the finish.

M- The mouthfeel is between light and medium bodies wih a good amount of carbonation.

O- Overall, not bad but not something I would purchase again. I would prefer more hops in a beer like this.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 03:22:34 | More by cjgator3

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Quite dark, only a sliver of red around the edged. Tall creamy head leaving considerable licing.

S - smoaky malts, very nice and inviting.

T - smoaky malts, but that is about all. Not much deoth. The smoaky malts are good, but do not carry too far.

M - It is a lager so it is thin, but nice coating for a lager. slight tingle on the front of the tongue.

D - I usually go for stouts but this dark lager is quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 03:34:15 | More by biglite351

mtstatebeer

West Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle. Pours an opaque black color with a decent fizzy light brown head, decent lacing. Aroma is caramel and roasted malts, coffee, and a hint of earthiness. Flavor is roasted malts, wood, nutty, and earthy hops. Mouthfeel medium, well carbonated, kind of chalky at the end. Pretty good beer, good for the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 03:30:26 | More by mtstatebeer

Drazzamatazz

Maine

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured in SA Perfect Pint.

A: Poured a dark brown with a clump three finger head that quickly faded to a small cap. A little bit of hang on the glass.
S: Malted oats as well as a little bit of chocolate. I know it's not my glass....but it almost a vague soapy smell.
T: Smooth smokey-ness along with burnt sugar. Very malty and seems to be getting a bitter chocolate bite as it warms up. Again, is that lavender? What's wrong with me.
M: Decent body, I'd say medium to low carbonation.
D: Pretty easy drinker for a winter brew. Maybe a little bit lower ABV then I'd like on a cold winter night, but nothing too challenging here.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 04:00:59 | More by Drazzamatazz

Amalak

New York

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had out of a 12 ounce bottle. IT's extremely dark brown, almost black. Good foamy tan head and excellent lacing. Nice smokey, burnt scent with a hint of cinnamon.

It's a very burnt tasting porter/stout. Thick. Hasa very mild chocolate taste. Rough on the tongue. Not smooth, a bit sour.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2010 22:58:12 | More by Amalak

DosBeerigos

Florida

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

C. Clear, for a very dark beer
H. Black
N. Strong Coffee, light smoke, and hints of chocolate

Well this is the second, Black Lager that I have reviewed for the site. The first was the Dixie Voodoo Black. So ill compare the two. If you read that review the Dixie it was clean, crisp, and water-like. Howl, has a TON more flavor. It is smokey as expected from a deep black beer, but has a great settling almost sweetness to it. If I could compare it to a person; remember that gothic chick that was in high-school. Well she seemed dark and probably smoked ciggs cause she thought it was "cool". Well then when you got to know her and passed all the black clothes and make-up, she was sorta sweet, but yet still dark. Yep that's this beer. So if your into all that dark stuff I would recommend this beer. It has grown on me throughout the month since I was shipped 12 of these bad boys from the "beer fairy" up north (they may make a special appearance some time soon...stay tuned!). Well you cant go grab this one, but if your nice I may share my final three with you! Check it out next winter season, for sure!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2010 19:40:59 | More by DosBeerigos

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Magic Hat Howl, winter seasonal

Dark brown color, ruby highlights, bubbling cocoa head, fizzles quickly.

Aroma: Sweet, cola-ish notes, some nutty tones...a bit of espresso down there. Bit creamy, too.

Taste: much the same from the nose. Fullish body, good balance, nice give and take between hops and malt, but not offering much different in flavor. A goodish winter warmer .(wait, fullish trips my spellcheck, but not 'goodish'?)...more like a dunkel lager. Not especially memorable, but drinkable.
don't think I would go for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 02:40:58 | More by feloniousmonk

mactrail

California

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark, grainy beer with burnt malt flavors.

Plenty black and a nice head. Not as smooth and mellow as you might want in a low-alcohol dark beer. Not much of a nose. Tastes of Black Patent malt, rather strong on the charcoal and hint of sourness. Very light body but a nice feel on the tongue. Faint hint of malt. Quite low on the hop scale but bitter aftertaste creeps up.

This is more of a watery stout. Not particularly pleasant but might be a thirst quencher.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 04:26:25 | More by mactrail

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 1" light mocha head with moderate life. Dark burnt umber brown color, black enough. Smell is very mild, just a little roasted malt. Taste is like a very weak porter: roasted malt, coffee, chocolate. Body is quite light, I'd even call it watery. To me this is OK but it's not a standout.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 02:01:43 | More by MoreThanWine

mercyfulfate

Missouri

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 Oz Bottle Into a Kona Brewing Pint Glass.

A: Not quite 'black as night' as the label claims. Dark brown into a light black. Very little head, but stays around. Good amount of lacing.

S: Smells of roasted malts, faint hint of chocolate in the background.

T: Tasted a little lighter than I expected. Getting the tastes of some dark roasted malts and a wee bit of chocolate.

M: Once again pretty light. Makes it a pretty easy beer to drink.

O: Not a bad black lager. On par with some of the other darker brews from Magic Hat. Willing to buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 01:52:39 | More by mercyfulfate

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A- Calling it black as night (as their label does) is a stretch, but it sits comfortably in the very dark brown category. Head is one finger cocoa, retains at a slick, minimal lacing.
S- The aroma is pleasant and reasonably assertive with dark caramel, a bit of cocoa, and this aroma that is sort of earthy.
T- Taste is dark caramel, with aa bit of cocoa in the finish. The faintest of espresso in the finish.
M- I gave the flavor a four, but that is optimistically rating it for what it would be if the mouthfeel left it on my tongue long enough. Very thin and not much carbonation just makes the beer flow too quickly.
O- A good tasting and smelling beer that needs to add some body and/or carbonation for me to want to come back. Simply too thin.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 22:55:22 | More by jsprain1

whtguitarguy

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is one of the better Magic Hat brands out there. Pours to a dark reddish brown, very little head. Nose is like an amber ale with hops and roasted malts. Mouthfeel is medium and slightly coating. Flavor includes notes of coffee, chocolate (roasted malts), and nuts with a slight barley character.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 21:29:39 | More by whtguitarguy

twaddlac

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark maroon, brown, with fawnish tan head that dissipates from a small head to a somewhat sticky lace. The bubbles are normally graded.

S- Strong toasted malt, dark coffee, slightly smoky. Overbearing toasted malt smell.

T- Bitter with strong toasted malt. Speculatory cascade hops, add a slight bitterness instead of floral quality. Aftertaste of dark cocoa.

M- Medium to heavy body, medium carbonation.

D- Good beer, may be able to drink a sixer in one sitting. A bit bitter, but nothing that takes away from enjoying this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2010 21:29:37 | More by twaddlac

punkrkr27

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Near black pour with mahogany highlights at the edges of the glass and a small, dense, tan head. The aroma is very modest with light notes of roast, very soft spice, fresh bread and a distinct noble hop twang. The flavor is also very gentle with a fair amount of roast, a little cocoa and soft spice and finishing clean with a mild noble hop bite. Medium, creamy body with soft but plentiful carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 23:00:12 | More by punkrkr27

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A hard pour reveals a color of deep reddish brown, with a three finger tan head that lingers, leaving thick horizontal lacing. When held to the light, unfiltered particles float near the bottom of this otherwise murky brew. The aroma is composed of generous malt, mild citric hops, and a stale yeasty scent. There are also hints of grape, conjuring thoughts of comparison to some characteristics of a dark wine. The taste begins with a bitter burnt malt flavor. This is quickly replaced by an even grainer taste, specifically of barley, that peaks, and flows through cleanly to the finish. Accompanying this are faint notes of tin and dark chocolate flakes. The brew is medium to heavy bodied, has medium carbonation, is neither entirely creamy nor watery, and leaves the mouth on the dry side. For the style of a schwartzbier it is a bit thick and heavy, making it more of a sipping lager.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was its complex aroma and the clean follow through of the taste (with a great label to boot!). The apparent exhibition of grape in the nose and heavy barley in the taste make for a unique winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 02:51:44 | More by TheBrewo

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Brown and slightly cloudy, with maybe a finger's width of tan head with and OK amount of retention and some decent lacing.

S: Maltiness, almost exclusively. Slightly roasted malts, coffee, and maybe a slight pine aroma from the hops.

T: Wow, has a flavor that the aroma barely hints at. Deep malty flavor, lots of coffee and well balanced on the hops. The more I taste, though, the more i get a kind of medicinal flavor that is pretty off-putting.

M: Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Fells relatively light for the flavor.

D: It's a pretty decent beer, but the medicinal taste is throwing me off. Its light feeling body and deep roasty taste make it drinkable. I will certainly finish my six pack, but i don't intend to seek this beer out.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 23:57:00 | More by DaveBlack

Ezone024

Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

never been big into magic hat i've only ever liked the HIPA but a friend brought over some of the black as night. it's pretty legit.

pours out black as night, you can't really get anything from the look because it's so black.

it smells metallic with hints of carmel

the taste gives off a good balance of toffee and a light hops background.

light alcohol content makes it a good beer to drink alot of. it has a really good warming feeling.

apparently this beer has been retired but this is from a new pack, so they must have just discontinued it. but you can still get it at your local beer spot.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2009 01:25:13 | More by Ezone024

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle tried 27 May 2010.

Served in a Lakefront shaker pint. Very large lively tan head. Well carbonated. Deep dark opaque espresso brown color. Aroma has a noticeable roastiness with an acidic twang. Sweet raosted chocolate maltiness. Finish is roasty sour with a touch of cocoa bitterness. Aftertaste of toasty bread and semisweet chocoalte, touch of cinnamon. Ethanol warming but mild. Medium to light body.

Decent.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2010 04:56:10 | More by htomsirveaux

welldigger888

South Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured into an amrican shaker pint glass, Nice head on a dark but not opaque brew with descent lacing down the glass.
Seemed to have some grainy aromas mixed in with the roasty malt notes.
The flavors in this brew were a little bit like a macro up front for me, having said that as it warmed a bit some of the roasty malt coffee chocolate flavors seemed to prevail.
Nice carbonation not too thin and not syrupy either. Went down easy.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 19:27:50 | More by welldigger888

DrinkingDrake

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Extremely black with a creamy off white head which stuck to the side of the glass the whole way down.
An espresso dark roasted coffee and black patent malt smell dominates. Only a faint backing of some dark earthy(figs) hops.
Not as thick as I expected and neither was the complexity of darker malts. Pretty straight forward stout with a good balanced of chocolate/dark malt and roasted barley.
Goes down pretty smooth and for a stout you can drink a good amount of these.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 01:43:07 | More by DrinkingDrake

ajaxivan

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An acquaintance of mine gave me a case of this for doing him a favor. This is something I wouldn't have bought for my self, here it goes.

A: Nice and dark with a good looking tan head.

S: Nothing to write home about, slightly sweet dark fruit, touch of spice with some chocolate.

T: The slight hop bitterness works well with the subtle smokiness. A little chocolate comes through with some spice.

M: A little thin, carbonation is spot on.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I haven't had many Magic Hat offerings in many years and this is not bad at all. I'm also not really one for lagers and this is a good change of pace for me. I would recommend this especially if looking for a beer with alot of flavor and low abv.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 20:51:40 | More by ajaxivan

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Beer pours a very dark cola color with a brown color head that is very thin and gives way quickly with very little lacing present. The smell is of coffee and roasted malt notes. The taste has a big coffee flavor with a slight hint of coco and a roasted malt backbone. The mouthfeel is a little thin and watery. Overall it is a very drinkable beer, it has good flavor, and you could have a lot of these because it is not heavy.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 19:38:23 | More by goblue3509

Duhast500

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pored from a 12oz. bottle into a pint glass.

The color is a dark black with some light brown foamy head and some slight lacing.

The smell is malty but not very strong. Some hints of toffee and a little coffee bean.

The taste is of burnt malts and some slight coffee flavor. There is a spicy/sweet flavor to this beer that does have a slight bite. There is some brown sugar flavor as well.

The feel is pretty good for this winter beer. It has a great medium body and goes down better than expected.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 03:59:57 | More by Duhast500