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Demo
Magic Hat Brewing Company
- From:
- Magic Hat Brewing Company
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Black IPA
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 78
- Avg:
- 3.43 | pDev: 15.16%
- Reviews:
- 145
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 03, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 13, 2011
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 32
Demo is a deliciously dark lick of an India Pale Ale. It’s medley of roasted malts and heady hops will have your senses dancing to the beat of a different I.P.A.
45 IBU
45 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Metalmonk:
Reviewed by Metalmonk from North Carolina
3.91/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nothing pale about this one, but nothing that black about it either. So, it's a very dark IPA and a hardly-black Black Ale. Color is a dark reddish brown, mahogany maybe, and the head is a fluffy, creamy, meringue-firm sort of dirty white. I dig.
Nose is truer to style than its appearance. Lightly burnt grains, hint of smoke, citrus-y hops -- very clean despite the "something's burnt" element. Truth be told, not as burnt smelling as many others in this style. Everything is balanced well, the somewhat conflicting citrus and charred grain aspects mingling nicely.
Appearance would indicate that the burnt taste of many ABAs is going to be lesser here, and it is. You get more of a nice caramel-y, smoky toffee kind of taste instead, and the citrus-like hops don't abrade against that but instead mesh well within. The burnt aspect comes in the finish, and plays tricks on your tongue (burnt or fruity, or burnt fruit?). The feel is smooth and airy, soft and slick, and keeps Demo's drinkability high.
Gotta love the label, a 45 rpm demo record label. Very good beer too, a slightly different take on the style. But for their "IPA on Tour" series, I'm most anxious for the return of Encore.
Apr 04, 2011Nose is truer to style than its appearance. Lightly burnt grains, hint of smoke, citrus-y hops -- very clean despite the "something's burnt" element. Truth be told, not as burnt smelling as many others in this style. Everything is balanced well, the somewhat conflicting citrus and charred grain aspects mingling nicely.
Appearance would indicate that the burnt taste of many ABAs is going to be lesser here, and it is. You get more of a nice caramel-y, smoky toffee kind of taste instead, and the citrus-like hops don't abrade against that but instead mesh well within. The burnt aspect comes in the finish, and plays tricks on your tongue (burnt or fruity, or burnt fruit?). The feel is smooth and airy, soft and slick, and keeps Demo's drinkability high.
Gotta love the label, a 45 rpm demo record label. Very good beer too, a slightly different take on the style. But for their "IPA on Tour" series, I'm most anxious for the return of Encore.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.2/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3
A; opaque; very dark brown; 1 finger medium brown head that receded to a very thin cap; nice lacing;
S: roasted grain and bittersweet chocolate; no hop character;
T: not a lot of flavor; what's there follows the nose; mild to moderate bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: not enough hop character in either the aroma or flavor;
May 18, 2017S: roasted grain and bittersweet chocolate; no hop character;
T: not a lot of flavor; what's there follows the nose; mild to moderate bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: not enough hop character in either the aroma or flavor;
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida
3.31/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.31/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
I had a devil of a time trying to find this brew on Beer Advocate, so here I have added it...
Though it doesn't pour "black" it does pour dark, and it has a decent head and very good lacing down the pint glass. The smell was underwhelming, in that I couldn't pull anything out of note. The feel was crisp, smooth, and very drinkable, which I could say the same thing about the taste - decent enough to down more than one in one sitting. Overall, I wasn't overly impressed, but I wasn't disappoint. I am glad I have several of these to enjoy and I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Jan 22, 2017Though it doesn't pour "black" it does pour dark, and it has a decent head and very good lacing down the pint glass. The smell was underwhelming, in that I couldn't pull anything out of note. The feel was crisp, smooth, and very drinkable, which I could say the same thing about the taste - decent enough to down more than one in one sitting. Overall, I wasn't overly impressed, but I wasn't disappoint. I am glad I have several of these to enjoy and I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois
3.74/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a 12 oz bottle on January 15, 2016. Look is opaque brown with a tan head and some lingering lacing. Smell is hoppy with chocolate and deep roasted malt aromas. Taste is hoppy, some spice notes with chocolate and dark roasted malt flavors. Feel is medium to light in body with a clean dry finish. Worth a try.
Jan 15, 2017Reviewed by ScruffySouthpaw from New York
3.71/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Served in a pint glass from a 12oz bottle.
Appearance: Thin black body with medium to heavy bubbles on the body. Tan head drops quick after a sip.
Smell: Light malts.
Taste: Bitter and malty, light smoked feel makes you think bit of meat inside a fireplace.
Mouth: medium carbonation, dry feel at the end. Comes off a light sour.
Overall: Descent beer but there's much room for improvement. I can think of a few better black IPAs I'd rather grab. Always in a glass, Salud!
Dec 31, 2016Appearance: Thin black body with medium to heavy bubbles on the body. Tan head drops quick after a sip.
Smell: Light malts.
Taste: Bitter and malty, light smoked feel makes you think bit of meat inside a fireplace.
Mouth: medium carbonation, dry feel at the end. Comes off a light sour.
Overall: Descent beer but there's much room for improvement. I can think of a few better black IPAs I'd rather grab. Always in a glass, Salud!
Demo from Magic Hat Brewing Company
Beer rating:
78 out of
100 with
435 ratings
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