Magic Hat Deveiled
I’ve had some dark and hoppy ales in my time, but Magic Hat Deveiled is probably the darkest amber ale that I’ve encountered so far. Brewed with a combination of 2-Row Pale, Victory, Crystal 40L, Caramel Munich, Caramel 120L and Chocolate malt varieties, this brew pours more brown than it does amber. Toss in a blend of Magnum and Cascade hops that bring 37 IBU to the table and you’ve got one interesting beer to say the least.
And much like Black IPAs bring a measure of roastiness to the typical hop character that the style is known for, this darker-than-normal amber ale also presents a measure of roasted malt that is not the norm for the genre. The brewery has done a nice job of incorporating all elements to Deveiled’s flavor profile — it’s fairly well balanced and at 5.2% ABV drinks deceptively smoothly.
Appearance
Deveiled pours a dark, reddish brown with a light khaki cap of foam.
Aroma
Roasty malt, a light char, burnt caramel and subtle pine mingle with soft citrus fruits for a fairly balanced nose.
Taste
Magic Hat Deveiled has a solid roasty character with a hit of char lingering along the edges. Coffee and a touch of chocolate also make an appearance right before the beer transitions smoothly to a long lasting dryness in the finish. A light-to-moderate amount of hop bitterness rises and falls smoothly in the back half of the beer. Hints of grapefruit and pine come and go in the background.
Overall
I’m not sure if this is a new “black” treatment for an amber ale or if Magic Hat just wanted to give the style a more seasonal flavor profile suitable for the cooler Autumn months, but this is a pretty roasty brew. Regardless, the brewery has a beer here that I wouldn’t mind cracking open after raking up a few piles of leaves. Deveiled has good balance and goes down pretty smoothly.
Rating: 3.25/5
This is a review of a promotional sample from the brewery.
