Dark Arts
Magic Rock Brewing

Dark ArtsDark Arts
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From:
Magic Rock Brewing
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Stout
Ranked #34
ABV:
6%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,665
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 8.31%
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
78
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 23, 2024
Added:
Aug 20, 2011
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  9
Dark Arts blends four malts and bags of whole hops to deliver a decadently deep and indulgent experience. A luxuriously smooth mouthfeel, is followed by spicy hop notes and full flavours of chocolate, liquorice, blackberries and figs. The finish is rich and satisfying with a lingering roasted bitterness. Our stout will convert you to the dark side.
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Ratings by woosterbill:
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

3.56/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Gravity halfpint at the Euston Tap.

A: Black with cloudy red-brown highlights and a full finger of ultra creamy dark tan head. I'm a little disappointed about getting a short pour, but the appearance is striking indeed.

S: Extremely roasty, with burnt malt absolutely dominating. Nothing but coffee, char, and more roast. Pretty nice, but a bit single-minded.

T: Opens with dark fruit and burnt coffee, then develops into charred graham cracker and dark chocolate - almost like a s'more that got dropped into the fire and half-consumed, but you were drunk enough to eat regardless. Very robust, with a bitter coffee finish. Good stuff, but not terribly interesting.

M: Highly frothy medium body. Ok.

O: This beer was all right, but definitely went overboard with the roasted notes. From what I can gather this brewery seems to be trying to do the "extreme" thing, and in this case they went a bit too far.

Cheers!
Mar 30, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Dethark from England

Jan 23, 2024
 
Rated: 4.27 by hopley from Massachusetts

Sep 26, 2022
 
Rated: 4.16 by bad_poetry from England

May 20, 2022
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
L- Ultra dark garnet red such that it effectively appears black. Poured with a 1Cm creamy looking mid-tan head. ps. holds up pretty well.
S- It has some toastiness to it.
T- Quite brightly hopped and into a slightly acidic fruit note. Finishes hoppy-dry and moderately charry.
F- It has all the the roast+toast of a solid stout, but the bright hopping is at more hipster-beer levels plus it's fruity note.
O- The hops are at a level where they seem bitter and perhaps even acidic. I don't wish for such from a stout. It's a shame as the roast+toast aspects and the fact that English stouts are not very common had a lot of promise. That said I've pretty trad tastes, so should work better for those into more contemporary interpretations.
440ml can from Co-Op in Cambridge. It was either £2.40 or £2.60. BB: stamped at foor of can 10/02/2023.
Apr 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.93 by mizx from England

Aug 30, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Pitch black colour, large and creamy beige head. Firm roasty aroma, notes of coffee and chocolate, hints of liquorice and woodwork. Moderately roasty flavour, medium dry, with the same elements as in the aroma, followed by a distinct hoppy bitterness. Roasty and hoppy aftertaste. Well balanced and highly drinkable.
Feb 07, 2021
Photo of James94
Reviewed by James94 from England

4.09/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Almost entirely black, decent head and lacing
S: Chocolately malts, buttery nuts, lactose, some biscuit, all a bit subtle though
T: Nuttiness, cocoa, coffee, lactose
F: Carbonation gives way to flavour quickly, nice feel

O: 4.25
Sep 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by Gooljd from England

Apr 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by Macamah from England

Apr 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.59 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden

Apr 23, 2020
Photo of Spike
Reviewed by Spike from England

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
330ml can. Black with ruby edging when backlit. Thick, mocha head is smooth and creamy, and leaves arcs of lacing. Pronounced dark chocolate aroma. Tastes of toasted cocoa and espresso. Light sweetness. Very bitter, slightly burnt aftertaste (which I like). Body is medium, with a smooth mouthfeel that changes to mouth-puckering as soon as the bitterness kicks in. A highly enjoyable, robust and very dry stout.
Feb 23, 2020
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can: Poured a black color stout with a nice large dark foamy head with good retention and light lacing. Aroma of roasted malt with black chocolate notes is interesting. Taste is also a mix of roasted malt with some black cholate notes and light residual sugar notes are faint. Body is about average for style with good carbonation. Solid stout with plenty of flavours.
Jan 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Jan 09, 2020
 
Rated: 4.09 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Dec 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by yancot from Canada (ON)

Nov 29, 2019
 
Rated: 3.23 by stephenlee93 from England

Oct 29, 2019
Photo of mishi_d
Reviewed by mishi_d from Romania

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Black color with tan head, aroma of roasted malt, black fruits, wood and alcohol, taste is coffee, roasted malt and black chocolate, medium bitterness with bitter aftertaste.
Sep 20, 2019
Photo of vinicole
Reviewed by vinicole from England

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can. Almost black. Thick frothy tan head. Wispy lacing.
Fruit and nut dark chocolate aroma. Some charred bread noticed.
Sweet taste reflecting the smell. Espresso bitter bite at the end.
Medium body and carbonation. Smooth on the lips, vibrant on the tongue.
Decent English Stout.
Sep 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.78 by S_McAteer_95 from Ireland

Sep 05, 2019
Dark Arts from Magic Rock Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 78 ratings