Mack In Black
Holy Mackerel Beers

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From:
Holy Mackerel Beers
 
Florida, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
8%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 16.14%
Reviews:
141
Ratings:
197
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 19, 2016
Added:
Jun 02, 2008
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  9
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JoshLikesBeer:
Photo of JoshLikesBeer
Reviewed by JoshLikesBeer from North Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer tastes like an imperial version of Young's Double Chocolate Stout plus added pomegranate juice and the fruity esters of a Belgian yeast.

This beer doesn't attempt to meet any formal style definition. I'm not sure why it is listed as an "American Strong Ale", other than the fact that it's as good a place as any. I won't judge it for compliance to the style, because the beer makes no claims to be an "American Strong Ale".

A - Very dark, with a brown head that quickly dissipates into a ring around the edge of my snifter glass.

S - The smell is awesome. Chocolate from the malt, pomegranate from the juice, plus some raisins/dried cherries/plums from the yeast. The hops are subtle, but they're there.

T - Chocolate and pomegranate. Maybe a little too sweet.

M - The carbonation is moderate, and the finish is dry.

D - I really liked it, but the flavors are very strong. I couldn't see drinking more than one of these in an evening. However, that's probably a good thing because very easy drinking high gravity beers get me into trouble.
Nov 21, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.36 by CBrodbeck from Florida

May 19, 2016
Photo of KensWorld
Reviewed by KensWorld from Florida

4.25/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I've had this beer sitting around for at least 3 years now. It's been stairing at me wanting me to drink it, but I've been putting it off. I figured I'd better drink it before it gets skunked. This has been going on for over a year now. Well the day has finally come. Poured into tulip glass. Wow 4 finger dense creamy light brown head. Jet black, so dark I can't make out any carbonation. Head fades to about 1/4 inch that lingers the entire time. Smells like a good RIS. Plumbs raisins and roasted malt all on the nose. Now for the taste, after 3 plus years has it skunked? Nope, taste way better then expected. Actually it's way better then when it's new. I don't taste any pomegranate but apparently it's in here. This is a very smooth beer, nice balance with no bitterness what so ever. Overall this aged imperial is way better then I ever expected, so good I think I'll buy some more to age. I'll get back to you in 3-4 years to see if those stand up. Solid 4.25
Sep 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.49 by chuckgietzen from Michigan

Jun 23, 2015
Photo of rajendra82
Reviewed by rajendra82 from Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The pour consisted of an impressive looking, opaque colored, solid black body, topped by a one finger thick head. When held up to a bright light, the body revealed some deep red highlights. The aroma of the beer was just as impressive as the looks, with loads of black coffee, dark chocolate, molasses, toffee, and roast grains hitting the nose with each whiff. The taste was grainy, astringent, and has a backing of burnt sugar. The finish had a molasses like sweetness. The body was touch runny, but the feel was creamy and not disappointing in any way. I could not detect much of a pomegranate presesene in the beer, but still a fine stout as is.
May 18, 2015
Photo of GarthDanielson
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

2.87/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Poured from a bottle into a nonic, the beer pours jet black, with a tall, dense, foamy, light tan head. Aromas of tangy sweet fruit, roasted coffee, and not much else. The nose is terribly off-balanced, and it's already spiraling into a muddled mess. Flavors are roasted forward, with a nutty coffee blend followed immediately by tart pomegranate. There are some earthy highlights in there, as well, which just adds to the chaos. This palate just doesn't seem to match up anywhere. The body is light, almost watery, and the aftertaste is a bit of char, fruit juice, stale chocolate and day old coffee. The aftertaste is a weird amalgamate of flavors that shouldn't really be playing together. The short linger in this dry, watery finish is still too long. Not good.
Apr 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by 31Sam13 from New Hampshire

Mar 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by SocalKicks from California

Oct 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by tjcamm from Oregon

Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by DustinSWB from Florida

May 17, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by Kurmaraja from California

Apr 04, 2014
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.6/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Skuter, ChewyLewy, and scribe594 for giving me this one.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, char, and fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with cocoa, cookie dough, and slight fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roast bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with solid cocoa and fruit aspects, but I am not getting any of the Belgian yeast they supposedly used in this one.
Mar 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by frlrv1020 from Florida

Mar 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Cervezaconcalor from Florida

Feb 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by KlayWey from Idaho

Dec 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by bigbluebeerguy from Kentucky

Oct 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Beer21 from Florida

Aug 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by dgherm from Pennsylvania

Aug 01, 2013
Mack In Black from Holy Mackerel Beers
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 197 ratings