This post is a review of Amazing Brewing Company’s craft beer, Heuksim.
I was contemplating what drink would suit Christmas well. Since most people would go for wine or whiskey, I chose a stout.
To be honest, I procrastinated quite a bit on writing this, and now I’m starting just an hour before Christmas is over.
Once, a long time ago, they released an IPA beer aged in barrels that previously matured Jameson Irish Whiskey, and it was truly memorable.
I’m not sure if they still produce it, but this is also the brewery that collaborated with Ottogi to make Jin Lager inspired by the Jin Ramyeon brand.
Anyway, now that I’ve started, let’s see if I can wrap this up in an hour.
Introduction to Amazing Brewing Company Heuksim
First off, I really like the can design and the name.
Doesn’t it fit perfectly with Christmas? “Heuksim” (meaning “black heart”)… it’s quite sexy.
In Korea, when a man sets his sights on winning a woman’s affection, it’s said that he harbors “heuksim.”
The can is jet black with a bold, red heart in the middle, and I think the black and red combo always works.
The simple design fits perfectly with the beer’s name, and I loved it.
This beer is part of Amazing Brewing Company’s premium craft beer lineup, which also means it’s on the pricey side for a beer.
On the side of the can, there are simple tasting notes, food pairings, and a short description.
It’s an imperial stout, featuring smoky coffee notes from roasted malt, rich chocolate flavors, and a hint of raspberry sweetness.
Imperial stouts are a type of stout we typically refer to as dark beers, characterized by high alcohol content and very rich flavors.
The most prominent flavors here are deep dark chocolate and espresso-like coffee notes.
I remember once getting really excited about Guinness releasing a coffee-flavored beer, only to be hugely disappointed.
I wonder if this one will fare better.
Suggested food pairings include BBQ, steak, oysters, beef stew, and vanilla ice cream, but since I’m actually drinking it while writing, I’d personally only recommend the vanilla ice cream pairing.
I’ll explain why in the tasting section below.
As expected from an imperial stout, the alcohol content is 8.3%, but surprisingly, the bitterness is a typical lager level of 35 IBU.
The color is a deep, dark hue.
Once again, I feel the name Heuksim was just spot-on.
Amazing Brewing Company Heuksim Product Details
Not much to see, but here are the ingredients:
Purified water, malt (from Germany, Australia, USA, Belgium, etc.), hop pellets (from Germany, USA), lactose, yeast, raspberry concentrate (0.1%, from the USA, blend content 100%), flavoring (raspberry, vanilla), and carbon dioxide.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of flavored beers.
Adding strawberry flavor to beer makes it strawberry beer, and adding pineapple makes it pineapple beer—it’s that easy.
Even a child could make something like that.
I believe the real skill of a brewery lies in using only the basic ingredients for beer and applying fermentation techniques to create a variety of flavors and profiles.
I know Amazing Brewing Company produces such beers, but I wondered why Heuksim, which is supposed to be part of their premium lineup, is flavored.
At first, I had my doubts, but after tasting it, I realized it was different.
It turns out, having preconceived notions when reviewing a product isn’t a good idea.
Flavor and Aroma of Amazing Brewing Company Heuksim
The first thing that surprised me when opening the can and pouring it into a glass was the intense raspberry and chocolate aroma.
Even if I compared it to every chocolate or drink available on the market, I think it’d be hard to find something with a more intense aroma.
The raspberry scent, in particular, is incredibly strong.
Upon pouring, I noticed it’s not a very foamy beer. Taking a sip, there’s almost no bitterness.
The flavor reminds me of a handcrafted dark chocolate with a milky caramel smoothness, mixed with a nutty espresso and a strong raspberry note.
It has both a smooth and intense quality, and I couldn’t help but admire it with each sip—this is truly a well-made beer.
With over 8% alcohol content, the buzz comes on rather quickly, but it’s so smooth, rich, and delicious… Now I get why it’s called “Heuksim.”
However, I couldn’t agree with most of the suggested food pairings except for the vanilla ice cream.
The flavor and aroma are so intense that I think enjoying this beer on its own, without any food, is more than enough.
I did have a fleeting thought that it’d be amazing to have a scoop of vanilla ice cream—maybe Together ice cream—on top while drinking this.
Conclusion
I understand why this beer is sold at a premium price.
The “premium lineup” label makes sense, and it’s well-deserved.
While I’m not usually a fan of flavored beers, if you’re going to make a flavored stout, this is how it should be done—good enough to earn my forgiveness.
This is the kind of beer that would be impossible to replicate, even if you set someone up to try.
Once again, the name “Heuksim” fits perfectly.
A dangerous beer, indeed.
If you’re planning on making a move or spending time with a significant other, this would be a fantastic choice for Christmas.
Get your lines ready.
That wraps up the Amazing Brewing Company Heuksim review!
Bye~ Bye~!