Eel River Ravens Eye Imperial Stout

Bottle. I finally see why my friends get picky over Imperial Stouts, most are decent, some are great. This one does not stand out, heavy malt, roasted flavors, some coffee, earthy tones, and alcohol. Nothing too special here.

Sampled in the big bottle. A really nice deep dark black imperial stout. Full of body. Full of very rich malty flavors. Overall a really nice stout, crafted to be very drinkable.

Bomber from Total Wine in Tustin ($5.49). Pours a dark brown, not quite black as other imperial stouts. The half finger of beige head quickly subsides. Aroma is rather weak but has roasted malts, caramel, medicine. Flavor is earthy roasted malts, caramel, chocolate (milk rather than bittersweet), and some alcohol. There is an earthy/dirt maltiness in the finish. Light mouthfeel for the style. Quite drinkable, but there are far better impy stouts.

bottle thanks to my brother. black with a cream head. nose is chocolate, coffee and roasted malts. not bad on teh palate at all, flavor is bitter sweet dark chocolate and light roasted coffee.

22 oz bottle from Market of Choice. Pours black as motor oil with a fluffy tan head. Aroma of chocolate, coffee, maybe some light licorice. Big, smooth chocolate and coffee flavor with a nice roasty hint to it and a very smooth finish. Perhaps slightly too smooth, but that would be my only complaint with this tasty brew. Would have again.

500ml bottle scooped up in Milwaukee. Opaque black, maybe a hint of brown. Big rusty beige head. Solid chocolate aroma, like hot cocoa with a touch of hoppy astringency. Damn, this beer is quite nice and mellow for the ABV. Silky, creamy mouthfeel. There is some hoppy bitterness up front, but fades into a sweet chocolate finish. You get hints of the high alcohol every so often, but overall quite nice and dangerously sessionable. Well done.

Birthday Bottle, thanks Jamie! Pours an almost solid black beer with a decent tan creamy head. Aroma is caramel, malt and chocolate. Flavor is roasty with a thick body, notes of chocolate and roast. A little bit of hop backround and the alcohol is well hidden. I Like

22 oz. bottle. Deep ruby/brown that clearly lets light through, produces a large, light yellowish tan head. Lots of caramel in the aroma with lesser contributions of chocolate and some burned sugar. Smooth, medium body, gently carbonated, a little thin on the palate for the style, some light astringency. Flavor echoes the aroma with substantial caramel sweetness up front. Some peppery bite comes through at the finish, but is not at all assertive. This beer was pleasant enough, but didn’t have the oomph behind it that I expect from an impy stout.