Eel River Ravens Eye Imperial Stout

Brewed by Eel River Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Fortuna, California USA

Pours black with off white head. Aroma is roasted. Taste is filled with roastiness, coffee. with chocolate malts.Alcohol is very present and warming. Thick mouthfeel, one amazing good stout.

Bottle at home ... Deep black ... deep chocolate ... silky smooth ... roat malts ... little charcoal ... little coffee ... low to medium carbonation ... little dry malts ... light hop in background...

(22 oz. bottle from Bootleggers) Pours very dark brown with one finger of tan head. Multi-faceted aroma of sweet dark chocolate, coffee, port, raisin and plum. Palate is decent but kind of thin and fizzy for an Imp Stout. A bit sticky in finish, as well as a little drying. Taste is mostly chocolate-dominated, supported a bit by some of the other aromatic elements but mostly just chocolate and alcohol with a bit of char. Features quite an alcohol burn. Pretty good but kind of just average for the style.

The last of my recent pick ups from Green’s in Greenville, South Carolina, Raven’s Eye poured out pitch back in color and was opaque when held up against light. The head topping the beer was small, but dark, and dissipated in a short time to a layer of small bubbles. The smell was milder than a typical RIS, and was mostly chocolate and coffee with little hoppyness. The taste was reminiscent of sweetened dark coffee sprinkled with chocolate. There was a hint of dark fruits, but I had to look for it carefully. There was noticeable astringent, roasted grain, bitterness to counter the sweet malts. This was an intense but approachable beer, and made me easily forget the 9.5% ABV, until the warmth in the belly reminded me. Heft on the palette, and slickness of feel was unmistakably imperial. The aftertaste was short lived. Very enjoyable due to its well rounded construction, but none of the aspects were really a standout.

22 oz bottle. Poured a solid black color with a huge brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, bitter chocolate and alcohol. Flavor was very roasty, with coffee and chocolate tastes. Full bodied with light carbonation. Good beer, but doesn’t rank up there with the big boys.

Courtesy of After4ever, thanks my friend. It’s a pitch black impy with a light brown, creamy head. The aroma has notes of hard roasted malt, chocolate and preserved dark fruits. The flavour has notes of chocolate, dark fruits, roasted malt, licorice and a slightly burnt bitterness. The body is quite full, and it becomes even fuller towards the end.

Bottle. Nose is roasty with oak, chocolate, and alcohol notes. Dark, near black with a ruby tint. Inky texture and bubbly lacing head. Opens with chocolate and light fruit, finishes dry and boozy. Alcohol is harsh and unbalanced, especially towards the end.

Bomber. Nearly black pour with an off-white head that didn’t last long. Not much lacing. Aroma of chocolate, brandy and black cherry. Flavor of dark, roasted malt, plum, and chocolate. Just enough hops to balance the flavor. Easy drinkng for a beer of 9.5%. Excellent.