Eel River Ravens Eye Imperial Stout

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

scotch, heavy roast malt, and slight alcohol on the nose. maintains a nice head all the way through. hop is balanced nicely so that you barely notice it is hiding the large roasty malt character and high alcohol content. nice for a winter night

bottle....poured dark brown close to black with lasting light brown head...nose primarily consisted of chocolate, cocoa, and sweet dark fruity malt....flavors added a roasted coffee dimension that enhanced the beer overall. mouthfeel was somewhat on the lighter side but nice nonetheless....not a bad imperial stout.

Deep dark brown, almost black, body with an ample frothy brown head. Roasted malts, dark roasted coffee, hints of grapefruit hops, prunes, and alcohol all mix in the aroma and in the flavor. The alcohol is evident but not overpowering the flavor components. Well crafted.

Found this little gem at Ledger’s in Berkely. New Years Eve was as good a time as any to pop it open so I shared it with a few of the guys. The beer pours out a deep black hue, with a nice one-finger thick khaki head. Perhaps a more agressive pour would have resulted in a thicker head, but I was happy with what I got. First aromas I got were dark roasted malts, an impressive display of hops, a good dose of coffee and molasses. Mouthfeel was nice, but with the alcohol burn I’d prefer it to be better masked. Still, it’s nitpicky. Flavors were chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, molasses and just a touch ashy. If it were any more ashy I don’t think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much. Finishes a bit hot.

22 oz bottle. Dark brown with tan foam around the edges. Nose of coffee, chocolate and molasses. Medium body with light carb tingle. Taste is espresso and licorice. Mild bitterness and dark fruits; hints of orange peel and mint.

Pours black as night with a very thin, toffee-colored head that dissipates quickly; conspicuous alcohol; somewhat dry but nice and robust mouthfeel; very clean smell; heavy on well-roasted malts and cofee in the flavor; like all great beers, its complexity comes out as it approaches room temperature; very good beer that really warms you up.

Let me point out that this beer sat open in Eric’s fridge for possibly days before I drank it. A forgotten soldier who deserves to be drank I say. Pours black with a tiny head. The aroma is light; chocolate and dark fruits. The taste really surprised me by having a great fruity hint that I love from Imperials. Also coffee, wood, and roasted malt flavors. I am really giving this beer respect for staying so good after being open for 3 days. I’ll try it again some day and re-rate.

bomber. Dark stout w/ light nose but heavy mouth of alcohol, butterscotch, and coffee. A good stout but a little basic.