Eel River Ravens Eye Imperial Stout

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

Bottle. Really, just 30 ratings? wow. This pours pretty darn black with no head. I dumped out the last small bit vigorously, but no head formed. Some ruby hues are visible in the otherwise ebony beer. The nose is a bit sweet of dark fruits, a little rum, and espresso. The flavor is less espresso, more wood, more chocolate, less rum. Pretty thick, but not ridiculous. Lacing is a bit spotty on the glass. There’s a generous dry, nutty flavor. Mouthfeel is very lightly carbonated and pretty creamy. Bittersweet chocolate and just a small nip of acidity come out in the finish. Pretty much par for the imperial stout course, no real surprises. I thought this had more bitter chocolate character than most and less espresso character. Good stuff all in all.

Bottle thanks to Degarth for sending me this one. Dark dark brown body with thin head. Aroma was very chocolatey, caramel and some alcohol noted. Taste is surprisingly lite, lots of chocolate, smooth with no alcohol being tasted. This was delicious and went down so smooth.

Bottle courtesy of Ibrew2or3. Pours a clear dark brown to black color with a thin tan head. Aroma is malty and slightly sweet with notes of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, ripe dark fruit, some hints of wood, smoke and vanilla. Flavor is roasted and malty with notes of ripe dark fruit, prunes, caramel, some phenol, dark chocolate and hints of wood and smoke. Generally medium to full body with a pleasing roasted malt chocolate finish.

Bottle. Poured dark brown, almost black, with small light brown head. Aroma is full of berries, lots of roasted chocolate malt, a little espresso. Flavor again begins with berries-blueberries, raspberries, mocha, with a nice chocolate fudge creme brulet finish. The flavors in the finish were very prominent and enjoyable. Very drinkable, yet full of complex flavors. Sure to be a crowd pleaser once more people get a hold of this.

Someone brought this to a Blind tasting in NY, thank you whoever. This ended up being the first beer of the tasting so I think my rating might have been a bit reserved in preparation for all the Imperial Stouts we were about to consume. Aroma is hoppy, leafy, and only lightly roasty. Taste is again hops-centered (not overly hoppy, that just comes out most) with a regular Imperial Stout hiding somewhere behind that. A lightly slick mouthfeel and a small tan head.

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.

Bottle with thanks to coyotehunter. Body is a somewhat thin dark brown with little head. Aromas are a decent mix of roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Flavor is OK, but kind of thin... a lot of chocolate and scorched malt with a little bit of peat.

Mahogany with quickly dissipating tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, molasses, and sweet malts and some chocolate. Taste of caramel, molasses, brown sugar, chocolate and roasted malts. Thick body that hides the alcohol well but in it’s a bit too sweet and finishes with a lactic sourness.