Eel River Ravens Eye Imperial Stout

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

Bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy/creamy, brown, mostly lasting. Body is black (non-opaque, flashlight-tested). Aroma is moderately malty (chocolate, caramel, roasted grain), lightly hoppy (grapefruit), with notes of alcohol, vanilla, and plum. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, creamy texture, soft/lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. A nice example, but not quite on the top shelf for me...the alcohol sticks out more than expected; usually Impies (esp. American ones) are massive enough in body and flavors to hide quite a bit of alc, but even at under 10% it’s still a bit of a poke in the eye (and throat). The aroma is pleasant but a bit on the light/meek side. Overall a nice effort and could definitely be a real winner with only a little more work.

on tap at eel river. a decent impy which made a nice midday treat, very black, light hazelnut and burnt toast aroma, quite thick, coffee and vanilla, nice stuff

Very dark, cola looking and near black beer with a thin orange brown head. The aroma is sweet with some milk chocolate and prune. There is also some fresh cut wood. The taste has initially sweet milk chocolate and anise notes. In the finish, I got some light roasted coffee and lingering cocoa. The anise gets stronger the more you drink. Decent, but I would like a little more sweetness to balance the black licorice character, which quickly gets cloying.

Bomber. Huge chocolate aroma backed by coffee. Opaque black/brown color with a firm tan head. A bit thin. Start with chocolate and deep toasted malt. Moves on to, ok, make it espresso. It’s not standard coffee. The finish is decently bitter. It’s well balanced. The alcohol doesn’t get in the way of the flavors. A really good imperial stout, with hints of Guinness toastiness.

Bomber bottle and served in my Stone IRS snifter: Opaque with an initial huge frothy tan head which settles to a nice cover of foam, spotty lace. The aroma has notes of coffee, chocolate, raisin, apple, slight smoke, and a hint of earthy woodiness.

The taste is mostly dry and roasty with some moderate acidity and twang. There appears to be a bit of astringent hops in the middle before fading off towards an ashy and coffee like finish. The mouth feel is mostly smooth and slightly dry, a tad thin but hides the alcohol well.

A solid brew but hardly world-class, drinkable all around.

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...

Poured a clear very dark brown, almost opaque with a small brown head. Good roasted aroma with notes of light coffee and some alcohol. Roasted malt flavor. Moderate sweetness mild alcohol. Medium-full bodied. Mild bitterness on the finish.

Picked up single 22-oz bomber at John’s Marketplace in Portland, OR and sampled at Badgerben’s Cellar Reduction Night. Pours an opaque dark brown brew with a fast dissolving light tan head that leaves behind a fine film and ring. Aroma of dark roasted malt, coffee, a touch of chocolate and some apple. Taste is smooth, full bodied, very light carbonatation with flavors of dark roasted malt, molasses, coffee and dark chocolate. Finish is semi-dry with a malt/coffee aftertaste.