Eel River Ravens Eye Imperial Stout

22 oz bottle via LS. Pours almost black with mahogany highlights. Average size dense tan head. Nose is roasty/smokey with mocha notes. Taste starts with some vanilla, some roasted malts, some chocolate, some coffee, and finishes with a nice complex mocha that lingers into the aftertaste. A tiny bit of smokiness in there as well..There are some citrus hops as well but they are fairly subdued. Moderate carbonation. medium body. Alcohol very well-hidden for 9.5% abv...This is a very nice drinkable complex Imp Stout. Not over the top like most are..this is easy to drink but extremely tasty. Medium body, silky mouthfeel like a nice oatmeal stout...Think Alesmith Speedway Stout with less coffee and more roastiness....Pretty close to perfect. P.S. The bottle says ’Nitrogen conditioned’..not sure what that means since there is no widget....but it does seem to have a vry nice mouthfeel, so maybe they are onto something?

22 oz bottle - This beer has got it going on! Dense motor oil black with a thick lasting tan creamy head. Initial rich nose of espresso and heavy creamy, chocolate, toasted brown sugar, and creme brulee. As this warmed even further, it became apparent that someone threw s’mores into my snifter. The freakin marshmallow, graham cracker, chocolate and all. Very complex and ever changing nose throughout. Flavor was just as nice with soft burnt espresso tones, toasted caramel, and dark chocolate that fade into citric hop tone that plays out the balance. You think it’s going to be sweet, but it just never gets that far. This is almost perfect in my book. Medium to full bodied and a touch oily, light prickly carbonation, bittersweet finish. Stout lovers have to find this one ASAP. Excellent brew! Special thanks to my brother-in-law for busing it around Portland to get to Belmont Station for me. You’re the best....

(Nitro Draft: Eel River Brewing Company in Fortuna, CA) Oh wow, this is an amazing beer! Roasty, sweet, smoky, massive chocolate, seemingly some oatmeal, moderate alcohol, and through it all, just mildly bitter, so this is like dessert for me. In fact, it tastes like a huge foreign stout because the bitterness is in the background. The nose is sweet, roasty, chocolaty, and alcoholic. Medium to full bodied, not thick or syrupy, but quite substantial and coating on the palate. Very dark brown, almost black in color with subsurface carbonation bubbles clinging to the glass. Topped by a thin but creamy tan head that fully coats the glass with a curtain of lace. Just an incredibly delicious beer, and worth the drive to Fortuna even if you aren’t heading to view the wondrous redwoods in the area.

Bottle. Deep black colored. Nice sized and persistant light brown head with nice lacing left behind. Aroma is very chocolatey, moderate bits of coffee. Full bodied and coating. Very malty in taste, rich chocolate lightly bitter coffee notes and just a hint of acidity. Bitterness from hops balances nicely without a huge hop presence in flavor. Damn well done, will be seeking out more of this beer.

Dark brown color, creamy head. A full-bodied nitrogen-conditioned Russian Imperial Stout. Deeply roasted malts. Nice hop balance. Chocolate and coffee flavor. Very smooth taste, Nice flavor. Big and expansive. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and very smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. No alcohol bite despite a 9.5%. Excellent stout.

22 Oz Bomber, red eyed raven on the label "product of Northern California" Fantastic looking beer as it sits in my Imperial pint glass. Mostly black with hints of mahogany..great huge light brown frothy head. Aroma is somewhat subdued for style but its all there and fresh too Great complex whirl of flavours here: coffee,blackberries,esspresso, dark cocoa laden chocolate, dark brown sugar, some hop in the after taste, good stuff. Very nice on the palate , great mouthfee, A very very good Strong stout from Eel River. I really did not think they had it in em tp produce this beauty

shared bomber with TheBeerSommelier - thanks! big roasted malts, sweet licorice, and a touch of coffee on the nose... nice big body full of dark fruit, slight caramel notes, deep chocolate and a touch of coffee...

Brown sugar/molasses...Raisins/cherries/vinous... Double chocolate cookie... Slick, sugary mouthfeel... Huge roasted malt presence... Substantial bitterness merely compliments, does not overtake malts... More barleywine or old ale than stout... Sweet, fruity, with dark roasted malts coming through more when warm...