Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout

Brewed by Two Brothers Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Warrenville, Illinois USA

I won’t lie; I liked this. Aroma has charcoal. Flavor has smoke, a lot of smoke for the style. Charcoal as well. Medium sweet malt as well. A simple imperial stout, but not a bad beer at all. Heavy palate.

Pours a dark brown imperial stout like color, but that is where it ends. The aroma is weak and gives a kiind of oaky sourness to the burnt aromas. Not a nice flavor and it is very watery, with slight chocolate. If I had bought this it would have gone down the drain.

Poured from a 22 oz. The pour is black but not especially thick with a lot of burgundy showing through. Aromas are of lemon, chocolate, and some strange burning chemicals. Charred brisket/wood, old coffee, and sugary, artificial berry flavor syrup (probably raspberry) in the flavor. Poor in general. Thanks for sharing, John.

Occasionally I have a beer that reminds me why I used to love imperial stouts. Then again, other times I have a beer that reminds me of why I got sick of imperial stouts. It’s because everybody thinks they can make one, and lots of them suck. Like this one. Which sucks. Yes, it’s dark, deep tan head, some sheeting, a usual imperial stout. Smells of charcoal mixed with molasses and sugar, basically like a big glass of sweetened burnt wood, which is by and large the taste. Starts burnt, finishes overly sweeet. Also godawfully thin and watery.

(Bottle) Pours a black body with a small brown head. Aroma of roastiness, wood, light smoke, and nuts. Flavor of chocolate, roasted malt, and hops.

Milk chocolate and phenolic bandaid aroma,upon sitting for a while,a bit more of a coffee texture becomes noticable, taste is chocolate soda and carmel with a hop finish,an odd rubber taste in there also, body somewhat light for an imperial,smooth mouthfeel. Some problems here

Pours a nice deep brown/black color, briefly topped by an inch of fizzy brown foam. This recedes to a thin film and a ring in about a minute. Okay lacing. Nice roast and coffee aroma. Coffee, roasted grain and a hint of bittersweet chocolate flavor, the roasted grain is nearly smoky in the finish. Coffee and a bit of hops linger in the aftertaste. Medium body, quite smooth, moderate carbonation. Tasty beer, a top notch stout, but I’m not so sure about the ’imperial’ part of the equation - it seemed to weigh in just a little bit shy in boldness and body.

Black with a good, creamy brown head / Slightly medicinal nose of chocolate and coffee / Medium to full body, slightly watery, with lush hop underpining / Flavors of roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and licorice, with an odd medicinal note / Good flavor complexity; body just needs a little more oomph.