Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout

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

pours black with very little light tan head. aroma is full of roasted malt, cashews, peanuts, and molasses. The flavor is heavy on the molasses and roasted malt, with a touch of alfalfa sprouts and lots of nutty flavors as well. the obvious chocolate, dark roast coffee, and some acidity accompany these flavors.

Bottle, from Julio’s. Ok nose, bittersweet. Roasty. coffee, bread (as it warmed), chocolate, hints of pine. Dark orangy reddish brown, ok head that faded quickly. Bitter sweet flavor, like aorma. Lite bodied, creamy, yet kind of watery mouthfeel, bitter finish. Easy to drink Impy. I actually wouldn’t of guessed an Impy if I had it blind.

Near black, bubbly thick tan head recedes slowly, but leaves no lace. Aromas are chocolate, orange, molasses, smoke, yeast and alcohol. Flavor is intense and concentrated -- very strong dark roasted malt, herbal and bitter hops, astringent and tangy grapefruit and citrus, dark chocolate, espresso, yeast and charcoal. Mouthfeel fine for the style.

Bomber purchased at Julio’s in Westboro, Mass. Lot 36 (if that means anything). Sweet chocolate milky aroma. Very sweet. I can see a lot of people might not like this sweet, milky aroma, but I LOVE IT. No alcohol or hops present in the nose, though. Opaque, nearly black color with a medium brown head that dissipates a little too quickly. A little sweet chocolate to start, turning a bit roastier with some coffee flavors in the middle. A little bit lacking to finish, but alcohol does not kill this and the mouthfeel is nice and inky and oily. I think this is a lot better than what it is rated, yet my tastes are different than most, I suppose.

Deep dark black with pillow tan head. Coffee and roasted malt aroma. The aroma hints of a maltyness that is fairly dry and a light tingly coffee malt produces very little sweet flavor. There is a clean roasted malt sitting on the tongue. It’s a medium body, but still feels thin for this kind of stout. Finish is fairly dry and clean and a roasted finish helps redeam.

Lot 3345

Pours a thick black/brown with reddish highlights and a scant, tan head. Big chocolate malt aroma with roastiness. Thick mouthfeel, not quite syrupy. Milk chocolate/chocolate milk flavor with a touch of fruit. Hops show in a dry finish with lingering coffee notes. Well worth the price.

<font size=-4>22 oz. bomber from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/chicag Wine & Spirits, Chicago, IL 60614<font size=-1>

Sampled at a cellar temperature, from a 22 oz. brown bomber bottle with a short blurb and info about the Russian Imperial Stout and a lot number number on the front label, LOT36. Made a decent appearance, poured in a snifter an opaque dark chocolate brown with a fizzy tan head that quickly settled into a fine lacing, moderate carbonation. Had a burnt chocolate malty nose with a little sweet vanilla. A smooth, creamy full-ish medium bodied mouth feel, above average drinkability. Mellow burnt sweet chocolate malty, a subtle raisin flavor, a biting hop presence towards the end and a sweet lightly roasted malty finish. A decent Russian Imperial Stout from Two Brothers, my bottle list the ABV at 8.5%, well worth seeking out and trying.

Bottle. This was initially a drain pour, but upon warming became very drinkable w/ notes of coffee, alcohol, chocolate, and smoke. Better than the 69% rating infers.