Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout

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

Dark pour with a deep brown head. Aroma of dark fruit, strong roast, smoke, and coffee. Had a medium full body with well blended flavors. Finished smooth with some dark fruit, alcohol, and a little sweet. Good brew.

Draft at the Beechtree. Pours a dark brown to black with a thick mocha head that falls off rather quickly. Aromas of roasted malt, roasting coffee, smoke, and caramelizing toast. Body is about medium, but remarkably sweet. Not the sweet that smacks of under attenuation, but a surprising and unexpected sweet that makes one stop and think. More of the roast comes through in the mouth as well before moving onto a long and slow developing finish with a nice burnt bitterness to it.

This poures pitch black with no light coming through in a snifter held towards light, even at the upper edges. Looks just what I expect from an Imperial Stout. Has a slight quarter inch or so head that disapates after a couple of minutes. Scents of carmel, toffee and chocolate come through nicely. Notes of a deep chocolate, rich maltiness and slight bitterness. Malt is nicely balanced with the hop bitterness. Very easy to drink and will be picking up more of this to share with friends. A perfect warmer in this colder than usual winter we’ve been experiencing. One of the better imperial stouts I’ve had. I am so pleased that Two Brothers brought this back to six packs again this year.

Tap, nice pour. Tan, chocolate whipped cream head. Flavors of hot chocolate, warm malts, and a mild hop finish. Alcohol was noticeable but not overwhelming by any means. I had this beer last, and it was a nice way to end the sampling at the warrenville taphouse.

A thick black pour with a small tan head. Nose is roasted malt, smokey charred wood, vanilla, and a nice subtle whiff of chocolate. Well balanced flavor is full of malt with chocolate, wood, and bourbon. It also offers a big hop presence. The hops don’t compliment the malt as much as hoped. Feel is nice and thick, almost chewy. An impy that doesn’t try to be too big. Not a great beer, but pretty darn good.

Back pour with a thin tan head. Aroma of roasted malt with a touch of coffee. Roasted malt flavor, but nowhere near as complex as I would’ve hoped. A bit of wood, some cocoa and coffee. A bit thin as well. Still, tasty and good.

On tap, Prairie Moon Evanston Il. Aroma is roasty and chocolatey, taste is a balanced roast malt and creamy chocolate/coffee sweetness. Didn’t notice the alcohol until I saw the ABV listed here. Found a delicious sweetness in this one - I’d put it in with milk stouts even though it isn’t one. I know many want more roast and less sweet in their Imperial, but my personal preference of a good ’milkshake’ beer makes me rate this one higher than I think most would .

I’ve been pretty happy with the selection of Two Brothers beers I’ve picked up so far, but i found this one a little dissapointing. Pours a dark black colour with a huge brown head. Aroma has noticeable coffee and smoke on the nose, with soft roasted malts. Taste is very metallicy from start to finish. I think that turned me off the most. Flavors of wood, chocolate and coffee. Mouthfeel is decent, but i couldn’t get that metallic out of my mouth.