Raven's Eye Imperial Stout
Eel River Brewing Co.

Large 19.2 oz can from a North Coast, California market.

This is a disappointing imperial stout. It's not bad but there are off-notes in the aroma and a poor balance in the flavor. Over hopped?

 

 

Bomber from Hops and Bottles. Black body, small head disappears. Aroma is roasted malts and light chocolate. More roast in the taste, ashy bitterness. Hint of sweetness.

draught
IBU: 28.5
Very little, off-white head. Very dark and opaque brown, with a hint of dark caramel at the bottom of the glass, for highlights. Slightly sweet, toffee, some caramel, with mellow, dark roasted grains, underlying, for the aroma. A little sharp, caramel tinged, dark roasted grain, with some dark toasted wood and malt in support, for the taste.

Sep. 2016: 650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.5%. Black colour, large tan head. Lovely aroma of roast malts, oak, oaked red wine, liquorice, chocolate, prunes, mild coffee. Slightly sweet flavour with the same elements as in the aroma, the roast malts, coffee and chocolate notes come forward stronger now, also hints of vanilla. Moderate hops (28.5 IBU). Warming mouthfeel. Excellent beer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the 22 oz bottle in a snifter. This rather nice RIS pours a pitch black with a
nice head of brown foam that subsides to a thick ring, thin fine foam layer, and shows
some excellent lacing. Nose of coffee, dark bakers chocolate, subtle dark fruit notes,
light smoke and char, and subtle anise. Flavors hit a fine note of slick and delicious stout lovers
dream with dark lightly sweet bakers chocolate mingling with rich dark coffee touched lightly with
cream and char. Subtle marshmallow and dark fruit notes of plum and currants mingling nicely
with molasses and brulee notes. Excellent mouth feel; full body, slick, coating, and lightly sweet
on the finish without being cloying.

A BIG roasted beast that is worthy with a nicely hidden kick of booze.

Overall, a SOLID brew.

Cheers

Reviewed from notes. Pint glass and snifter. The appearance had a dark brown to black color with a one finger-ed off white foamy head in both glasses, same amount of clingy foamy lacing sticking nicely to the sides of both glasses. The smell had chocolate with espresso and molasses leading to some dark fruits, inviting to say the least. The taste was mainly sweet due to the fact that the malts are taking the lead on this. Super sweet sticky chocolatey aftertaste with a sweet dry finish. On the palate, it sits about a medium on the body with a somewhat soft carbonation to satisfy indulgent taste buds to want to partake in more, just very smooth and velvety - wow - I’m somewhat impressed. Overall, Russian Imperial Stout, yup, pretty good and worthy of coming back to.