Two Daves
Bent River Brewing Co.

Let me start off by saying I thought the numbers seemed suspect here upon looking at bent rivers Board, 18.8 plato and its 9.6% don't seem to add up without some super attenuation and ultra low finishing gravity like 1.4 plato, which would seem severely counterproductive for a big heavy stout. Seemed strange to me at any rate.

Poured a deep dark brown with a nice thin layer of tan head, decent retention.

The smell was pretty light, with mild roasted barley notes and not much else.

The flavor was pretty thin, mild dark malt notes, a bit of light sweet dark fruit and just a touch of smoke and bitterness. Definitely not intensity that is more common in imperial stouts. The listed high alcohol is hidden well.

The mouthfeel is thin and watery for a beer this big, this is where I wonder if their numbers are correct and this thing is finishing at less than 2 plato, it feels like it, very water for a big stout.

Not real good, I remember really liking there old Imperial Stout, but that was a different brewer and clearly a much different recipe than this, not to good here I would take this back to the drawing board.

Black, with no head, but it was poured cold and carefully into a goblet by the barkeep. There was a thin ring around the edges. Underterminable activity. Later, as my eyes adjusted to the low light, there were some ruby highlights, and I noticed that it was not as impenetrably black as I first suspected. It looks like a good Imperial Stout.

Black malt and roast are first to emerge as the overly cold pour warms. Licorice/molasses like aroma comes through later, as does some malty sweetness. Barely noticeable boozy warmth for 9.49%.

Black malt, licorice/molasses, malty sweetness and light roasty bitterness. Very consistent with the nose. Balanced, with well hidden booze.

Good carbonation, medium/full body, with thick-ish viscosity. pretty clean finish for this type of beer.

Clean, well made, good beer, and to style. Certainly not pushing any boundaries, and not in the league with the big boy elites. But a very worthy hometown Imperial Stout for the locals. In most categories I wavered between the score given and the next highest. But I took a few sips of my next brew, a Southern Tier Choklat, and it really put things in perspective in terms of aroma, taste, and mouthfeel. The Choklat made this one feel thin, though it isn't. Bit in comparison, it is.

Bent River is on the upswing, and I applaud the effort and encourage folks in the area to check it out.

Absolutely one of the best examples of this style that I have ever had. As beautiful of a stout as i have ever had. Thick and black, light will never penetrate this brew. I can only hope that bent river continues to offer this beer. By far there best offering to date, and world class. I've had some of the best and this one is right there. keep it up bent river.