Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout

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

The imperial stout category is something of a category of giants. Looking at the other beers of this style I’ve reviewed, they’ve been largely excellent. Dark Lord, Old Rasputin, Great Divide Yeti, Brooklyn Black Chocolate, Great Lakes Blackout, and Alesmith Speedway Stout are all fantastic beers full of lots of dry roastiness and full mouthfeels. And this one fell short, at least compared to those others. While I’m a big fan of Two Bros beers, I thought this one was disappointing and not very drinkable. Flavor was not very roasty and mouthfeel was a bit watery. And maybe it was when I had it in my evening, but this beer made me feel exceptionally full which led me not to finish it. Unfortunately, the next day I’m unable to articulate what exactly it was I objected to.

Mostly black in color with a thin caramel head. Nose is deep roasted malts, charred oak, coffee, and hints of chocolate and surprsingly enough: olives. Very weird smelling olives in my beer but somehow it fits with the beer. Smooth and balanced but a little light in body for an Imperial. A very nice beer overall.

Bottle. Aroma was good, mostly chocolate, roasted malt, dark fruit and spices. The flavor was a little off though; the roasted malt is slightly sour and doesn’t seem to blend too well with the other flavors.

Bottle; Pours a dark brown with a light brown head. Aroma was the best part of it; chocolate, sugar, roasted malt, dark fruit, and some light floral hops. Flavor wasnt that great; a lot of dark malt and coffee. Not that great in the flavor.

pours black with light brown head. smells like roast malt and wet paper.the palate is fairly creamy. taste is roasty burnt malts with some mild chocolate hops provide a nice balance to the malts. finish shows some alcohol.

Bottle. Dark brown with only a faint wisp of a head. Aroma of milky-rich chocolate and coffee. A little grassy hops come through in the taste. It’s mostly pure choffee, though. Not bad, yet somehow disappointing in the appearance and complexity.

Bottle: Dark black, almost no head. Only a light aroma. A lot of malt, I’m getting WAY to much smoke and wood flavors. Not really balanced. Can’t place the hops, but they seem don’t seem to match the beer. A decent stout, but I expect more.

Bottle shared by puddintane. Black pour with a tan head. Aroma of chocolate, toasted malt, and light coffee. Flavors of light malt and chocolate. Thin body, not much going on here...kind of a wimpy example of the style.