Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout

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

Draft at Blind Tiger. Pours a classic dark brown with little khaki head to speak of. Aroma has some malt, chocolate, and an offensive hint of lighter fluid. Must be a bad batch; there’s a semblance of a classic imperial stout in the background, but I mainly get paint and lighter fluid. This plain sucks. I’ll have to try it again because this must be tainted.

Another extra bottle included in trade with j12601. Thanks Jay! Pours deep black with a frothy tan head that fades. Nose is filled with chocolate and a firm hops bitterness. Flavor is smoky with more dark chocolates, dark fruit and hops backing it up. Body is medium thickness, with a lasting note of roasted malt and smoke. Medium carbonation. Seems to be lacking depth. Pretty good.

Source: 12 oz bottle purchased at Anderson’s in Toledo.
Glass: Fullers Tulip/snifter hybrid.
Appearance: Black pour with a half finger of brown head.
Aroma: Hints of chocolate and roast, but highly vegetal.
Flavor: Smoke and roast dominate. Not much else.
Palate: Medium body with soft carbonation.
Overall: Tastes more like a Foreign stout. Not overall a bad beer, but as an imperial stout, its pretty terrible.

Pours kinda thick, black in the snifter, with a nice sized tan head that receeds quickly into a film. Aroma is roasted malt, chocolate, espresso, and anise, with the faintest hint of floral hops. The flavor is quite nice. Lots of sweet roasted malt, lactose, coca, and licorice. Mouthfeel is light yet full, and has medium carbonation. Alcohol undetectable. Not a bad brew at all, but I would have classified this number a strong milk stout. It, IMO, would have gotten a much higher rating. Although this is a great stout, it simply does not compete with the much bigger insane-o-stouts out there.

12oz bottle. Pours jet black with a wispy head of tan. Aroma is fairly mild, chocolate, a touch of roast and not much else. Taste more like a dry stout and not much of an imperial.

Had at For the Love of the Hops! 2009 festival. Poured from the tap a dark black with a nice ruby color hints when light struck and a small tan head. Aroma is dark roasted malt, molasses with lighter hints of chocolate and coffee. Flavor leans toward the chocolate side for an imperial stout and along with a coffee flavor shows up first in the tasting. Middle is very smooth with caramel notes and a light smokey and alcohol ending. A solid imp, feels just a bit light but the flavors hold very well with what is there.

Bottle -- I am really starting to be seduced by really dark beers -- this is like Venus to my eyes, deep, dark and inspiring. The aroma isn’t quite as sexy, but still pretty interesting. This drinks with an incredibly soft touch for a 8.5% beer, sessionable even -- nicely smooth, yet hinting at some nice warm flavors of roast, toast, and German chocolate cake. Wow, this is drinkable and dangerous. (#3553, 5/25/2009)

12oz bottle via trade at DLD. pours a very slightly oily, opaque black with a thin, dark tan head and slight lacing. aroma is fairly tame with notes of roasted nuts, coffee, licorice, and a hint of lactose sugar. flavor isn’t as bold as most imperial stouts with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, sour milk, and a touch of hops with a mild, roasted nutty finish. palate is a bit thin for an imperial stout but smooth with well hidden alcohol. overall, an average brew.