Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout

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

Had this beer on 10/31/2002. Aroma is a sweet malt scent. Color is a deep deep dark almost black brown. Carbonation is light with a light head. Taste is roasted and crisp. Starting with a medium body it goes down with a crisp feel and a roasted flavor coming on. Finish is clean for a stout, coming on with a nice bright roasted flavor, this is then followed by a slightly sour twang. This is one of the best Stouts I’ve had.

Near black, bubbly thick tan head recedes slowly, but leaves no lace. Aromas are chocolate, orange, molasses, smoke, yeast and alcohol. Flavor is intense and concentrated -- very strong dark roasted malt, herbal and bitter hops, astringent and tangy grapefruit and citrus, dark chocolate, espresso, yeast and charcoal. Mouthfeel fine for the style.

I’m gonna have to disagree with a number of people here. I liked this beer alot. It wasn’t as thick as most Imps but to me it was kinda like Victory Storm King lite, if there was such a thing. I found it easy to drink and it smelled like raisins. I was eating some pretzels and drank a whole 22oz pretty quick.

Bottle. Pours near black with a tan head. Nice roasted malt aroma with a touch of chocolate sweetness. The aroma has loads of semi-sweet chocolate, which is very nicely balanced with roasted malts, and a nice light hoppy bitterness. I’m surprised to see this rated so low, I guess it’s not an overwhelming palate killer like some imp. stouts, but it’s a very drinkable and the type of beer that wouldn’t scare away someone new to craft beers. A winner in my book.

On tap at Firkin’s, Libertyville, IL. Black hued stout having a long-lasting creamy tan head with good lace. Soft carbonation. Intoxicating aroma of roasted sweet malt and prunes. Medium bodied that starts with light sweet malt, chocolate, expresso, dried fruit, and some bitterness. Finishes dry with light lingering bitterness. Thin textured to balance out the giant flavors without being overly heavy or oppressive. A very good drinkable stout that went well with my Caribbean pork sandwich and fries.

Black with a good, creamy brown head / Slightly medicinal nose of chocolate and coffee / Medium to full body, slightly watery, with lush hop underpining / Flavors of roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and licorice, with an odd medicinal note / Good flavor complexity; body just needs a little more oomph.

I really enjoyed this over the holiday weekend. Pours jet black with absoluetly no head to speak of. Black cherries, coffee and roasted malt wafting off of this. Very smooth drink throughout. Not incredibly complex, but stable from beginning to end with a nice brown sugar and chocolate sweetness along with some sweet espresso. Fine beer.

Shared by brewfiend with some decent Johnsonville bratwursts (thanks badgerben!) the Imp Stout pours an near opaque black brew with a thick tan head. Good retention and sticky lacing. Aroma of roasted coffee and whole milk, strawberries, and chocolate. Taste is rich chololate malt, some molasses, and full body. Finish is sweet and thick.