Raven's Eye Imperial Stout - Eel River Brewing Co.

acevenom

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into a large snifter glass. The beer pours black with a thick tan head that retreats slowly. There are lots of visible bubbles along the side of the glass. There are aromas of dark roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, and some alcohol sweetness. Overall, it's a standard aroma profile for an imperial stout. The chocolate and roasted malt flavors are forward with a touch of alcohol. There's just a touch of coffee in the taste, but there's not much of a big roastiness there. The body is full with moderate to strong carbonation. This helps the beer finish a little dryer and makes it easier to drink, which is dangerous for a drink where some of the alcohol can be tasted. This is a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:09:22 | More by acevenom

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a nice black pour with two fingers of tan head, patchy lacing. smells of licorice, toasted grains, chocolate. the flavor is very roasty and bitter.. lots of licorice, toasted grains, dark cacao. medium body on the heavy side with modest amount of carbonation for the style. there is a smell of alcohol, but you don't taste or feel it for the most part. a nice imperial stout, nothing out of the ordinary, but very nice to sit down and relax with a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 00:32:09 | More by facundoCNB

Jemonster

California

3.49/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pretty recognizable as an imperial stout. High clarity given the color. I can't see light through it, so that's a good sign. Black. The meniscus is cocoa brown. No head, save for a slightly tan ring.

S: Malts of course. Faintly sweet smelling with some alcohol present.

T: Molasses, chocolate malt, toasted grains, some bittering hops that are *just* there enough to balance some of the sweetness. Cocoa, prunes, and raisins. Fades quickly from my palate. ABV shows through a little too much for the lighter flavors.

M: Drier than expected. Thinner body than some others I've had, and with more carbonation. Still round and creamy however.

O: Probably shouldn't be drinking 22 ounces of this, but it's pretty good! Probably will pass this over in the future for better RIS's though.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 04:33:25 | More by Jemonster

mikechance

California

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasting from a 22 oz bottle on 11/30/12

A ---- deep mahogany black, little to no head, and thick

S --- black licorice, malt, vanilla, sweetness

T --- chocolate, brown sugar, cherry, vanilla, and woodiness

M --- full bodied, nice carbonation, creamy

O --- I like it a lot!

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 03:28:09 | More by mikechance

Vancoubeer

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed a bottle tonight. I have been looking at this one for some time. I have no idea how old it is but at the near by beer cave these puppies have been sitting on a bottom shelf for over a year. Which is nice due to the 9.5% this should age well. Pouring out of the bottle the liquid is a dark brown and as it settles into the glass it becomes black as night with barely a hint of light causing a brownish ring around the top once the khaki thin head, about half a finger deep (I did not tip my glass) after a straight pour into the glass. The smell was expected. A deep roastyness mixed with what seemed to be almost like a sweet dark fruit mixed with dark chocolate. Very nice. At first sip it was stout bitterness mixed with the roasted malt and that dark bitter cooking chocolate like taste. Excellent. It appears to be very smooth. No alcohol whats so ever in the taste. This has aged well and its obvious that this is not fresh but in a good way. What a steal I got here. The mouthfeel is full bodied. Its thick yet dry to the finish. This has to be one of my top 10 stouts of all time from America. I was quite impressed with this and overall I have to say this is one I will buy again. Its really good and for my options in the Portland, Oregon beer scene that says a lot.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 06:02:22 | More by Vancoubeer

beergoot

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Opaque, dark body capped with a thick, creamy tan head. A variety of smells: sweet chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit, slightly burnt grains, twinge of alcohol. Burnt toast and bittersweet taste, a bitter undercurrent mixed with some alcohol flavor. Smooth, creamy feel; buttery; medium-heavy body; soft carbonation; some alcohol heat.

A very good imperial stout. Depth and complexity, nicely balanced. Hits all the marks and comes across as a top-notch big beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 01:19:50 | More by beergoot

Jayman931

Mississippi

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle served in a snifter

Dark dark brown with a head that dissappeared quickly

Smells of vanilla and caramel...mild though

Taste is great...chocolate with a very mild malt caramel ending

Nice lingering..not super thick for an imperial...overall very nice

Definitely will buy it again..6 bucks for a bomber is a great deal

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 03:46:25 | More by Jayman931

artdob

California

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark black - initial head subsides quickly, with small amounts of brown foam lingering on top.

Aroma is wonderful. Sweet chocolate, anise, light black pepper notes. Fudge brownie all around as well. And this is before tasting - can't wait to dive in.

Taste - lots going on here. Sweet malt, Dark caramel, bitterweet cocoa, lingering light bitterness. Much to appreciate here.

Mouthfeel has decent amount of carbonation without being over the top for the style.

Overall, I am really enjoying this one and could see revisiting it if found locally. I picked this up at a Whole Foods in Sebastopol California while on vacation. Plus it is certified organic - cool and giving consideration for this bonus feature in my overall rating. In the Imperial Stout category, Old Rasputin is still king of the hill for me but in absence of finding that, I wouldn't hesitate to spend time with this brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 02:30:07 | More by artdob

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout has a medium, tan head and a very dark brown, with ruby highlights, appearance. Lacing is minimal. The aroma is of sour, dark-roasted barley malt and dark coffee and chicory. Taste is of dark coffee, dark chocolate, dark cherries, licorice, fudge, sourness, and chicory. The mouthfeel is heavy, slick, and smooth, and Eel River Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout finishes heavy, dense, wet, and very drinkable.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 14:28:02 | More by RonaldTheriot

kojevergas

California

3.38/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a hard plastic cup in me friends gaff in Palo Alto, California. Acquired at a local BevMo. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a two finger head of tan colour, great thickness, great cream, and good retention. Colour is a solid black.

Sm: Nuts, chocolate, cream, milk, and caramel. A moderate strength aroma. A simple aroma for the style.

T: Chocolate, nuts, caramel, milk, roasted barley, and maybe toffee. Enjoyable and pretty complex. I quite like it.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some cream. A bit off for a stout, but nice nonetheless.

Dr: Drinkable for the ABV. I'd like to try it on draught or nitro. A nice little imperial stout.

B-

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 03:18:20 | More by kojevergas

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a pretty large imperial stout. pours nearly black with a frothy off white head. smells like espresso and burnt sugary malt. flavor is big coffee up front with a slow wave of roasty bready grain and booze washing over the palate. mouthfeel is fair, plenty of bubbles and a medium body, it could stand to be a little fuller, might balance out the intense flavors a little better. overal a good imperial stout, one bomber is enough for a hefty buzz!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 22:37:10 | More by StonedTrippin

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a 20 oz giant Duvel tulip glass. Pours very black with a dark tan 3 inch head, settles slow into a film of bubbles. Little lacing. Smell is roasted coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruits, and some molasses. Taste has some of those qualities, but less chocolate and coffee than the smell led on. Raisins and fig are the dominant flavors, some booze. Body is on the larger side, with a good amount of carbonation for it's large abv. Probably on the dry side and fairly easy drinking. This is a solid imperial stout, different in many ways than many I have had. I say a must try for stout lovers.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 19:02:13 | More by SawDog505

kjlued

North Carolina

2.65/5  rDev -29%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

This is the furthest thing from what I know a stout to be.
though it is not a bad beer, it not only looks like a cloudy pepsi when you pour it, the fizzing makes it sound like one too.

I told myself not to buy it, as I usually find organic beers to be less favorable but I wanted to keep an open mind.

Like I said, it is not a bad beer, just do not open it and expect a real stout. This beer probably would have gotten a better rating if it was not expecting an Imperial Stout.

Need to add an edit because this is a beer that gets worse with each sip. Not a sink dumper, but will never buy it again and most likely will never buy another beer from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 12:48:10 | More by kjlued

EricCioe

Montana

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This pours almost-black brown with a nice, tightly frothy espresso crema two finger head with good retention but no lace. On the nose there are fresh-ground coffee beans mixing with baker's chocolate and a big roasted malt backbone. In the mouth the chocolate makes itself present both as taste and especially in texture, ultra-creamy and good. The coffee burbles out from under the chocolate and the roasted flavors. A long finish heavy on the slightly bitter roasted notes.

Overall, this is a fine beer, much better than I was expecting given the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 01:44:32 | More by EricCioe

palmdalethriller

California

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a deep dark black with a hint of brown with a tan/brown head that foamed up about the size of a finger or two then dissipated pretty steadily, leaving watery suds on the side of the glass.

S - MMMM, dark chocolate with a hint of fruit - plums maybe, or appricot.

T - Not as much roast flavor as I had expected from the smell. A sweet, chocolaty start followed with a bitter finish. The hops were noticeable, but not extremely pleasant as they combined with the dark malts to give a somewhat unpleasant and harsh aftertaste.

M - Thick, but not chewy. About what an Imp Stout should be.

O - The smell was lovely, and it drank extremely well for a strong beer. If it weren't for that acrid aftertaste this would be a marvelous brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 00:27:58 | More by palmdalethriller

FARGO619

California

1.85/5  rDev -50.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.5

A: Dark, just how I like them, but man what an awful beer. Good head retention. I was hoping for more.

S: Flat, and sticky. Syrup from mugginess would describe it.

T: This was gross. It was stale and tart with a dark sugarish musk that would not go away. It just got worse with every sip. I felt bad pouring it down the drain. For an IMP STOUT this was disappointing.

O: I'm hoping it was a bad batch. The price was good, but this one I am going to pass on.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 19:08:28 | More by FARGO619

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours all head, mocha colored and slowly receding. Clear burnt umber brown body. Smell is mainly malt. Taste actually reminds me a little of a weaker version of a bourbon barrel aged stout, and the body itself is much lighter of course. There's an interesting aftertaste kind of like a sour rye bread. Interesting. Although not the most imperial of stouts I've had it is indeed unique.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 08:30:13 | More by MoreThanWine

pintOast

Montana

3.58/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased a 22oz bottle for $3.79. I like the organic element. It's tough to find organic brew that cheap, so... immediately I thought there had to be something wrong with it. Well, I know this beer received some pretty harsh reviews BUT I gotta say it was worth the purchase for me. Maybe I got a fresh bottle or something. Many of the bad reviews I noticed were advocates far away from Cali and I'm wondering if they got some bad bottles. I'd be interested to taste their beers fresh out of the tap. I really didn't think this imperial stout was that bad. In fact, I kind of enjoyed it. Did I enjoy it because I was nearly drunk by the end of it? I don't know, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

A - typical stout color - deep dark brown; foam 2 inches with initial pour but lacked thickness and settled down quickly
S - faint smell of chocolate, coffee, prune and tinge of alcohol; overall aroma was a little weak
T - lacking a little body but no harsh finish; did not taste watered down; the alcohol was not totally apparent, which surprised
M - could be a little silkier/creamier but nothing bad stood out
O - this is a solid brew; not an award winner but priced right and surprisingly easy to put down at 9+ abv.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 04:23:48 | More by pintOast

DoubleSimcoe

New York

2.55/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Raven's Eye, bomber bought at Whole Foods Bowery for $6.99. Curious to try an "organic" Imperial Stout!

Appearance: Poured into my Sierra Anniversary snifter, the Raven appears customarily black with brown edges and a two-finger head that dies soon, leaving a chestnut-colored rim around the glass but barely any lacing.

Smell: The nose is bitter, raw, oxidized. Lots of barnyard and dirty farm. Milk shake left in the sun. Some cheap Ghirardelli chocolate crushed and thrown to a bunch of starving babies in Africa while you're vacationing and posing as a foreign-aid worker. Reminds me of an old, stale Stone 11th Anniversary Ale I had not too long ago.

Taste: Extreme coffee bitterness is all I get, plus some creamy milk and cheap chocolate. Like drinking cold burnt-ass Starbucks coffee and trying to wash it off with squares of Russell Stover. Booze and heat at the end. I wonder whether this bottle was wrong? Most reviewers didn't get any bitterness, and I do not get any dark-fruit aromas or vanilla. Curious...

Mouthfeel: The bitterness is overwhelming and unpleasant. It attacks and bites. Also, that expired-milk taste that comes after it doesn't help... This thing feel likes sucking the udder of an emaciated Ethiopian cow trying to get any of the spoiled, sour milk out of it just to survive. Not nice.

Overall: I can't get past the taste/smell/feel of rotten milk, dirty farm and saggy old cow tits. This ain't right, organic or not! Good thing is- I poured some Elijah Craig 12-year-old Kentucky Bourbon on this messy brew and it magically transformed itself into a respectable, woodsy barrel-aged Imperial Stout. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 03:17:48 | More by DoubleSimcoe

arizcards

Arizona

3.15/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked up a bomber from Total Wine on New Years Eve for $6.99.

Beer poured dark brown with no head to speak of.

Nose is of roasted malts and dark fruits. There is a medicinal quality in the background.

Taste is roasted malts and dark fruits, seems a bit flat.

Mouthfeel is light for the style, but it is very smooth.

Overall this is an OK beer, a little uneven, but not a drain pour. Not sure if I will try this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 23:07:42 | More by arizcards

PorterLambic

Florida

3.13/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a very dark brown with little light getting in. Fizzy sounding head has little retention or lace.
Smell fresh from the icebox is mostly wet cardboard. Some very light notes of malt, roast and hop.
Taste is more involving with notes of roasted malt, dark fruits, smoke, coffee, molasses and whiskey.
Flavor is rich but body is just medium, somewhat watery, with a fairly high amount of carbonation. Dry finish and slightly warming. A decen beer but there are many better imperial stouts. Is it just me or are the certified organic beers just not hitting the marks the non-certified beers are hitting?

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 01:40:52 | More by PorterLambic

bishopdc0

Maine

3.73/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown and becomes a black color with a a big head. The head dissipates and leaves a full coverage.

The aroma is nice, full of coffee and sweet cocoa. It is well blended with slight roasted notes very nice.

The taste start with a sweetness of malt to begin. The next flavors are fruity and hints of chocolate, almost like a chocolate covered cherry or raspberry. The chocolate taste come in at the end and leaves a slight velvet feel in the tongue.

(My wife said this is a raisin beer)

For a 9.5% there is no telling watch out as this goes down easy. Esp being that it doesn't really feel like or have the body of a RIS

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 00:52:39 | More by bishopdc0

metter98

New York

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is jet black in color and poured with a thin creamy tan head that quickly dissipated and left a thin ring of bubbles on the surface around the edges of the glass.
S: There are aromas of chocolate and dark fruits in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell except that the dark fruits are more prominently featured in the flavors, which also have notes of coffee and hints of roasted malts. No bitterness is detectable.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied but a bit thin on the palate with a light amount of carbonation. The finish has some notes of warming from the alcohol.
O: The beer is very easy to drink and any traces of alcohol are well hidden from the taste; however the beer lacks the full-bodied nature and bold flavors of roasted malts commonly exhibited by other beers in the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 02:43:11 | More by metter98

Thanby

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with a finger of smooth brown head.

Nose is wonderfully smooth, lots of apricot and raisin, very sweet and full. A little hops and some notes of clove and nutmeg, overall very balanced.

The flavor is brighter than expected, a burst of lighter roasted malt and laced through with vanilla bean. Some toffee and caramel, and the dark fruits aren't as forward as expected. Rounded off by a bit of dry hops and a lingering sweetness.

Medium body, definitely like the nitrogen conditioning, very smooth and complex though a Tad on the sweet side and a little sticky at the end, this is still definitely wiry a try. My second Eel River, it continues to encourage me to sample more of their brews.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 23:28:32 | More by Thanby

Kylito87

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I am very fond of the RIS style. The very first product from this brewery. Heres we goes!

Appearance- More amber then black. It is more of a mahogoney chestnut color with a tawnee colored billowy head that clings to my glass. Decent lacing but the alcohol probably deters that a bit.

Smell- semi sweet chocolate with roasted coffee. Dried fruit with alcohol.

Taste- Bold chocolate with some toffee notes. Some sweet fruit and vanilla sugar.

Mouthfeel- Somewhat viscous with a slick oily feel. Full bodied with a fair amount of carbonation. Some hot alcohol near the end. Somewhat dry on the finish.

Drinkability- It is an RIS so a bomber is more than plenty.

Overall- Is it a good beer yeah. Is it a good representation of the style not quite. That being said the beer might improve with a year or so . I have no patience and I have yet to sample a mature beer at this point. The oldest vintage I have had was two years old. If I have no better option I might try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 02:42:36 | More by Kylito87