North-Wind Imperial Stout - Two Brothers Brewing Company

negroobserver

New York

2.85/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

North-Wind Imperial Stout
45 IBU, 9.1% ABV
12 oz Bottle

Poured into a large Brandy snifter.

A: Pours a dark brown, almost black color. Very small cream colored head, which dissipates quickly and leaves behind a thin foamy rim on the edge of the glass.

S: Smells smoky. Has a very mild malty and chocolatey aroma at the back end. A very faint sweet licorice or vanilla like aroma. No dominant scents here, but I like that the vanilla aroma is almost hidden. This is my third bottle and this is the first time I've noticed it. Interesting, but disappointing that the last few weren't at the same level as this bottle.

T: Mostly flat and tasteless. Dark roasted malts. There is a smoky chalky taste which lingers in the mouth. Slight sour and hoppy quality.

M: The beer has some depth, but not the kind of rich texture that you would expect from an Imperial class beer. It doesn't coat the glass or the mouth in the way that an Imperial Stout should. At best, it has the depth and texture of a standard stout. At 9.1% ABV, I can't smell or taste the alcohol in the beer, which makes me question the validity of the company's claims regarding the ABV content. Or it could be that this is one of the better crafted beers on the market in that respect. Who knows?

Overall, I had great hopes for this beer and was hoping that this was a rare exception to the pricy Imperial Stouts that one finds on the market. Sadly, I feel like I was duped by the company into buying an inferior product which appears to be very misleading in its claims.

VERY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I ACTUALLY LIKE TWO BROTHERS' BEERS (NOT ALL, BUT SOME).

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 05:57:49 | More by negroobserver

CADMixes

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-20-2013 03:11:36 | More by CADMixes

Nofear048

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

05-18-2013 05:32:58 | More by Nofear048

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-17-2013 12:30:59 | More by InspectorBob

JackieAnton

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-16-2013 20:57:04 | More by JackieAnton

Mike099

New York

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-12-2013 06:06:19 | More by Mike099

hopswap1

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

05-11-2013 14:54:04 | More by hopswap1

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-10-2013 02:45:57 | More by DIPAFAN

Bubba569

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

05-05-2013 17:18:45 | More by Bubba569

sugrefd

Illinois

5/5  rDev +31.9%

05-03-2013 00:58:32 | More by sugrefd

BrianSherry

Michigan

5/5  rDev +31.9%

05-01-2013 20:50:56 | More by BrianSherry

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.24/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Lightly chilled 12 oz. bottle into a 33 cl snifter. Bottle states "Lot 0033", no printed bottling or best-by date, although the label isn't older than 2010.

Look- Pours a deep brown-black with two fingers of dense mocha head that falls quickly to a fingernail ring that persists until the glass is empty. Excellent webbed lacing. From what I can tell, the beer is crystal clear, but it's still opaque in the glass.

Smell- Plain but pleasant, mild nutty-coffee-mocha aroma. Light roast, warm feel. Not particularly complex, but welcoming.

Taste- Similar to the aroma; mild, inoffensive, nicely developed cocoa-nutty-soft roast flavors. Astringency is mild, makes me think of Carafa-III or similar rather than roasted barley or black patent, comes across as cold-press mocha coffee. Light toasted caramel, vanilla-laced maple butter. Finishes with a bit of oatmeal. Not aggressive, but that in itself is refreshing. Soft, full flavored without thrashing my palette, excellent balance.

Mouthfeel- Soft carbonation, medium-full body with a bit of stick. Silky. Very easy drinking for the style.

Overall- Not flashy, but very, very solid. This would easily make my go-to everyday list if it were available in my area. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 01:12:41 | More by Lawl3ss

Chris77McGrath

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-26-2013 17:52:16 | More by Chris77McGrath

coffygrinder

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-23-2013 11:14:00 | More by coffygrinder

ridgeline23

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-23-2013 00:18:43 | More by ridgeline23

sludgegnome

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-20-2013 15:35:50 | More by sludgegnome

Ak555667

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-18-2013 14:40:46 | More by Ak555667

CuBuffsaNut88

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-18-2013 02:08:28 | More by CuBuffsaNut88

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a pint glass, color is dark brown, head is brown, presenting nicely 1/2" thick, with some lacing.

Smell is subdued, but notes of biscuit malt, chocolate, roasted malt come through.

Taste is very pleasant, nice creaminess, flavors are chocolate and roast blend up front, coffee notes, hints of biscuit and toffee, other notes include fig/raisin type fruitiness.

Mouthfeel is very nicely done, hard to believe this is 9%, very drinkable pleasant creaminess and presence, nice lingering flavors.

Overall, a very solid, very drinkable RIS from two brothers - none of their variety pack has disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 22:33:22 | More by mvanaskie13

themind

New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Two brothers makes a decent stout. I enjoyed this brew and would not turn it down if offered. There are so many great stouts out there that I am always looking for the next big thing...unless it's KBS or BCBS. That said I would say any stout lover needs to give this a go.

Bottom Line: Decent stout worth a look.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 01:47:56 | More by themind

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-15-2013 23:13:23 | More by AmandaSchaefer

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-15-2013 00:43:00 | More by Holland

sethmcconkey

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-13-2013 15:08:43 | More by sethmcconkey

clausm76

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

04-11-2013 04:00:47 | More by clausm76

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.69/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- Poured from the 12oz bottle into a small snifter with a pitch black body. A small, one-finger mocha brown head forms with decent retention, falling to a frothy ring and random clouds atop the beer. Spotty lace at the top with some nice creamy pillows down at the bottom.

S- Dark fruit like raisin and cherry mixed with bitter dark cocoa powder up front in the aroma. Really not a ton of depth in the smell overall for a Russian Imperial Stout. A slight hint of alcohol and some dark roasted grain as well.

T- Like the nose there is a good deal of dark fruit flavors here like dried cherry, fig and raisin. The dark grains add a nice cocoa powder, cracked cereal grain and burnt/ash notes. Some nutty, brown sugar and sweet hints too. No alcohol present here. The chocolate taste opens nicely with warming.

MF- Moderately thick body with higher end carbonation but in the style's range still. Fairly creamy overall consistency. Slight alcohol warmth and burnt bitterness in the finish.

Pretty solid RIS that is cocoa and fruit forward. Smooth with hidden alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 02:55:55 | More by cbutova