North-Wind Imperial Stout - Two Brothers Brewing Company

McNealc31

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours like it should. Black with a dark brown head. In love with the aroma, charred wood, vanilla, and dark fruits. Surprisingly smooth and creamy. The flavor isn't bludgeoning, but what is there is tasty and well balanced. Deep roasted malt, burnt marshmallows, and eventually toffee.

Not the biggest Imperial Stout out there, but quite tasty. Quaffable, to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 01:02:14 | More by McNealc31

MCain04

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Dark brown tow black with a 1 finger kahki head. Some retention, some lacing.

Smell: Caramel, toffee, roasted malts. Burnt marshmallows and campfires.

Taste: I get the roasty malts but disappointed a bit by the lack of other flavors. I had this last year and thought there was a more robust taste, let down by this year's vintage.

Feel: Moderately carbonated, a bit thin, bitter and a little dry on the finish.

Overall: Last year this was one of my go-to imperial stouts. This year... not as much. Still, for $10/6-pack for a 9.5%ABV brew, I'm impressed with the value. There's better taste for taste stouts out there, but for the price, this is a really solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 06:05:14 | More by MCain04

TheSSG

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours a HUGE, dense, tan head that is woven with hop resin and has fantastic retention and leaves lacing all over. Toasted malt makes for a coffee-like aroma with just a touch of floral hops. Black. A thick, viscous liquid is almost syrupy and starts bright with floral hops and roasted malt (which combines for a very coffee-like flavor), with warming booziness. The hop bitterness grows while keeping up with the whelming toasted malt, until there is just a crushing, deep roasted malt flavor. This subsides and merges with a slight hop floral flavor in the finish.

This is a really, really nice Imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 02:56:22 | More by TheSSG

mecummins

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A- poured a dark dark brown color. Very rich looking. Produced a 1 & 1/2 finger dark tan head. The foam dissipated very quickly, however, leaving a thin film to cover the beer. Bits of lacing here and there, but nothing really exciting.

S- dark chocolate, coffee and some roasted malts. There was a sweetness there as well.

T- sort of disappointing at first. The taste did not live up to the aroma at all. There was a harsh alcohol taste on the front note, followed by the bitterness of the chocolate & coffee. As it warmed though, it grew a bit sweeter and better balanced. I enjoyed it a lot more after it sat out for 20 minutes or so.

M- very lush and rich mouthfeel. It had a chewy quality to it. Medium finish

O- it was a decent stout that I'd drink again, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 03:29:32 | More by mecummins

KFBR392

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: A very traditional look to a stout. Pitch dark, thin head, low carbonation.

Smell: There is light hop sweetness here. Malt, dark chocolate, and some very dark fruits play a role here.

Taste: Awesome here. A smooth hop presence hits at first. A creamy malt body carries this beer. Such a complex body really represents the the american stout well. I'm not really sold on this beer being a Russian Imperial Stout, but is an awesome American stout.

Mouthfeel: More of a clean smoothness here. Again not really the feel of a Russian Imperial Stout, but more of a traditional Stout.

Overall: I think Two Brothers is one of the better breweries in my home state of Illinois. Their beers tend to be very solid. This beer is one of my favorites and can go toe to toe with many other American Stouts.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 05:35:39 | More by KFBR392

ksimons

New York

3.6/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-pours almost black in the glass with no visible highlights and a fingers worth of tan head that sticks to the glass and leaves a layer of lace on top

S-smell is nice and the best part of the beer, rich roasted malt, dark coffee, molasses, dark chocolate

T-taste doesn't quite live up to the smell of this beer. Still get the roasted malt backbone with dark coffee and chocolate, but the flavors seem somewhat muted and I'm not getting the big rich feel of the best RIS.

M-medium body, dry mouthfeel, light to medium carbonation

Overall it is an average RIS. Not spectacular but by no means bad either.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 23:48:22 | More by ksimons

BierStein711

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Good example of the style. Very accessible to beginners!

Appearance: Jet black with red at the bottom. Fast reducing head. (I had an older bottle)

Smell: Cocoa, Coffee, roasted malt

Taste: Cocoa, roasted malt

Mouthfeel: Smooth and refreshing!

I think the low bitterness units on this beer make it far more accessible to those folks who are afraid of stouts or do not like the style. I am a big stout guy, and I'd endorse this beer for the neophyte or the seasoned stout fan. Pick up a sixer today!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 15:30:06 | More by BierStein711

--Dom--

Missouri

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Even with a good hard pour, not much head. Less than 1 finger, brown, dissipates quickly. I'm less interested in that than the taste thought, this beer tastes great. Pours a dark brown, nearly black. This is a thick beer.

Smells of roasted malt, slightly burnt aroma, slight coffee aroma as well.

For me, the mouthfeel of this beer is perfect. It doesn't feel too heavy, or too carbonated. Pretty much spot on. Every flavor is there in balance. I taste the roasted malts, hint of coffee, hint of chocolate. Just sweet enough, not too sweet. You really wouldn't guess the high gravity unless you already knew. The alcohol rides along the palate with all the other flavors very well. The finish is great, no biting aftertaste of any kind.

This beer is very strong, but very drinkable. I could definitely have 2 in a night. It isn't perfect, but it's close. I do not consider myself a stout guy, but I really do like this beer a lot. It isn't perfect but it is very good. Well done once again Two Brothers. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:04:38 | More by --Dom--

BB1313

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours black with a nice fluffy khaki, off-white head. This one leaves nice film and lacing. The aromas are very malty. There are subtle hints of chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch. There's also some black coffee in the aromas as well. The flavors are pretty typical for a Russian Imperial Stout. Roasted chocolate is there giving it a decent bitterness. There's also some roasted coffee in the mix as well. There's barely any alcohol noticeable. Finishes pretty bitter. Mouthfeel is pretty nice. It's light and watery, but smooth and fluffy. Moderate carbonation. Easy drinking.

This is basically just an average Russian Imperial Stout. Not bad, but there's really nothing that makes it stand out.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 21:45:59 | More by BB1313

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.48/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a short beige head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains dark fruit, roasted malts, chocolate, some coffee and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with sweet flavors of dark fruit and chocolate. Then a roasted malt character that is a bit on the thin side for the style comes in. The hops presence is mild but complementary and creates some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp but a bit watery, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, good kick, decent representation of style, there are several other stouts I would choose before this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:17:57 | More by TheManiacalOne

AmitC

Indiana

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle from Lot 3182.

Almost black, very dark brown while pouring. Pitch black inside the glass. About one finger thick tan-shining brown colored head, that does not stand well enough. Decent lacing on the sides.

Not one of the strongest aromas here. Some burnt up malts, some very minor hops, a well hidden alcohol. At least, does not give anything up. Some roasted malts, again very mild for an imperial stout. Chocolate and caramel, just a sprinkling.

Taste: Again alcohol is not felt. To me that is a bad thing for a RIS. To some it is good, but alcohol should come out and lead. Somewhat sweet due to malt presence. Very low to almost non-existent on bitter hops. As with stouts, roasted malts, caramel and some chocolate. But nothing worth remembering. Nothing that strikes out. Very mild taste. Dry finish.

Mouth feel: Full bodied, yet not very thick. Easy on palate, no astringency. A well drinking beer for over 9% RIS.

Style Rate: 4
Personal Rate: 4

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 22:39:22 | More by AmitC

fallopia

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a refrigerated bottle into a snifter

Appearance: Deep brown, nearly black color with a fine, beading light-mocha head.

Aroma: Toasted, meaty malts with powdered cocoa hints.

Flavor: Smoky, cocoa and mild coffee notes with a slight burnt aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Well-balanced, medium-to-full bodied malts with a slightly harsh, carbonated finish.

Overall, this was a well-balanced, slightly lighter than expected stout that I would rate in the upper half of its class.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 01:42:44 | More by fallopia

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - The brown head on this deep-brown brew is super-dense and thick. The head looks like raw chocolate chip cookie dough, and thick lace sticks all over the glass. Head retention is great for a beer of this ABV. Rootbeer highlights around the edges show that this one is a notch down the scale from pure black.

S - Double chocolate chip cookies. This smells extremely sweet and gooey with a hint of chicory underneath. Some toasted bran notes add a bit of complexity.

T - Super sweet melted milk chocolate. This one is a bit one dimensional, but some of those chicory notes from the nose come through to keep this from getting too cloying. As it warms, more hops come out at the finish.

M - Dextrin-y and heavy, this cleans up at the finish to end on a pleasingly dry note with bitter chicory root and hay-like hints of hops.

This one lacks the complexity of some high ABV stouts, but it's still really tasty, and could be somewhat drinkable since the really dry finish leaves you wanting another sip of initial sweetness. It's a vicious cycle. Could be dangerous!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 15:45:43 | More by pmcadamis

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Glad to be having an imperial stout on a cold, dull day in December. Cheers.

A: Coffee brown body that pours pretty thick, though not thick enough to stop all light from coming through. Head starts as a finger-high, silky brown beauty that slowly settles to just a sprinkling of retention, with small circles of lacing dotting the inner edges of the glass.

S: A roasty, chocolate-forward aroma that leaves nothing but pleasant thoughts in my mind as it rushes up with waves of sweet vanilla, chocolate-covered hazelnut, oak, and roasty coffee with Irish cream. Alcohol doesn’t seem to be a factor at all – it’s just Hershey’s and marshmallow for this one. Toasted biscuit and dark, spicy hops settle amongst the primary scents for balance and complexity.

T: A very deep drink from start to finish: it smoothes over the tongue, warming all the way, and pulls you down with it into the depths of dark flavor. From a small sip it opens with dark, bitter chocolate, almost drying in the way it works over the palate, but that’s soon followed by a procession of date, walnut, and mild anise. The flavors are viscous and bold, but not rich, keeping this truly drinkable for the long run. Smoke and peppery, piney hops tease a little more bite out of the palate, and a touch of boozy cherry liqueur isn’t far behind as this one finishes off. Aftertaste is a fairly dry, with that bitter chocolate hanging on for minutes at a time.

M: Hits the spot without going overboard in slickness. It’s not super creamy like a milk stout, not porter-thin, and its weight doesn’t force you to sip it daintily like many others I’ve had in this style: it’s just right for the tastes this beer seemingly wants to showcase.

O: I doubt this beer won’t blow anybody away, but it definitely could be an archetype for the style. The texture, the nose, the balance…everything here is exactly what an RIS is all about. That said, I doubt I’d pick it up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 03:38:09 | More by BarryMFBurton

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into snifter, lot 51, no bottle dating. Pours pitch black color with a 1 finger dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Slight spotty lacing clings to the glass, with slight alcohol legs. Aromas of big milk chocolate, roasted malt, smoke, cream, toffee, caramel, and light herbal. Very nice and unique aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of milk chocolate, smoke, roasted malt, toffee, cream, coffee, caramel, toast, and earth. No bitterness after the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, roasted malt, cream, toffee, and earth on the finish for a bit. Very nice flavor balance and robustness; minimal cloying sweetness after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and body; with a nice creamy and slick mouthfeel; a touch thin for 9% though. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice imperial stout. Nice balance of robust and unique stout flavors; and extremely smooth to sip on. Very enjoyable stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 03:50:12 | More by superspak

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From: World Market, Hoffman Estates, IL
Date: "Lot 1347" stamped on label (from December 2011)
Glass: Tulip

While not my favorite go-to RIS, Two Brothers' take on the variety is interesting in its use of smoked malt in the aroma and taste, which complements the roasted malt's chocolate and char quite well. If the aroma and flavor were a notch more aggressive in this beer, it would be a strong contender for readily available seasonal beverage of choice.

Pours a 1.5cm head of dark tan foam, small bubbles and dense in compaction, frothy looking in overall appearance. Retention is about average, lasting a minute or two as it fades, leaving nothing atop the body of the beer, ring of bubbles or otherwise. Lacing is minimal, too. Body is dark brown to black, opaque, with carbonation noticeable only at the top of the body.

Aroma is influenced strongly by smoked malt, slight burnt dust, roasted/blackened malt, and very dark chocolate. Scents could be stronger, for more enjoyment, but are acceptable as is.

Open with deeply sweet, smoky malt flavors on the forefront of the palate that blend well into darker, tangier, more bitter flavors in mid-palate. Slightly tangy in vinegar-barbecue sauce sense by mid-palate. Closing out with an interesting blend of dark roasted flavors with balanced sweet, smoked malt flavors, hints of vanilla and very dark chocolate.

Beer is medium to medium-heavy in body, with medium-low levels of carbonation. The result is a smooth, flowing stout that goes easily across the palate. Ethanol is felt just slightly on the throat, nothing in the nostils, quite nice for a 9.1% beer. Finish is dry with little residual stickiness on palate.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 04:47:15 | More by falloutsnow

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
45 IBUs, 9.1% ABV, Lot 3071 printed on back of label.

A - Northwind pours like syrup, black as night, and is topped by a rocky, effervescent cocoa head. Low retention, undoubtedly from the stout's high alcohol level, leaves no lace left on the glass.

S - Rich and robust, the thick aroma abounds with roasted malt giving off chocolate, cocoa, and dark coffee notes. Earthiness suggests wood as phenolic, dark fruit aromatics join the party, alcohol-soaked raisins and plum to name a few.

T - Opening with rich dark roasted malts and a sweet chocolate milkiness that are accented with light vanilla hints, Northwind features a prominent bold-roast coffee bitterness and flavor to the finish. Complexity grows as the beer warms, releasing more of the fruity esters and alcohol phenols found in the aroma.

M - It's very full body is evident from the syrupy pour through the aroma and flavor to the chewy mouthfeel. Northwind is as smooth as velvet and thick! Balancing with moderate dryness, the beer finishes acridly bitter.

O - Just the thing to sip on a cooler day, Two Brothers' Northwind Russian imperial stout is a thick, black beauty, rich with roasted malt characteristics of chocolate and coffee. A beautiful blend, especially paired with some chunks of dark chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 22:21:12 | More by BeerFMAndy

kylehay2004

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: half finger dark tan head with little retention and lacing on a dark brown with light passing through body. some clumps are noted floating around.

S: roasted malt, dark chocolate and brown sugar but overall light aroma.

T: lots of confectioners chocolate, vanilla and brown sugar. The roasted malts are mild and mostly contribute a slightly bitter finish with coffee notes as well.

M: medium body, creamy with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Not too bad. Flavor is mildly complex, the aroma is good but a little weak. Overall very drinkable however with well hidden alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 00:06:59 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

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

A - Pours with one finger of medium tan foam on top of an opaque, black body with some sediment floating in it. The head settles fairly quickly and leaves light lace.

S - Very roasty with a strong coffee aroma as well as some peaty smoke.

T - Dark, roasted malt up front with notes of burnt caramel, chocolate, and espresso. More coffee and baker's chocolate in the middle and smoky notes in the finish that provide lots of roasted grain bitterness.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - This stout is robust and roasted to the point that it really tastes like a coffee stout. It quite a contrast compared to many other imperial stouts that finish much sweeter than this one. This relative dryness allows it to be fairly drinkable even though it does nothing to lighten the overall experience or hide the alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 00:04:45 | More by nickfl

Brenden

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2B tap takeover at Swig 7/11/12. The wife's beer; #2.5?

This beer is big and black with a brown head about one finger tall that shows good retention. Lacing is a bit understated on the glass. It's not a big, thick, heavy stout, by any means, and one can see the direction they wanted to take with this beer by looking at it. It's more even and balanced than a big, destructive monster.
Northwind has a strong malts foundation with roasty notes. The chocolate is more bittersweet baking chocolate than sweet, but a sweetness certainly does come through, vanilla and dark fruits, making it sweeter than is typical without being cloying. I can see some in the beer community with the new trend of face-melting beers not liking that this beer is lighter than some, but the focus really is on the overall flavor, balance and attenuation. It succeeds. There's a complexity to this beer with the malts, the sweetness, cocoa, coffee grounds, and even caramel/toffee. There's a nice earthiness as well and just enough light hops to keep it malt-forward but balanced.
The body isn't as big as one might expect and, I'll admit, perhaps not as big as it should be. It does have a richness to it, though, a nice flow, smoothness, and a nip of crispness to keep it moving.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2012 14:39:23 | More by Brenden

vfgccp

New York

3.08/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Beautiful bowling ball black with a creamy tan head builds out of no where and hangs around with fantastic retention and ok lace.

S - Nice crisp roast with deep cocoa and coffee highlights. Slight sour/musty edges.

T - Relatively light. Hammy smoke, char, and dark roast coffee.

M - Thin body for the style. Hides the 9% well though.

O - I'm ambivalent about the smoke, but overall it's the light body that really hurts the profile.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 00:27:51 | More by vfgccp

libbey

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a NB globe.

A: An aggressive pour yields a large fluffy coco brown head to this dark brown imperial stout. A decent trail of sticky lacing is left throughout the session.

S: Sweet chocolate malt dominates. There is a hint of smoke that becomes a bit more pronounced as it warms. No hop presence to speak of and the ABV is well masked.

T: Roasted malts and a hint of sweet chocolate on the finish. Pretty one dimensional but nice.

M: Overall mouthfeel is much to thin for the style in my opinion. It was a touch under carbonated also. Body does not live up to the nose sadly.

O: Overall this is a nice imperial stout from two brothers. A bit one dimensional and overall mouthfeel could be a lot fuller but still a tasty stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 00:36:39 | More by libbey

dlello2

Illinois

2.6/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - Cloudy black. Lots of brown head with big bubbles.

S - Chocolate is first. Definitely roasty. Surprised to not really get any hops here. Some wood and smoke.

T - Follows the nose quite closely. Less chocolate and more burnt toast. Roasty qualities fail to wow. Actually find it lacking in flavor which is interesting considering the 9% abv. Not the best.

M - Thinner body than I'd have liked. Lacking in carbonation and slick.

O - Not impressed by this one. Following it with a hop juice black... hopefully that will treat me right!

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 00:29:08 | More by dlello2

dhannes

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a standard pint glass.

A=Very dark brown...poured a large (3 finger) golden head that lasted over a minute.

S=Almost non-existant. Faint smell of semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder.

T=Coffee with tangy aftertaste; hints of irish whiskey flavoring, as well as slight chocolate flavors; slightly sweet as well.

M=Very drinkable...perhaps a bit less body for the style; almost no carbonation left; cannot taste the alcohol.

O=My bottle had been in the cellar for 3+ months, and probably was on the shelf for a month or two before that. Very nice beer that is good by itself or may go well with red meat or barbecued chicken, perhaps. Would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 01:30:41 | More by dhannes

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

3.2/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Batch 36, 22oz bottle from at least a few years ago.

Pours blackish with brown edging and barely a trace of tan head. A flat surface with zero lacing for the duration.

Aromatics lead off with roast, char, chocolate, and a hint of coffee. Hints of Oreo shells and brownies.

On the fuller side of medium bodied with a slickish, slightly flat mouthfeel. Thin for the style.

Brownie bits, Hershey syrup, and roasted malts start the palate. Hints of dark chocolate and coffee grounds follow through.

Finishes quickly with fading chocolate and roast.

This is like a RIS-mini, or even closer to a Porter. The classic RIS profile is subdued in every way and the beer is thin and flatish with no warmth on the throat.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 00:33:14 | More by brewandbbq