North-Wind Imperial Stout - Two Brothers Brewing Company

clvand0

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark brown with a very small tan head that doesn't stay long. A little light comes around the edges. The aroma has a strong presence of roasted malt and coffee. Promising. The flavor has a lot of coffee in it and not much else. It also seems like the body could have a little more. Seems a bit watered down and thin for an imperial stout. Not a bad brew, but not the best imperial.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2004 12:57:39 | More by clvand0

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had on tap at Milrose while in Illinois. Served in a fucking pilsner glass. Not cool.

A: Pitch black, small beige head, modest lace. No cap or retention.

S: Roasty black coffee. Lots of sweet chocolate. Maybe a hint of wet cardboard.

T: Mild roast black coffee. Some chocolate. Not the most powerful flavors. Hint of dish soap in the finish.

M: Full body with very low carbonation.

D: Maybe it was the glass but this one was sort of a chore to get down. If I see it in the bottle I will give it a second chance.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2010 02:19:02 | More by beerwolf77

shanblur

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. No date present on the bottle.

A - Pours opaque black with a minimal tan head which fades quickly to a minimal ring with very light lacing.

S - Roasted malts predominate with muted chocolate and coffee aromas

T - Roasted malts with a hint of smoke. A nice chocolate and espresso flavor as well. Minimal hop presence detected on the finish.

M - Dense with a light carbonation

This is a nice beer. I have had both better and worse. I would not go out of my way to have another one.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 21:45:33 | More by shanblur

drewbage

California

3.28/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Beer sampled on 4/7/2004 at the Clark Street Ale House in Chicago. Arrived in a standard pint glass.

Straight pint blacker than black on co2 service. No head

Aroma is nutty and toasted corn with a long tobacco burnt at the edges.

Flavor is intensely sweet off the 'stache with a large coffee bite with a good finish that has a slight bite of metal and licorice

Body is actually a bit thin for the notion of an Imperial Stout. Probably best to think of this as an Foreign Export.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2004 00:31:51 | More by drewbage

tpd975

Florida

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

A: Pours a nice deep dark abyss black hue with a 1/2 finger head. The head dies rather quickly and yields to a small bubbly collar. No lace.

S: Tons of dark fruit up front with hints of roasty malt. A nice tart stout.

T: Flavor really matches the nose. Dark fruit and more dark fruit right at the start. Figs, Raisins, and Dates are all there. Light hints of charred malt as well. This one is all about the fruit though.

M: Medium in body with a nice level of carbonation.

D: Pretty drinkable. Would like a touch of chocolate, smoke, or coffee though.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2008 19:08:48 | More by tpd975

Verecund

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a lightly tanned head.

Smell is a bit lighter than I would like. Molasses, coffee, and some chocolate. Taste is actually predominantly dark chocolate, some roasted bitterness on the finish (coffee-like), and a minor hop presence, mostly on the finish. (It's listed as 45 IBU). Pretty smooth and surprisingly good flavor profile; well balanced.

Creamy mouthfeel. It feels like an 8.5% ABV RIS should, I think. A bit thin, as some have noted, but still smooth.

Better than expected, actually. This would be a RIS that I could return to on another cold night. Not the best of the bunch, but very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 02:58:34 | More by Verecund

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

ahking

Michigan

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice rich stout. Aromas of strong coffee and molasses. Quite bitter tasting from dark malts (black patent?) and variety of hops. Roasted and chocolate malt flavors pervade. Pours almost completely black (as should be expected) with a creamy tan head. I am a sucker for stouts and this is a nice one overall. I have had better, but this one is a nice affordable mainstay.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2005 20:33:35 | More by ahking

blackie

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

appearance: The pour creates a pretty low tan head that almost immediately becomes just a ring around the glass. The beer is a really dark brown in color.

smell: Doesn't smell too imperial, but not bad. First I get some aromas of roasted grain and bittersweet chocolate, just a hint of molasses. Not much else to it. Lighter hop aroma.

mouthfeel: The carbonation is around the middle of the low range. The body is medium or just under it.

taste: Roasted malt, bittersweet and dark chocolates, decent hop flavor with a light to moderate bitterness.

drinkability: Nothing bad about this beer per se, but it is a little bland for the imperial style. Still, the ABV is well hidden and the beer goes down smooth.

Brought a bottle back from Madison, sat in the cellar fridge a couple months. Lot 3345 is printed on the label.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2006 05:23:54 | More by blackie

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark brown color, with conspicuous floaties, and a head that is small and swiftly diminshing. Aroma is brisk and brimming with espresso character, rich with cocoa.
Texture is thick and warming, but a little difficult to swallow. I have to wonder if I have an old bottle, and if that could be the cause. (This came in a Two Brothers 12pack sampler)
Lacks the complexity that I come to enjoy in better Imperial Stouts. This clearly is not one of those. Later on, others flavors come to mind, and I'm tasting brandy, molasses, dates. Why so slow to show? It's too late, I'm bored already.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2003 19:52:11 | More by feloniousmonk

k2pantan

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

a: poured out looking mostly black. appears dark brownish/red in the light. very little head, light brownish in color, that dissipated fairly quickly

s: smoky, coffee, with chocolate undertones

t: first thing noticed was the coffee and chocolate flavor which then evolved to a more bitter taste. i was expecting more of a lasting taste but it just wasn't there

m: medium body....not too light or heavy. if anything, it didn't have a creamy, more full bodied feel which is a sensation that i enjoy most out of imps.

d: goes down easy without any offense but it's not something that i would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2007 00:15:16 | More by k2pantan

drabmuh

Maryland

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle shared by the other Matt.

Beer is black with a thin tan head of small and medium bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass, carbonation is moderate. Looks good.

Aroma is strong but only with this almost coffee like bitterness from roast. Interesting. Aroma would not be described as "complex".

Beer is medium in body and holy hell is it bitter in the back. If there is anything else happening in this beer...any other flavors may only be captured in the orbit of this massive amounts of roast in the back of the palate. It's like a flavor avalanche that destroys a village of peaceful snow dwelling people at the base of a mountain...OK, that's hyperbole. It's not terrible but it's a one note wonder. Not great at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 20:15:06 | More by drabmuh

MJR

Missouri

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Has a very dark brown body that is completely opaque. There's no head to speak of...it's starts as a small fizz of bubbles and disappears completely.

Smell: Aroma of roasted malt and coffee. There's a very faint green hop smell hidden deep in the muck...

Taste: Has a nice balance of roasted malt flavor and hop bitterness. A touch of a burnt flavor makes itself known towards the end. Has that same green hop flavor from the aroma. Finishes with a slight sour note. A little lacking in the complexity department...

Mouthfeel: The body's a bit thin for an Imperial Stout. On thickness alone, this would be just enough for a porter.

Drinkability: It's not a bad brew...it's just a little mediocre compared to it's competition. Why drink this when there are other Imperials with more body and character? At least the alcohol is hidden well...

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2003 17:17:43 | More by MJR

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

If this wasn't an imperial, I would have a little more higher ratings for it. But it just isn't cut out for the real imperials out there. It's a good stout, and that's it. It's opaque black with a medium-sized and thick creamy tan head. The aroma is strong roasted malts and hints of chocolate. The flavor is very roasty, robust porter-like in a way, kind of sweet, with a nice bitterness coming through on the finish. I found some sourness on the finish as well, kind of annoying. It's kinda worth a try maybe sorta....I dunno. I won't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2003 21:26:25 | More by AudioGilz

cretemixer

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours deepest opaque brown, with a thin tan head that fades fast leaving a “cling-ring”. I can see some floaties lurking near the side of my glass.
Malty coffee aroma. Bready with a smoked barley aroma too.
Slightly acidic first taste with weak coffee flavors. It seems a little lacking for an Imperial Stout. Not bad, nicely balanced, just a little less complex than the style dictates. Finishes thin, with a little alcohol warmth.
Lighter body that most Imperials with appropriate carbonation. Drinkability is a toss up. It goes down pretty smooth and easy, but I was hoping for something a little more satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2003 15:20:26 | More by cretemixer

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2-year old bottle. We sampled this at the homebrew club meeting, so these are consensus impressions. Very smoky and tobacco-y, with a dry finish. Not quite to style (though with a beer intended to age, it's hard to keep the flavor from changing) but an enjoyable brew. Extra points for its unusual, but very pleasant smell.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2003 13:51:41 | More by DrunkMcDermott

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 ounce bottle. This beer pours out black, with no head at all. Sweet chocolate and caramel aroma. The flavor is sweet chocolate with some bitter coffee. This is hardly an Imperial Stout, though. This beer is thick without being big on flavor. On top of that, there is very little carbonation, so it is like drinking sludge. Low marks for drinkability. I think I would have liked this beer more if it just had some bubbles, although it still wouldn't be an imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2005 03:54:45 | More by beveragecaptain

mickstepp

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black. Little to no head. Very little lacing. Faint roasted malt and hop aroma. The taste is likewise: toasty malt and a complement of hops. Very mild. The taste and mouthfeel are more along the lines of a Porter rather than an Imperial Stout. A very drinkable beer but not very representative of the intended style.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2003 17:05:28 | More by mickstepp

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with CRJMellor. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a minimal brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Head what there was, is gone almost immediately, leaving a few little areas of bubbles around the edge, and lacing as well is minimal to non-existent. Aroma is dark grains, and that's about it. Taste is sweet dark malts upfront, some coffee bitterness, and a dry close. Seems closer to a regular stout here. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both not bad, but heaven forbid one rate against the style, this one would be out the door. Not bad for a beer, but not to style, in my mind.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2005 00:07:21 | More by ppoitras

bort11

Missouri

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a shaker pint glass. Half inch mocha colored head and no lacing. Color is a dark cola brown.

Smell is a little on the weak side. It's dark and malty, but just not very bold. There is some candied ginger and brown sugar. Taste has a bigger bite of ginger and some cloves. Doesn't really fit what I have in mind for an RIS.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied. Goes down fairly well, but is not leaving a big impression. This is OK at best

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2009 04:13:24 | More by bort11

ROBORB

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Bottle thanks to Mike B, thanks man!

This beer poured solid black with a thin chocolate head. The aroma consisted of roasted malts and fruits. I found the alcohol to be masked very well. The problem I had with this beer was its carbonation. It is overly carbonated and doesn't match the profile that I am used to. Regardless, it is a good drinking beer but not something I will search out again.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2009 00:25:25 | More by ROBORB

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Ginger Man. A very faint stout, lighter mouthfeel. Sour aroma. Smooth, until sourish finish. The best is the look, it is black and looks like an imperial stout,but it is not the best representation of the style.Still drinkable. Some roasting, maybe it needed to age more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 05:43:11 | More by northyorksammy

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Looks pretty good. Pretty dank black pour, with a light brown head and sporadic lacing.

Aroma is sparse, but theres some roasted malts, and hints of sweetness and chocolate. With some agitation, some dark fruits present themselves.

Taste is rather roasty, with some milk chocolate and some bittersweet notes. Maybe a hint of coffee, but just a hint.

The feel is upper medium in body, slick and creamy in texture with light carbonation. For a Russian Imperial, the feel could have benefited from being heavier.

Not bad on the drink. Lighter and not as flavorful and intense as other RIS's, but overall decent.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 03:57:38 | More by EgadBananas

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to kirok1999 for this one, via the GB&U BIF.

Pours a deep dark brown that lets quite a bit of light in through the edges with only a slight irregular film of head.

Smells... a little weak. There's a fruity and toasty base that could be just about anything that is backed by a combination of green grapes, airy tobacco and smoke. Very fair, very light. Not bad at all, but a little on the thin end.

Whoa. Grape juice. There's a mostly green grapes backed with a touch of brownie and a hint of smokey coffee. Finishes sweet and clean. Huh. This definitely doesn't hang with the best of them, but it's nice and clean. More of your drinkin' stout. Not really an RIS by a long shot, in my book. But the ABV is up, which slides by remarkably. Hmmm. I'm torn here.

Very clean, very smooth; almost watery. But there's a touch of bubble-induced viscosity that helps out a bit.

An easy drinking RIS with "Drinkability?" I'm not sure where I stand on this one. I guess I like it?

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2009 01:22:54 | More by DarkerTheBetter

SisuPride

Tennessee

3.4/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured really dark with a thin head as about as dark tan of a head as you will ever see. The beer smelled good and I woyld not hae guessed it to be over nine percent alcohol but it is. Stout it is! The taste was a more biter than I prefer but it was alright tasting. Mouthfeel was average and oevral a decent stout.l

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 23:57:45 | More by SisuPride