Two Brothers Brewing Company Northwind Imperial Stout
What the brewers say
“Dark delights like this were once shipped to the imperial court of Russia. With a firm, roasty maltiness balanced against a generous helping of hops, Northwind can stand up to the worst its namesake can dish out!”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Moderate roast, light chocolate, touch of vanilla, light date, light cherry, pleasant fruitiness: fruitcake! Mild toasted malt. Some cocoa/chocolate notes. Before I even taste it, it’s hinting at barrel aging. Nice roast malt with some chocolate and brown sugar and a hint of alcohol. Cinnamon Teddy Grahams have to be some untold adjunct if the nose is any indication.”
Flavor: “Moderate plum and cherry, mouthfilling carbonation, light hops, chocolate, light roast aftertaste. Toasted malt, light caramel, moderate bitterness, long linger of chocolate and caramel. Medium body, a bit light for the complexity of flavors. Sweet chocolate flavors linger into the aftertaste. Hops flavors add interest. Nice roast bitterness in the finish. Wow, the balance among sweet, roasted, and bitter is incredible. Literally nothing jumps out and scrambles to scream ‘ME! first.’ It’s lighter than what you think you’re getting into with the smell, but a lot of the same flavors carry through and some nuttiness joins the party that was thoughtfully decorated in flower petals.”
Overall: “A nice, smooth, low-astringency imperial stout. There’s just enough roast and bitterness to balance the sweetness. Smooth and flavorful. Somewhat retiring for an imperial stout—a bit thinner than expected. Very enjoyable. A bit thin and subtle, but super enjoyable at the same time. I could drink this all day.”
