Eel River Raven's Eye Imperial Stout- A tasty organic beer

October 13, 3:21 PMSouthern California Craft Beer ExaminerOwen Smigelski

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Eel River's Raven's Eye Imperial Stout

Eel River Brewing Company, in Northern California's Humboldt County, claims to be the first certified organic brewery in the United States.  One usually is skeptical of such claims, first because the statement may be bogus, and second because sometimes organic products sacrifice taste simply to be "organic."  Raven's Eye Imperial Stout is an exception- it's a great tasting beer, that just happens to be organic.

When poured into a glass, Raven's Eye has a very generous head. It is a thick, dark beer that does not allow much light to pass through the glass.  One cannot see into the beer to view the carbonation, but with a decent residual head that forms, the bubbles must be present. The smell is one of molasses mixed with a malty stout smell. Not a particularly exotic bouquet, but a decent smelling stout.

Once tasted, this beer reveals its depth.  It has a rich stout taste, with a very present roasted malt taste.  One can sense hints of molasses and perhaps a slight taste of chocolate in the beer.  Once in the mouth, the taste grows- almost appearing to release more carbonation about 5 seconds into the taste.  This seems like a late flavor explosion in the mouth, and the stout taste is stronger at the end of the sip than at the beginning.  Certainly a unique beer experience, and one I had to try several times to ensure it was not a figment of my imagination. There are additionally hints of coffee in the aftertaste.  This a strong beer (9.5% alcohol), so enjoy in moderation (or with company). 

Overall, Raven's Eye by Eel River Brewing Co. is a very pleasant beer, made more enjoyable by the exploding taste. Add in the knowledge that only the finest, natural, organic ingredients are used, this beer is a lot easier to enjoy. This beer was purchased at the BevMo in Torrance, CA.