Everyone
81

Black Raven Grandfather Raven Imperial Stout

Black Raven Brewing Company
Redmond, WA, United States of America


Vital Statistics

Release: Limited Rotating (vintaged)
ABV: 9.5%
Bitterness: 75 IBU

From the brewer

In Northwest Coast Native history, the raven is often depicted as creator of the earth. This great bird, referred to as Grandfather Raven, brought the sun, moon, fire, and fresh water to the first people. We bring you our imperial stout as an offering befitting of this mythical creature.

Average Scores

Overall: 81 (logged 29 times)
Draft: 82 (logged 22 times)
Bottle: 76 (logged 7 times)

Who's been drinking this

2022 release
Strong but mellow, roasty and lightly fruity. I think in the past I have been rating this with the great grandfather raven in mind which is not fair. Strong for sure.
2022 release
Slightly smoky, deep roast, medium thick mouthfeel that has a creamier and more caramel smoothness than you’d expect from the opening. Clearly very strong.
2016 release
Bottle at Odin Lounge
2013 release
2013 release
Smoothed out a bit. I've always thought this beer had some prickly edges, and they're better after a couple years. But I still wouldn't go out of my way for it.
2014 release
Heavy hitting, this is a grand stout. Loads of chocolate and light coffee. Will age very well.
Bottle
2014 release
A bit on the dry side for an Imperial Stout, which matches earlier impressions, but with a nice milky smoothness to the opening that makes this hard to dislike. On the thinner side for a beer of this strength, which, hoo-girl, it does have.
2015 release
Quite enjoyable imperial stout with very dry and roasty flavors. It has somewhat of a thin texture. Quite boozy and strong.
2013 release
Bottle at Home
2013 release
Roast coffee and dark chocolate nose. Sharp coffee comes though in the flavor.
Bottle at A Friend's
2013 release
Smooth start with strong malt taste and a tangy roasty sort of finish.
Bottle
2013 release
Only slightly viscous. Pleasant bourbony release and sweet roasted finish with just a bit of almond.
Bottle
2013 release
Real pleasant wood/coffee roastiness. Mild tackiness but a pleasant dry body. Additional bottles obtained for further study.
2013 release
About exactly as roasty as I want an imperial stout, medium-thick with no lingering bitterness or sourness. Just a hint of wood in the background. I'm going to age a bottle or three of this; I bet it'll do well.
2010 release
2010 vintage on tap at the brewery! Still dry, like their other dark beers, but mellower in character (from the aging?) and with nice toffee on the nose. Very enjoyable and better than my memory of the much younger 2012 from earlier this year.