Black Raven Grandfather Raven Imperial Stout
Vital Statistics
From the brewer
In the creator role, and in the Raven's role as the totem and ancestor, the Raven is often addressed as Grandfather Raven. With this stately sense of pomp and tradition we bring you our Imperial Stout. This robust black ale is full with rich dark caramel, unsweetened chocolate, and hints of coffee aromas and flavors. Stately indeed, but at 9.5% ABV, perhaps it is just a vain attempt to encourage the trickster spirit to act respectably.
Average Scores
Overall: 
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(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.
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.
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
Roast coffee and dark chocolate nose.
Sharp coffee comes though in the flavor.
2013 release
Only slightly viscous. Pleasant bourbony release and sweet roasted finish with just a bit of almond.
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.
