North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by North Coast Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Fort Bragg, California USA

12 oz bottle. Pours rich, deep black, with just a dusting of tan head and minimal carbonation activity. Aroma is a very attractive anise/vanilla/cherries/cocoa/coffee combo, all neatly balanced. First taste is all beautiful coffee bitterness, followed closely by the vanilla/booze, almost bourboney in flavor, then evening out to a balanced toasty cocoa finish. This is all good, all the time.

Serving date: 2009-01-16. Served in snifter. 355 ml bottle with nice, and quite freaky, artwork on the label: A picture of one of history’s most enigmatic and mythical persons, Grigorij Rasputin, surrounded by a quote in Russian (haven’t been able to figure out what it says, though). The pour is jet-black with a 2 cm brown head that settles rather quickly, leaving a brown coat over the beer. Small but thick lacings sticks to the glass. I love how the beer reacts when I swirl the glass, it just keeps reproducing a small but dense coat of brown foam. A very prominent character of roasted barley in the smell. Aromas of coffee and dark chocolate are there as well. The smell is slightly bitter as well. Overall, this one has a rather sharp and robust profile, regarding smell. A big and bold taste of roasted barley is coupled with bitter chocolate and notes of coffee. Some sweet flavors are present to. It has a significant hop character, with a nice and sweet malty background. The finish is a nice mixture of bitter hops and sweet chocolate. It hides the alcohol very well, considering its strength. Smooth, full-bodied and medium carbonation. This is one big imperial stout. A very good beer with a powerful and aggressive profile, pleasant aromas and nicely balanced flavors. Serving type: bottle (Copy of old Beer Advocate review)

Man this was awesome. Chilled just 10 minutes and then poured with a thick head. The aroma released was spectacular. Rich roasted malts and caramel with some fruity notes. Sits on the palate so well. I took in every taste and savored it as much as possible. So full and rich that it was perfect for the mid 40’s day here in NC

(12oz bottle) pours jet black, dark tan head when swirled but won’t last. Nose of vanilla, and sweet dark chocolate. Taste is very bitter bakers chocolate, dry cocoa, and alcohol with a bitter finish and appropriately carbonated body.

Bottle @ Cardinal Stavanger. Pours almost pitch black with a 2 inch creamy tan head.Strong roasted malty aroma. Moderate sweet taste, heavy roasted malt, quite a lot bitterness up front, the end is more sweet burnt caramel, lovely.

Biggish brown head. Dark barely translucent red-brown body. Mild raisiny roasty toffee aroma with chocolatey notes. Sweet-dry alcoholic chocolatey toffee taste with marzipan and raisin notes. Fullish body. Hot mouthfeel. Dry roasty dusty wooden chocolate aftertaste is fairly short. Very nice, but perhaps a bit sweet and mild. (0.33l bottle at Olympen.)

Definitely the coffee aroma and flavor, but I also taste a hint of licorice. Whether it’s my imagination or not, that makes it for me. This is an excellent RIS.