De Molen Rasputin

Oh, give me a home, where the Russian Imperial Stouts roam, and the malts and barley play…

Black with rich top-soil complimenting her depths. In the light, rustic copper and ancient amber flicker and fade beneath a soft canopy of delicate bubbles while clumps of lace cling stubbornly. Licorice soaked dark breads taste of burnt crust and fresh pumpernickel. Oak, cinnamon, and nutmeg dance amidst a chorus of caramel, chocolate, and fresh lactic notes; whole milk. My first quaff is rich and delicious. Sweet with spiced molasses, caramel, and warm dark breads, pumpernickel, and rye. Graham crackers and vanilla dipped in delicate milky chocolate and coffee with cream. Fresh melon, peach, and apricot offer a delicate finish I find highly refreshing and unexpectedly enjoyable. Plump and moist plums, prunes, and raisins perfectly compliment her dark breads drizzled in caramelized sugars. Each quaff lightly coats all porous surfaces as I thirst for more of my Brouwerij de Molen Rasputin. As my glass warms and quickly recedes to her very last drop, I am enveloped in comforting warmth.

The only other Russian Imperial Stout I have had of late has been North Coast’s offering, and these two couldn’t be any more pleasantly different. She was exquisitely delicious, and I especially enjoyed the delicate tropical fruit touch; very vivifying. Once again, I count my blessings as a beer geek, and offer thanks both to this boutique brewery and to my good friend who so graciously shared his bottle with me.

bottle 75 cl. dark medium carbonated with medium vanilla head. less complex as hell and damnation, and maybe thus better drinkable. excellent!!!

Bottle at the ’09 Fish Fry. Pours ruby black with beige head. The aroma is nuts, varnish, and lumber. The flavor is chocolate, walnut, raisin, and nut shells. There’s a harsh, dry peppery finish that I don’t dig. I have a hard time getting into these continental imperial stouts, but this one is better than the past several I’ve had.

Dark brown, almost black, with a thick, rich beige head. Nice aroma of caramel and toast. Flavor is yeasty and herbalplus a lot of chocolatey, toasty and coffee flavors, too. Persistant herbal note throughout. Sampled at Springslicker’s Fish Fry.

Bottle. Dark amber colour with a huge off white head. Loads of aromas in here, lots of complex taste. But is it a stout or an bsa? I dont care. its GOOD!

bottle. Large brown thick head that mostly lasted. Good display of lacework. Hazy mahogany color. Aroma of dried fruit, yeast, roasted malt, chocolate. Very full and vinous aroma. Full bodied, acerage carbonation, light alcoholic thich texture. Heavy sweet and bitter flavor. Lingering fruity and roated malty finish.

Bottle: Poured a deep black color ale with a super huge foamy dirty brown head with great retention and very good lacing. Aroma is nice mix of lightly sweet black chocolate with some hints of fry coffee and well balance roasted malt. Taste is also a very well balance mix between some black chocolate, dry coffee and lightly bitter roasted malt with a good dose of sweetness. Hops don’t play a huge role here and it is just perfect the way it is. Body is not totally full for the style with some great carbonation and no sign of the alcohol. Very well done and I still don’t understand what this is not rated higher.

Bottled 750ml. 2008 Vintage. Bottle number 550. Thanks Bierkoning! Appearance: It pours a dark brown beer with ruby reflects. Fizzy beige head. Poor retention. Fair lacework. Aroma: Very pleasant and inviting. Candy sugar, molasses, licorice, strong coffee and rose petals showing up. Very rich and buttery with hints of strawberries and vanilla. Flavor and palate: Sweet and full bodied. A lot of licorice, vanilla, strong coffee, candy sugar, burnt caramel, plums, cherries and molasses in the taste. Smooth. Faintly salty. Strawberries and marshmallows sneaking in. The alcohol is very nicely hidden. Surprisingly dry finish which is reminiscent of hops, vanilla, strawberries and coffee. Overall impression: Flawless, deeply pleasant, rich, complex and really true to the style of Imperial Russian Stout. I was struck by the dissapointing appearance though. I love the burnt caramel characteristics. Another great beer from De Molen. Thanks a lot bierkoning!