De Molen Rasputin

Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen
Style: Imperial Stout
Bodegraven, Netherlands

Serve in Snifter

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Brewed May 15th, 2008, Bottle Number 557; sampled October 2011,br> This is definitely a brown beer rather than a deep black one; the beer sits in my Lost Abbey Teku glass with a concentrated brown color, but uncharacteristically, when held up to the light, shows a brilliantly clear, deep ruby red color when held up to the light. It is topped by a lightly browned, tan colored head. The aroma smells smoky and roasted up front, but in a second pass a deep fruitiness really starts to come out. The fruit reminds me of plums, or perhaps even prune juice, some definite dried fig aromatics and perhaps a hint of roasted dates. After some time a foxy, concord grape like fruitiness becomes more and more noticeable; it almost has a children’s aspirin like fake fruitiness to it. In fact that last has me noticing some sweetness boosting, clove like phenolics along with a slight medicinal note. In the end this settles down into almost more of a rich, fruit driven aroma rather than a roasted grain aroma that is typically found in an Imperial Stout.

Fairly light bodied for a modern Imperial stout, it does have a firm roasted character and a substantial bitterness in the finish that is from both bitter, roasted grain as well as from an ample hop bite; a touch of burnt grain husk flavors linger lightly on the palate in the long finish too. The bitterness really lingers on the palate after each sip. Despite being somewhat light, the beer does have some sweetness to it, this accentuates an ample fruitiness that reminds me of burnt raisins, lots of sweet plum / prune notes, and even some dried fig notes; after the beer warms up a bit, the fruitiness combines with some phenolics to produce some flavors reminiscent of children’s aspirin. There is a touch of a smoky quality to the roast character, it does have a rich toasted brown bread character that leans towards being burnt at times; though interestingly enough it doesn’t really remind me of coffee at all. The beer has just enough heft to it that this is a sipping beer, it is still dangerously quaffable for a beer of this strength though; there is a very light viscousnous to this as it rolls across the palate, but it really doesn’t have the heft of a typical strong stout. If I let this beer rest in my mouth for some time it really starts to remind me of a roasted, concentrated plum.

A very European take on an Imperial Stout; light on the roast, fairly light bodied, but with a ton of fruitiness to it. The beer does have lots of alcohol in it though, but it hides it quite well. Pretty tasty, but at times the super fruitiness and slight medicinal notes can be a bit too much; it does seem need to more roasted character and lots more of a thick maltiness to balance out these notes. The totality of my experience with this beer is definitely better than either the isolated aroma or flavor might necessarily suggest.

Labeled as Cease & Desist - bottled 8/2010, bottle # 63 of 1584. Gotta love the slam of North Coast they wrote on the label. +++ Sampled from an 11.2 oz brown bottle this beer poured a black color with an enormous foamy brown head that lingered forever and left good lacing. The aroma was cherry, port wine, licorice and a bit of molasses. The flavor was bitter and toasty with notes of cherry and anise. The finish was long, dry, bitter, and roasty with lingering cherry. Moderately full bodied. Decent.

Descripción Visual: Color marrón muy oscuro con reflejos rubí, impenetrable. La cabeza (espuma) es color crema que se disipa al borde. Descripcion Olfativa (Aroma): Aroma de malta tostado y frutos secos y uvas. Descripción Gustativa: Los lúpulos utilizados son Premiant y Saaz, tiene 81,7 IBU. En el palado es suave y completa.

On tap as Cease and Desist at Brasserie V. Opaque brown-black with a fluffy, rusty, beige head. Steady. Chocolate and coffee aroma. Smooth on the palate, relatively low carbonation. Rich choco/cocoa tones, not much in the way of unwanted alcohol tones. Quite pleasant, roasty, rich. Subdued, soft on the palate..clean, not overbearing. Has a pleasant hoppy bitterness too. Well balanced. Fantastic beer, well crafted.

Deep brown to black color with a beige non lasting head.Aroma is roasted malts,spices.Tastes sweet,chocolate,alcoholic-bitter finish.Little bit over carbonated for a RIS.

Disputin 343/1170 bottled march 17 2009: Je la verse: Bourgogne vers brun foncé en sortant de la bouteille. Une fois dans le verre, c’est presque noir avec une tête rapidement dispersé. je la respire: Les raisins bleus, la mélasse, figues, dattes et une touche de café. je la bois: C’est extrêmement fruité avec une présence forte en bouche, liquoreuse et collante. Une légère torrefaction embrasse les fruits confits au final. Il ne reste que les vestiges des 81 ibu mais la maturité du corps en vaut la peine.

Completely flat; dark cola brown body. Sweet rummy aroma, licorice, molasses. Mellow, sweet flavor, warm and rummy. Doesn’t seem to suffer from the lack of carbonation.

330ml bottle. Extra dark with a head like the best of the trappist beers, leaving lacing and a creamy cap as it diminishes. Aroma is stunning yet subtle, with perfume and spices riding atop chocolate and dark fruit. Taste just about lives up to the nose with the same features. Palate has the thickness of a quadrupel, with alcohol heat kept at bay for the most part. A really excellent imperial stout.

Bottle from Nina’s Mini Mart, Edinburgh
Extremely dark ruby colour, clear, off white head that dissipates to rim
Aroma Dark fruits, raisins, touch of sherry, dark sugars, bit earthy, hint of cherry, alcohol almost unnoticeable
Taste Dark fruity malts, raisins, lots of fruits, yeast esters, some sherry, touch of wood, juicy dark fruits, alcohol soaked dark fruits, bit of port, soft roasted malts, ashy notes, some alcohol, hint of dark bitter chocolate, touch of bitter hops in the background, complex.
Palate Very soft carb, body surprisingly quite thin, palate not too sweet, alcohol soaked fruits. Finish of warming alcohol, dark fruits with a bitter bit roasted linger which is slightly metallic. Medium body makes it rather easy to drink.
Overall Complex beer, quite unusual with lots of dark fruits and sherry notes but not overly sweet. A little thin though but somehow seems to suit this beer .

Pours dark red with beige foam head. Smells coffee, some light metallic notes but nothing wrong. The force of this beer is in mouth: great well balanced Imperial stout that beer is ! Chocolate, rosted flavours, creamy mouth. Sweet aftertaste. No alcohol heat despite the 10% ... very well done.

Off keg at a pub in amsterdam. Stunning, it was really stunning. Loads of really dark flavours, just how I like it.