North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

He poured black as pitch and possibly even as black as Mister Old Rasputin’s heart may have been. Looking back in history at his masterful feats of deception and intrigue, one comes to the conclusion that he was brilliantly mad with a charisma to match. When all hope is lost and life is one big stew of continuous misery, the maddest of men can become the most beloved of saviors. I am most certainly not mad, but I know a good beer when I have one, and Old Rasputin doesn’t disappoint. Atop his blackish depths, a velvety smooth voluminous head of tan mousse slowly melts into a gentle blanket which leaves thin trails of lace upon aggravation. As his tannish puff lingers, an explosion of exotic chocolates of the finest European lineage slowly seduce my inner cynic. Charred wood, black licorice root, prunes and dates with their pits included provide a heavenly chorus which the chocolates permeate. Her mouthfeel and body is a touch dry, though balanced with calculated precision by decadent chocolates. There is a peppering of chili in the chocolates, her heat fueling my thirst for more. Sweet then dry and charred, wonderful oak and burnt espresso beans await their plunge into melted dark chocolate. As Old Rasputin and I warm up to each other, his spell continues to draw me into his clutches, a surrendering of wills I am more than happy to oblige. Rich, easy to drink, and dangerously decadent, I forget about history and surrender myself to the moment.

North Coast has won innumerable awards for their Old Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout and once supped, it is clear why. Always a solid performer, I dare anyone to resist the wily will of this crafty beer.

A little thin bodied; but excellent balance. Roasted malts dominate with just the right hop bitterness.Excellent Imp Stout.

Picked up a couple 12oz bottles at the Four Firkins on Alvey’s advice. Unbelievable deal at $2.39 per bottle. Pours pitch black with a brown, quickly fading head. Chocolate aroma, almost a milk chocolate smell. Thick, chewy mouthfeel with a very smooth and subtle finish. Hints of chocolate and coffee in the flavor with the tastes lingering slightly in your mouth. I can’t stop drinking this beer, it won’t last long in my glass.

A bottle tasted at Hilpeä Hauki. Dark black colour. Pale brown head. Some coffee in the nose. Hoppiness at end. Nice espresso like taste.

Poured just as you would expect, very dark brown with a light brown head that lingered quite a while. Aroma was strong with dark chocolate hints, and strong malty coffee. Unfortunately I don’t like coffee at all. I was able to think past the coffee and enjoyed the rest of the smooth, heavy flavor.

Bottle. Pours massive black with a good brown head that quickly reduces to a ring. Aroma is fairly standard RIS, coffee, chocolate, caramel, but with a fresh hop smell to it, quite piney and citrusy, Flavour is the same, pretty standard, but with a bigger citric hop finish. Alcohol not detectable in the aroma or flavour. Thick and full body, with little carbonation. Not flat though. Good, but I don’t get why it’s rated this high.

A bit thin for my tastes. The price in great, of course, but otherwise I dont understand the love for this beer. Roasty, but lacking complexity. A standard RIS, and little more.

Enjoyed thoroughly from a 12oz bottle in a whiskey snifter. The beer pours the expected jet black with a nice tan head. Notes of espresso, caramel, nuts, malt, and raisons come through in the nose. The palate is coffee-like at first, but then fades to a nice amalgamation of malt. The finish is long and solid, giving hints of caramel. Overall, a great Russian imperial stout.