North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Re-rate May 3, 2009: I came back to try this again thinking that it wouldn’t measure up to how I had rated it originally. But sampling it now, it is still pretty amazing. In addition to the strong roast I originally mentioned, I’m picking up a lot of dark fruits and a creamy vanilla. So I think I’ll let the 4.4 stand on this one. Also I’m kind of drunk, so I probably shouldn’t be messing with the numbers anway.

Original rating: 12 oz. bottle. Pours opaque black with a medium-brown head. Aroma is roasted coffee and malts. Taste is solidly roasted coffee and a bit of toasted nuts. Aftertaste brings out some more dark chocolate flavors. Delicious stuff.

On tap at The Happy Gnome in St. Paul, MN. Very dark with large creamy head and nice lacing. Aroma of roasted coffee and toasted malts. Taste is not very chocolately, predominantly coffee. Mouthfeel very creamy and smooth, not very bitter as many stouts are. VERY good beer!

On NITRO tap at Newport Pizza and Ale. Pours black with a big fat tan head with years of retention. Aroma is mega rich nutty malts. Taste is chewy nuts with tons of roastyness coupled with a nice litte hop balance. Beautiful long lingering finish, may i have another?

Bottle. Pitch black with light brown head. Roasted malt, brown sugar, chocolate, coffee and every so slightly fruity. Mild bitter finish. Not the finest IS but pretty damn good.

The beer pours a black coffee color. The head is a tan creamy color that is fully lasting. The rich nose smells of toasted malts and barley. The first taste is a rich burnt malty flavor mixed with coffee and chocolate the finish is sharp mixed with coffee and hops. The mouth feel is a light oil. Overall the beer is a drinkable and rich brew.

Great aroma, appearance. Very very dark beer with a complementary dark brown head. Lots of roasty coffee, a little coffee. Got a little bitter note at the end on the back of the tongue - could be the alcohol (11%). Very good beer - can’t drink more than about 2 though in one sitting.

12 ounce bottle. I poured this one quickly not expecting much of a head to appear... boy was I wrong! Poured a jet black color with a huge brown frothy head. The nose consisted of smoke at first, but as the beer warmed I could smell some wonderful bitter chocolate hints along with coffee, vanilla, and some dark fruit. The taste was a wonderful mix of chocolate with a lot of suggary malts. It was very viscous... it made me want to keep drinking more! An excellent beer!

Dark with a very impressive brown head. Very chocolate and coffee aroma and flavor with some bite in the throat that is really exciting, I suppose from the hops. It is like mixing the best of both a stout and a brown ale. A definite one for company.