North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

Serve in Snifter

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Appearance: Thick and dark, verging on black, with very little light being let through. A thick coffee coloured head, which lasts for a reasonable time. Leaves a bit of lacing down the glass. Aroma: Really nice aroma that combines a shot of coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, caramel, and a little bit of hops. Definitely coffee forward on the nose, but perfectly complex underneath. Taste: Where the aroma is more coffee forward, I found the taste was quite a bit more chocolaty, with a good whack of malt and caramel. There is a bit of burnt grain somewhere in there, but not enough to become unpleasant. The hops are quite balanced, and even though a bitter dark chocolate aftertaste is present, there is enough refinement and balance that nothing is overpowered. Nice warmth from the alcohol, but again it is very well balanced, and adds to the flavour rather than distracts from it. Mouthfeel: A little bit drier than the flavours would make you think it is, but I think that is partially due to the ABV. If I had to find a fault, it could probably be a little thicker and creamier, but that is just my preference. Overall: Wonderful! I was wondering if this was going to live up to the rating here, and I can pleasantly report that it does. It is both easy to drink, and complex enough to savour. A really terrific stout that manages to tick every box.

12 oz bottle served in a pint glass (2011; from notes) The well-sized dark tan head was about as dense and lovely as could be short of a nitro-can or nitro-tap. The liquid appears black with just tiny glimpses of brown at the edges when backlit. The head has excellent durability and leaves lots of light brown lacing. Rather aromatic for a stout, with an easily detectable hop note over a rich dark malt aroma. The high ABV becomes more evident as the beer warms, but remains partially hidden in the aroma, and well hidden in the taste and feel. . The rich flavor, mainly from dark roasted malt, certainly contributes to the masking of alcohol flavors. There are dark chocolate and, less obvious, coffee notes in the finish. Almost no charred (burnt) taste components. Perfect sweet/bitter balance. M - Exceptional mouthfeel, with a body that is nicely full for style, a creamy smooth texture, only the slightest alcohol tingle, and a modicum of lively tongue feel from the perfect carbonation. O - What an excellent balance of hops and dark roasted malt, in this lively RIS! Delicious.

Thanks to John from J&H Beer for this bottle. Awesome looking head of chocolate milk and Kahula. Aroma is full of fresh ground and roasted coffee ,burnt chocolate and dark rum. Very creamy on the pallet, a real delight. Taste smacks of burnt coffee and dark spirits (rum or bourbon). Alcohol presense is slightly strong, but expected for this big beer. Heavy expresso on the finish. Wouldja - Yes!

Amazing aroma and taste in this intense imperial stout. Malty richness and hoppy profile fuse together to create a very interesting and enjoyable pitch black brew. One of the best stouts I have enjoyed so far!

12 Fl. Oz. Bottle. Good Looking beer that pours black with a generous tan head and lots of lacing. Aroma of roasted malts and booze... Taste has a lot of coffee notes, malty, some cocoa and alcohol; it is perhaps very well balanced and smother than what the aroma would lead you to think. Overall a very nice beer, a slow drinker but very enjoyable.

Great color. Minimal head. Coffee beans, vanilla, earthy hops, anise. Great RIS, a bit thinner than expected. Long roasty, hoppy finish!

ad this some time ago but again this week at Lawrenceville Pa on Nitro. Smooth and smokey, it really let all the flavors come through. big rating for me on nitro.

On Nitro tap at Chuck's. Amazing this way. Even more smooth and delicious than from bottle. Such a killer stout. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

One of the best stouts ever, with a wide availability, a great example of the style to introduce your old man to. Fruity, toffee, malty, boozy, etc.

Pours thick dark brown with two-fingers of tan head. Smells of roasted malts and sweet caramels. Tastes rich, with cocoa, coffee, caramel, roasted malts and light bitter. Nice finish with a light coffee bitter on the tongue. Delicious beer.