North Coast Old Rasputin Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout

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

Pours dark brown - almost black with a creamy dark brown head. The aroma is very sweet and complex. Milk chocolate, brown sugar, alcohol, vanilla and oak abound. The flavor is thick and bourbony with caramel, oak, vanilla, chocolate, raisins. The alcohol burns the tongue on the way down. Very sweet with the chocolate, fruit and black licorice up front followed by the roasted coffee bitterness and barrel flavors in the end. An excellent example of a barrel aged stout.

750ml bottle labeled as Old Rasputin XII. Color is near black with average carbonation and a tan head. Aroma is sweet with rich caramel and chocolate scents. It has a big full body that goes down with a rich feel. Finish is rich and sweet with flavors of caramel, dried fruits, vanilla and just a hint of oak. In the after taste the flavors linger on with a nice warm feel. This is a great brew in every way.

Sampled from a 750 ml brown bottle this beer poured a black color with a medium sized brown head. The aroma was sweet, malty and chocolaty with notes of cherry and port wine. The flavor was sweet and had a strong vanilla note and undertones of wood, cocoa, roasty malts and bourbon. The finish was long, malty and had touches of cherry, cocoa and vanilla. Fairly thick body. Excellent.

Found this beer at Sam’s and had to give it a try (despite the price tag). Pours black with a thin tan head. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, and some coffee. Great flavor without being overly sweet or thick. Damn fine brew.

Pours a dark black that allows some light. One finger creamy chestnut brown head. The aroma shows a nice bourbon character, vanilla, alcohol, woody, lots of oak. Flavor is very rich, shows lots of vanillins, oaky, nice warming alcohol presence, subtle coffee and dark chocolate. Palate is smooth and warming with lots of vanilla.

Big thanks goes out to sonicdecent Justin for this special brew! Had the pleasure of sampling this at the 7/9/2009 Pittsburgh RB tasting extravaganza (PGHRBEXT) at the Sharp Edge Creekhouse. It will be a long time, if ever I see a spread of bottles like I did there. I am not good enough for the beers that were that we served! For example, how about this beer; 12th anniversary! Its black but not coal black. Big interesting aroma possibly laced with wintergreen of vanilla or something. Strong over the top flavor sensations. Alky alky and more alky in this stout pal. No detectable carbonation. More complex than I could ever describe! Although this is an impy stout, it seems to be a little more refined and is missing many of the attributes that I find in other of the style. Long thick impy stout finish. Certainly on style my friends.

Bottle. Pour is black and viscous with a thin brown head. Aroma is brown sugar, toffee, distant dark fruits, notable bourbon, oak, and notes of chocolate. Aroma is really wonderful. Flavor is hot up front. Lots of bourbon, wood, and dark chocolate. Flavor evolves to coffee, more alcohol, and blackberries. Finish is bitter coffee, oaky, and hints of vanilla. Certainly not as smooth as the aroma had me believe. It’s coarse and rugged but certainly not boring. I do wish it tasted more like the aroma though.

Deep black pour with a nice brown head. Aroma is of bourbon and roasted malt. Very pleasant, worth breathing in several times before the first sip. The flavor of the bourbon and the stout go hand in hand. Well balanced. Has a great aftertaste. Very mellow finish. Hints of vanilla come out as it warms up. It has a creamy taste. Alcohol is hidden underneath a great taste.