North Coast Old Rasputin Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout

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

Rich aroma of bourbon, dark chocolate, and oak. Cola colored, slightly viscous, with a medium tan head. Very bitter flavor of bourbon, prunes, and figs, dominated by the former. Dark chocolate, espresso, and oak finish. Alcohol content is magnified. Thinner mouthfeel than the unaged version. I may recant later, but I believe this will be my last bourbon barrel aged beer. I just really dislike the flavor of bourbon that much. IMVHO, this is yet another fine beer ruined by barrel aging.

(bottle, generously provided by J Caulfield B, aka JCB, via a RB contest, thanks man!) Pours an opaque black with a medium dark tan head, that settles to a fine film after being poured into the mega-snifter. Further swirling revitalizes this head into a medium dark tan cap, and scattered lacing is left as well. Aroma leaves no doubt that this has been bourbon barrel aged, with scents of shredded coconut, vanilla, oak, chocolate, and peanut butter cups. Definite candy bar qualities here, with some Mound’s accompanying the Reese’s. Further warming reveals some German chocolate cake, cherry, and light-roasted coffee. This would get a 10, but the ABV shows with further warming, and it does intrude upon the more desirable aromas, which yields an aroma reminiscent of tar. The flavor is similar (sans tar), with a lot of chocolate pudding, chocolate-covered raisins, vanilla, coffee, and coconut that rounds out to a light smoke and evenly roasted malt finish. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but the nice finish makes up for this, and the carbonation is subdued. The high ABV never makes its presence known in the flavor. This is a very good imperial stout, and the barrel is superbly integrated. Thanks again Jason!

Just delicious, the bourbon notes are big here, but mix very nicely. I really enjoyed this, but the bottle might be a little spendy...

Sampled at the ’09 RBPTE, courtesy of sonicdescent. Big malty nose with caramel, coffee and toffee, roasted malt, smoke, licorice, vanilla, and plum. Light hops. Dark black clear body with light brown creamy lacing head. Medium-thick bodied with medium carbonation with some alcoholic character. Huge sweet notes with an alcoholic abt heavyness to it. Flavorful and rich.

Bottle thanks to danielcurtis81 for sharing on his wedding week. Pours dark black with a faint brown edge. Nose is strong bourbon alcohol and chocolate/roasted malt. Flavor is very rich dark chocolate and coffee. Very full flavor, nice style.

Served from a 500mL bottle of the XII that I picked up at the OTM. Pours a rich and creamy black brown with a big cream brown head. The aromas are rich and pure bourbon. The flavors are very complex and deep. The bourbon is a toned back driving force that has cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate. Mouth is full and creamy. Fabulous beer.

I would be more impressed had they aged this for 12 years. That being said it is a fine brew indeed. Paid $19.99 for a bottle of this. After smelling this for a while I noticed some butter, bourbon, alcohol, and maybe some chocolate roast. Such a very smooth drink. I couldn’t notice the alcohol, but an alcoholic rarely can. Flavor was silky smooth goodness. Why describe flavors when words such as: good, well planned, tasty, almost dominant yet slightly lacking something do the job just fine. I like it better than the original, but I think you could get the same product by aging the original for 13 months without the oak barrel. Not worth the price for me, but damn tasty. Just age the orginal and save yourself some cash.

Bottle. I really like this one. The aroma is full of the regular imperial stouty tones of chocolate, vanilla and coffee with a touch of whiskey. Sweet oaky taste (not overly complex).