North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

Pours a four finger light brown head that fades quickly leaving some lace. Totally black color, no highlights. Light carbonation and light-medium bodied. Roasted coffee nose. Flavor is nearly sweet coffee, with a burnt coffee finish, not bad but not enough beef for a RIS. $2.50 for a 12oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.

I thought this was a great beer. Not the best Imperial stout I have ever had but great in it’s own right. I would recommend it to any stout lover. But it wouldn’t be my first recommendation.

Pour is a beautiful pitch black, aroma is very strong with chocolate, flavor begins sweet like chocolate, then fades into a coffee-like taste, perfect amount of malt/hop combination, finishes slightly dry roasted.

Bottle. This is almost black with a dense, thick coffee coloured head. The mouthfeel is full and coating, creamy. There is very dry coffee in the aroma with dark chocolate. The flavour is nice and complex; I taste layered dark chocolate, brazil nuts, dry coffee, dark fruit especially cherries with a long, dry finish.

A fun pour to watch as the layers of color waterfall much like a Guinness. The rich, foamy head is reminiscent of high krausen. Has a delicious roasted malt profile; damn-near perfect. Delving your nose into the head brings to mind a coffee-bean aroma that is pure bliss to caffeine addicts like myself. A judicious presence of hops and some fruitiness round out the nose. The taste is a whole other ballgame. Goodly sweet upfront with a determined alcohol bite in back. The roasted malt flavor coats your mouth and the beer itself is slick on your tongue. Not all that complex, in my opinion, but a perfect representation of the style. What elements are present here are crisp, dandy, and put to perfect use.

Medium dark head. Nice aroma. Complex nutty, roasted and dark flavor. Very enjoyable.

12 oz bottle from Liquorama, enjoyed with NickTheElder. Aroma of coffee and alcohol. Oaky espresso taste with a sharp bitterness at the end. Great aftertaste. Pretty good but I like Stone IRS better.

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter glass. Aroma was a deep and pleasurable chocolate. The aroma carried through to the flavor. This is a complex brew that is meant to be savored. I enjoyed this beer for about an hour. It’s hard to believe a beer this good can be found for such a bargain at my local specialty beer store.