North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

12 oz. bottle, poured thick black into a chalice, with a small off-white head. Aroma is of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and some subtle fruit. Mouthful is heavy and complex, with dark chocolate, espresso, various fruits, and wood. One of the best imperial stouts I’ve had.

Bottle (in NZ), pours a red-hued black with a richly orange-red bubbly head. Cherries, spices, chocolate and molasses on the thick nose, with a touch of roastedness. Big full mouthfeel, which just keeps on getting bigger, along with a big warming alcohol feeling. Lots of roasted malt on the palate, with just the right bitterness to offset the sweetness of the chocolate and fruits. Drying sappy finish that leaves me licking my lips for more. Dangerous!

Deep Black Imperial Stout. Bottled. Very full bodied, very thick. Roasted flavor. Satisfying. High ABV/warming quality.

Draft. Pours deep black, with an amber tint. Thick, foamy biege head, which leaves nice lacing. Aroma of smoke, spice, chocolate, almonds, and pepper. Full body with a heavy, satisfying finish. Excellent sout.

The appearance is almost black with a fully lasting tan head. The aroma is sweet with citrus, chocolate, and hint of molasses. It starts out sweet and creamy, then becomes dry and slightly bitter. The high ABV warms the throat nicely.

Upon pour this gem creates a pillowy tan to light copper head. The head did dissipate quicker than I expected however it did leave plenty of lacing in its memory. This is a dark dark brown to black heavy bodied beer. Scents of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a very faint hint of molasses are warmed by the alcohol. With the first sip the heavy body and alcohol are noticed in the warm flush feeling through my cheeks. The taste is much of the same with a bitter almost astringent finish that is felt on the sides of the mouth for a solid minute after taste.

Draft at redlight redlight. The first Russian imperial stout I ever had, and it’s still one of my favorites. Pours an opaque very dark brown (almost black) with a tan head. The nose is dark roasted malts. The flavor is bitter and roasted with a touch of sweet dark chocolate and French vanilla. Creamy and smooth while simultaneously intense and robust.

Had on draft at Chappy’s in Dayton, OH. A menacing, black beauty of an Imperial stout. Pours an opaque black, with minimal head. The aroma is full of roasted malts. The body is huge and the flavor is full of roasted malts, hops and come hop dryness. Certainly some presence of black patent malts, this beer is bitter, roasty with chocolate and bitter espresso throughout.