North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

A small sized light brown head that was creamy and smooth with fine-medium sized bubbles that was mostly lasting. The body was opaque with some visible carbonation and a black hue. The nose was malty, chocolate and some alcohol notes. The flavor was chocolate, malt and coffee. The mouthfeel was somewhat smooth. There was a fair amount of lacing with this beer.

Pitch black with a thin brown head. Nice smell of coffee, dark chocolate and hops. Wonderful aroma! The taste expands on the aroma. More coffee and dark chocolate but the bitterness of the hops takes a step forward. Finishes bitter and has a sharp edge to the body. Great beer!

Rerate 9/19/03 - Aroma not quite as prevalant, aftertaste a bit more chalky. Flavor not quite as chocalately. Have had a lot more Imperial Stouts since my first tasting of this and this is still good but does not blow me away anymore. Original Rating 4.7 - Excellent from the frothy head of the first pour to the aroma to the finish. Little bit of chocolate, coffee - but not too sweet. Best stout yet.

Bottled 355ml. -from City Beer Store, San Francisco. My second North Coast beer, even better than Brother Thelonious. Deep black coloured, medium sized brown head, hoppy chocolate nose. Roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate. Notes of licorice and tar. Alcohol is well hidden, just some mild notes in rather bitter finish. Complex but smooth and easy drinkable for high ABV. Great imperial stout.

Draught at Tyler’s in Durham, NC. Served in a small Rasputin glass. Opqaue black with light brown head that laced the glass. Slightly roasty nose with a hint of anise. Flavors include anise, dark roasted coffee, and dark chocolate. The flavors are much more prominent than the nose. Mild carbonation makes the beer easy on the palate. Very smooth, but bitter dre to the darkly roasted malt. Very good.

12oz bottle. I’ve had this beer many many times, but hadn’t rated it, I thought it was about time. I’ve had it plain or mixed with Lindemans Framboise, this is a serious stout. To the review, pours a thick black color with a nice light brown head that quickly dissapates. The aroma is lightly fruity and strong. The taste is what a big stout should be like very rich and smoky with roasty notes. The taste stays with you, its almost a combo imperial porter/imperial stout its really tasty and full bodied. The taste truly fills the mouth and the palate feeling is sensational.

Near black colored with red hints, medium sized beige head. Roasted and chocolaty aroma with mild vanilla and oak tones, hops also here. Medium to full bodied, challencing IS with strong hops. Flavor also starts with sweet roastiness and mild vanilla, hops come up in aftertaste. Not too balanced with sweetness in start and strongly dry aftertaste with slight alcohol.

Dark color, short brown head. Delicious aroma of black chocolat, roasted malt, some coffee. Bitter malty taste, chocolat again. Perfectly balanced.