North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

Bottle: Aroma is a combination of fruit, sweet chocolate, black licorice, and alcohol. Pours a dark brown, virtually black, with a small tan head that lasts a minute or so. Quck initial creamy malt flavor then coffee and chocolate are quickly added in the finish. Alcohol presence is not all that strong, just barely sneaks thru. It increases as you drink, and gets to the point where it’s slihgtly overpowering. Moderately strong mocha and coffee aftertaste that is short lived.

Appearance: Pours out black, with a thick tan head that slowly fades to a thin ring of lace. Smell: The aroma is a rich, vibrant framework containing scents of licorice, espresso, sweet chocolate, and ripe, vinous fruits. Taste: Flavors Ahoy! Bitterness and black roasted malts fight for attention. Hints of molasses, toffee, mocha, and spice help to round out the flavor. Mouthfeel: Full-bodied; feels heavy on the tongue. Rich, smooth mouthfeel. The ABV provides for a warming, satisfying finish. Drinkability: Very enjoyable. For anyone who’s had this beer before, let me just say: Booyah! If you haven’t had this beer before... Try it: Today!

Aroma: Alcohol, oak aging. Weak. Could be the bar? Appearance: Dark brown/red. Rocky head. Thick and brownish. EXCELLENT lacing. Palate: Medium thick. Chalky aftertaste. Very creamy. Flavor: Oak aging, alcohol, esters, light banana, cocoa, malty. Long aftertaste.

Thanks to belgianhomebrew for the chance to try this. Sweet, caramel, coffee aroma. Dark brown-black with small brown head. Smooth palate, thick. Bit too sweet, but tastes great. Malty - caramelized. Alcohol, blackberry. Bitter finish/after. Really good stout, but a bit too sweet.

This beer smells like chocolate and looks beautiful, with a head that fills out only after its been poured. The taste is complex, yet fantastic. I don’t really taste any coffee, but spices are nice. Fantastic. Sometimes just seems a little too alcoholic.

Coffee, charcoal and brandy aromas; opaque brown color and a low foamz head. Very intense, bitter tastes - tabacco, espresso, licorice. Thick body and a full mouth. The alcohol kicks it up a notch. Maybe too bitter? I don’t think so. Not for the weak at heart.

Aroma of a coffee and malt. Black with a tan head that dissipated to a thin layer over the top of beer. Lots of lacing left on glass. Flavor was of the chocolate malt. Good alcohol bite on the finish. Good beer glad my wife picked it out for me. Dam nice to have a beer secretary.

I've been waiting for this one for a while...I do like the Imperial Stout style, so we'll see where this one ranks. The colour is black on top, but if you stretch the beer (similar to wine), there is a noticable lighter brown colour near the bottom. The head is nice and thick with a brown colour. The smell is chocolate, roasted and definately malty. The taste is equally as good. It tastes like burnt everything, especially coffee. This is a great imperial stout that should be tried by everyone...as it is somewhat easy to find! I bought this at Chevy Chase Liqour & Wine in Washington, D.C.