North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

Bottle. A deep black with hints of brown through the smallest break of light. A small light brown head that faded too quickly - a disapointment. The aroma is powerful and includes malt, brandy, chocolate, caramel, and alcohol. A robust roasted flavor with a smooth finish and a slight alcohol burn.

0.355 l bottle. Black color with creamy long lasting head. Sweet and roasty aroma with salty licorice, coffee, chocolate, leather and flowery hops. Bittersweet and roasty flavor with bitter chocolate, charcoal, salty licorice, wood and lemony-flowery-mentholy hops. Soft oily palate. Very tasty and the house character of North Coast comes nicely through. However, I think this woud be even better with less hop aroma and flavor.

An old, old favorite that I’ve been loyal to since my very first sip. Huge, cocoa-colored head, properly boisterous and fizzy. Phenomenally aromatic: all the regulars for this style and more are here in attendance--cocoa, coffee, toffee, nuts. Very mellow, despite the flavor and strength. Perfectly black in color, fantastic texture: thick and chewy, but not overly so. This is a great accompaniament for any meal, particularly rich and spicy food. I’d compliment the finish, but it never stops! The flavor sticks in your mouth forever, it seems. One of the finest stouts in all the universe.

Palate reset beer on return from Belgium. Black with brown around the edges. Heady aromas of spruce and chocolate, with flavors a spot on match. Full bodied and excellent.

It's about time I get my grubby fingers on a bottle of this. Pours the proverbial thick opaque black with a 1.5cm tan head that unfortunately dissipates all too quickly. Aroma is malty with roast coffee and chocolate notes. Sweeter than expected, especially in the end. Ethanol is unfortunately overly noticeable in the middle. A fair imperial stout, but the 9% is just way too detectable. Personally, I think this one is a little overrated. Too much booze presence in this guy.

Lovely black color, minimal head (too cold?). Aromas of licorice strike out right from the get go, I can smell it from three feet away, excellent! Also smell port or brandy and burnt malty cocoa. Flavor of a roasted chocolatey port. Somewhat salty and pretty bitter. I might wish it was a sweeter or more fruity stout, but then it would not be so uniquely delicious. By far one of the most tastey beers I’ve ever had. Quite nice all around and perfect for this frigid, snowy weather with its soft mouthfeel and warming finish. One of these and I’m ready for a nap by the fire.

Translucent deep dark burgundy with a foamy tan head. Aroma is of chocolate, hazelnuts, raisins, and alcohol. My wife said it smells like a Swiss candy bar. Bold and aggressive flavors of dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, aged port, and spicy hops.. Nice bitter finish with a strong mochaccino aftertaste. Thick and rich palate. This beer becomes increasingly bitter as the flavors build and is a long, slow, and pleasing sipper. Strongest elements are of espress, port, and hops. Original rating: 9,4,8,4,17

The appeal of this one seems to have faded with time. Seems to be a little too bitter without the depth of malt to completely back it up. I don’t know whether the beer has changed or my tastes have. I suspect a combination of both. Still very good, but not world class. Classic label though.

bottle, balck color with a khaki ring, nose is malty canned fruits, flavors of coffee, caramel and spices, finishes very solid with a warm chocolate cake flavor