North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

Bottle: Poured a black brown color with a thin jello light brown head. Hoppiness filled my nose as it sprang up out of the glass, this was slowly joined by fruit and sweet chocolate or molasses. The taste was dark chocolate and sweet roasted coffee like malt, it almost rotates between flavors. This is very impressive, or maybe I had just drank the worst stout ever before it. Either way I am kicking myself for giving my neighbor my other bottle!

Midnight black with a creamy mocha colored head that is held back by the alcohol content of this beer. Nice coffee, chocolate, and malt aromas, with a sweet, toasty, palate. It hides it's alcohol very well until you quit sippin' and try to stand up. Very well crafted and satisfying Imp Stout.

Wow. Can you say overrated. I had really been looking forward to trying this one and to say I was disappointed is a huge understatement. Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured thick and black with a small tan head. The aroma is almost all hops. There is just a hint of roasted malt on the scent. The mouthfeel is fairly thick and smooth. The flavor is overwhelmed by hops with not nearly enough malt to back it up. There is some of the roasted malts, coffee and chocolate you would expect from the style, but it is rather subdued. The finish is bitter. This is like a big unbalanced IPA that forgot to include malt to go with the hops

On draught nitro at Bailey’s Tap Room--Deep black, slightly brown body. Beautiful creamy grey-brown head. Creamy as the day is long. Waves of delectable perfection. Silken yet full bodied. Chocolaty, robust, and spectacular. This is the RIS to compare all others by.

Malty, fruity, roasted aroma. Very dark red-brown color. Yep, it's an Imperial, all right. The aroma is mouth-watering, but it's not quite as there as I want it to be. The flavor, on the hand, totally nails it. Bam! Oh, my Lord. The balance between the exquisite yet intense malt flavors and the hoppiness is unreal. Sweetness is almost immediately tempered by the roasty yet fruity character and the subtle but insistent hoppiness. The finish shows the most hop, with the aftertaste leaving a roasty, malty deliciousness on the palate. Not as intense as some other American micro Imperials, but that's okay, there's something to be said about the blending of elements here. It's fantastic. One of my all-time favorite beers. Just this whole concept, the name, the beer, the label... I hope I get some more of this before it gets colder out. Cheers, John!!

Bottled. Pours nearly opaque with a lacy tan head. Aroma with notes of molasses, coffee, raisins and chocolate. Nicely rounded creamy body with medium to light carbonation. Taste starts rather sweet with roasty malt and chocolate, then raisins and espresso. The hops take over for a smokey bitter finish. There’s plenty going on in this beer and all of it is good.

Pitch black with small beige head.Aroma of rosted coffee and dark chocolate.Flavor is mild malty with smooth mouth feels creamy nice finish well done beer.

Black with a creamy brown head. Mild chpcolate and roast aroma. Flavour is great, melded chocolate, roast coffee, nutty caramel. Finish has a long citrusy grapefruit flavour. Silky smooth oily mouthfeel. Good stuff.