North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

Thanks to Nexxus for this one. Pours deep black with a big tan head and lace. Aroma of dark chocolate, malt, coffee, and licorice. Tastes very malty, with a sweet, somewhat heavy mouthfeel. Finishes malty, with some coffee, chocolate, hops, and fruit. Well hidden alcohol. A very nice stout. 2/1/06: I’m kicking this up two notches, one each for palate and overall, after having it on nitro draft tonight at McGregor Draft House in Cary, NC. It was smooth as silk, and notably better than the bottle version.

Black with a light brown head. Strong aroma of burned malt, licorice, vineous dried fruits and some apple/citrus freshness. Flavour of dark chocolate in particular, coffee, and hints of smoke and ash. Quite bitter

Head is initially average sized, frothy, light brown, mostly diminishing. Body is dark brown to black. Aroma is moderately malty (roasted/burnt grain, dark chocolate), moderately hoppy (apricot, grapefruit, resin), lightly yeasty (dough), with notes of vanilla, alcohol. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately to heavily bitter. Medium to full body, watery texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. It’s been another two years since I rated this (as a 3.1), and once again my score drops below 3. Have never liked this at any point in my life, so nothing new.

Nov 17, 2001: On tap at the Map Room in Chicago: I have been singing the praises of McNeills on this site for quite some time; both their Imperial and Reagins stouts are among the best I've ever had. This one equals those fine Vermont products and even reaches new heights. Amazingly complex; I don't know how much I was actually able to get on just one glass. Mostly dried fruits (currents, raisings) in the nose; the flavor was like liquid fruitcake, with a slight smokiness but little in the way of alcoholic overbearing (and at 9%!). A truly amazing beer, unlike any other stout I've had. Could be a top 5 all-time for me.

February 9, 2004, bottled. Worried that my rating was going to drop here, after a douple dozen new Imperials in between, but it hasn't. Surprised that so many comment on the lack of sweetness and massive bitterness -- I thought those were GOOD traits? Anyway for me the massive roastiness and dry-as-hell ending help counterbalance the big maltiness and brandied fruitiness; still my favorite Imperial.

had the cookie dough aroma that people seem to like. ridiculous amounts of cascade but with some pleasant burnt chocolate flavours to back it up. just nagged me that at the end of the glass the finish tended towards coffee and aluminium. but pretty decent stuff

Beer # 1000! Creamy light brown fully lasting head. Dark redbrown colour. Fantastic looking. Nice powerfull malty roasted aroma. Still hops get through. Powerfull chocolate/coffee flavor. Too much coffee. Long finish. Very creamy palate. Good stuff!

Raisins, chalk, salami-meatiness in the aroma. Dark brown - almost black with tan head that covers. Some lacing. Coffee roastiness dominates. Sweet chocolate flavours with some sherry apparent. Big roastiness in the finish with chocolate on top. Carbonation is lively for style though paradoxically, roastiness makes it seem a bit flat. Body is a bit light. Bottle. Blind tasting #7.

The Guinness lettering on my pint glass was jealous. Very small, tan head with an almost black, but red tinted color. Aroma is very rich with apples, cinnamon and rye bread. The full mouthfeel is great with the style. Flavors of hops, oats and rye. This is nice and rich. A very good imperial stout.