North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

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

Wow. A very rich, sweet imperial stout with a lot of complex flavors in the malt and medium to above average hopping to top it off. Chocolate, licorice, and dark fruit contribute to the complexity of the malt. I found it amazingly smooth while still loaded with flavor and was shocked at the actual abv. Definitely a world classic in the stout category.

Black, chewy, medium-bodied, slight carbonation. Briefly soft and toffee-like, followed by a coffee-like dryness, high alcohol quickly takes over, very whisky like in the finish, causing slightly sour aftertaste, plenty hop citrus. Fruitiness adds some subtle balance.

A heady brew - fruity, coffee aroma, taste of burnt mocha, toffee, sweet malt, and licorice, with enough hops and alcohol to numb the tongue and warm the spirit.

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

Ok, now I'm 100% sure. I'm changing my favorite style here at ratebeer to Imperial Stout and I'm moving to the USA. Oh no ... wait then Bush will be my president. I'll just be changing my favorite style. Thank you aceofhearts.

This one will do you right. Strong, complex and mystic. True to it’s name. Well beyond where most stouts dare to go.

Good stuff. Very complex. I picked up coffee licorice tastes. A bit thin. Not quite as thick as Bell’s Expedition Stout. Still a great stout. Very flavorful.

Bottled (New Beer Distributers, NYC). Very dark brown coloured, beautiful lasting brown head. Complex aroma, chocolate, coffee, malts, liquorice, some lactic notes even. Bitter flavour, some dark fruits arise. Alcohol remains largely unnoticed. Lasting bitter and dry finish, which evolves long after you’ve taken the last sip. Everything an imperial stout should be. Fantastic stuff.