Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle was poured into a snifter.

Appearance: This beer poured a one finger mocha head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a pitch black color with no clarity or bubbled seen coming up the glass. Nice lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: Roasted coffee, mocha, smoke, sweet malts, a little booze, and molasses. Pretty standard RIS aroma.

Taste: Same as above with lingering bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied, low carbonation, and a little boozy.

Overall: Pretty solid RIS. Enjoyed in the past, now, and more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:08:29 | More by Flounder57

lpgarcia8

California

4.74/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Probably my favorite beer. Great taste, nice, dark, rich, light hop, coffee/chocolate taste. Awesome name, awesome brewery. Really high aclohol content. I would reccomend this beer to anyone, and I do all the time. Have quickly converted all my friends to it. Pretty expensive but worth every penny.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 01:44:01 | More by lpgarcia8

TofuDC5

California

4.13/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Like any stout, this one is pitch black; opaque. quite frothy beer head; medium

S: Dark, bitter-sweet chocolate with hint of bourbon. Whiff of alcohol.

T: Semi-sweet, dark chocolate on the tongue. Bitter taste in the throat. Lingering alcoholic after taste. Chocolate flavor dissipates fairly quickly and doesn't last long.

M: Light carbonation. bitter sensation and after taste. medium-bodied compared to other stouts I've had.

O: Not really my stout of preference, although nothing too negative. What threw me off was the overly bitter and alcoholic flavor which offset the chocolate. Would have liked aroma and taste to have been more prominent.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 04:25:36 | More by TofuDC5

Chris-MOC9

Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

My Go-To cheap stout with high alc.

The color is a nice dark color normal to stouts.

I thought it had an acceptable smell, nothing to write home about.

Has a nice chocolate/ coffee-ness to it, but it can have a bit of a bitter after taste.

overall, best bang for your buck for an imperial stout with high alc.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:00:19 | More by Chris-MOC9

Curloftheburl

Connecticut

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is such a reliable stout. Consistent through the years this pours a dark dark brown with a light mocha head. Smells roasty and of dark chocolate and coffee beans. Slight bourbon alcohol warming on the finish. Love thus stout, great value at 8.99 a four pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:32:32 | More by Curloftheburl

Fux

France

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Opaque black with a small mocha head.
S: On the nose,mainly toasted malts, chocolate, nuts, vanilla and ashes.
T: Palate on chocolate, ocffee, molasses. Quite sweet and rich. Light bitterness on the aftertaste, a bit herbal.
M: Medium bodied, slightly oily, a bit sticky. The alcohol can be felt.
O; An imperial stout quite classic, relatively easy to drink, but without a real uniqueness.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 14:54:19 | More by Fux

ERRL710

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a snifter. Bottle not dated. Finger mocha head

Smell- slight alcohol, mostly coco nibs. Smells DARK

Mouth Feel- Surprisingly thin, expected motor oil. Smooth, little bite.

Taste- Complex, mostly deep roasts and coco. Slight coffee after taste.

Over all must buy/rebuy

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 22:35:47 | More by ERRL710

gillagorilla

Maryland

3.23/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle poured into a Flying Dog goblet (no date)

A: In the glass it is a completely opaque black but on the pour it is a very dark brown that leaves a finger mocha head that dwindles quickly. There is a tiny bit of lacing.

S: Smells like a nice yeasty malt that smells a bit like burnt toast. There is a decent, sweet malt backbone with a bit of espresso and a hint of dark chocolate.

T: There is a mess of flavors in here that all seem to fight for the lead. It is how it smells with a solid backbone of malt that tries to introduce other flavors like chocolate and coffee, but they don't work here. The aftertaste is no good at all, but it is a first for me, it is like a bitter chocolate taste. This one is just really hard to describe and not in a good way.

M: It has a really weird mouthfeel, like it can't decide what its texture is. I don't like it at all. It is all swirling smoothness with run of coarse bubbles at the end, but it is different each time. Worst of all it changes and messes with the taste a lot.

O: I did not like this at all. It isn't the worst stout I have had, but it is pretty close.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 00:16:47 | More by gillagorilla

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.21/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Big, dark, beautiful beer. The appearance stands out, but beyond that, nothing spectacular. The smell leaves something to be desired, which most RIS do, so don't want to be too critical. A very good tasting brew, but doesn't knock it out of the park. I like it, a lot, but I'm beginning to realize that I prefer my IPA's from Cali and my Stouts from Colorado. Many yet to try, so this can certainly change.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 20:40:38 | More by DenverHopHead

take_it_sleazy

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Received one of these from my friend baldy. Thanks bud I owe ya.
Poured into Good Nature snifter from 12 oz bottle on a warm sunny day. Maybe a pilsner would suit this day better, but as usual I was anxious.

A: poured a dark brown color and once in the glass, completely jet black. Nice creamy head that disappears within minutes.

S: roasted coffee, chocolate, hints of vanilla. A sharp smell lingers in the nose for a while.

T: mmm... Beer. This one warms the insides. Chocolate upfront, with coffee malts present throughout. Roasted malts complement each other well in this one. Smokiness, with sweet hints of vanilla. Can taste the alcohol, but not overwhelming in the slightest. Kind of reminded me of a bourbon aged stout with the boozy aspect.

M: a bit thinner than I had expected, but doesn't take away from it at all. In fact, makes it even more sessionable. Still a medium bodied beer with a creamy texture once it hits your tounge. Coats the inside of your cheeks for a bit which felt unique. Carbonation is perfect for the style.

O: very impressed with this one. Would recommend to a stout lover as well as someone looking to get into the style. Flavorful coffee and chocolate malts really shine in this beer, with other sweeter flavors chiming in.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 20:54:33 | More by take_it_sleazy

homersimpson67

Minnesota

4.73/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Since it is 36 degrees and snowing on this lovely May 1st day here in Minnesota
thought perhaps this bottle of stout might be appropriate and was I right.

Poured a twelve ounce bottle of this lovely black and brownish brew into my favorite
drinking vessel. A beautiful lingering brownish copper foam that settles quickly with a little lacing on the sides. It then settles and bubbles of alcohol rise to the surface.

Smells of roasted coffee and maple bacon, very inviting indeed on a cold winter(spring) evening.

Taste is a wonderful bitter with a smooth chocolate smoke aftertaste, not normally such a huge malt guy but damn this is good right now!

Hits my tongue with a sharp bitterness that quickly fads to sweetness and maybe even some black cherry.

Overall very impressive, and at 9% very drinkable, goes down very smoothly, yes sir I may have another.

Thanks to my beer guy for this one, I will pick up more asap!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 22:47:14 | More by homersimpson67

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Poured into pokal. Jet black, nothing showing through; thick tan head that leaves tons of lacing. Smells of yeast and malt, and a bit of chocolate. Taste is bitter chocolate up front, and tons of bitter coffee on the back end. Alcohol also present. A powerful stout, and very delicious. Mouthfeel is full.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 02:04:53 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

got this in a beer club that i am in- i was a little annoyed, i have had this before and i liked it, however there are a ton of good seasonal beers out right now, (as the sc weather gets warmer) that go a little better with the spring. but i do yield to the fact that this is a great beer.

its opaque- the way a stout should be. black as a witch's soul. smells rich, with a smokey sweetness. the taste, also is rich with a strong bitter that isnt too over powering...its right on target. this beer actually went great with my lazy, rainy sunday afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 19:33:25 | More by mattkoon

rboinski

California

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a FW Barrelworks Teku

Appearance: pours a nice black with a light tan head that holds about 1/4" in my Teku.

Aroma: prominent smell of roasted malt, with some sweet chocolate when aerated in the teku

Taste: a little sweet on the front with the taste of roasted malt as expected. The finish is very nice, transitions to dark chocolate and some sweet bourbon/alcohol notes with some light nuttiness. I have not tried the anniversary beer but I am looking forward to it now.

Moutfeel: very nice, thick mouthfeel. This is one of the highpoints of this beer. Excellent fine carbonation. I prefer this beer on nitro but havent seen it in a while.

Overall: great beer that can be sipped alone or as a compliment to a meat and potatoes meal. Love this beer and am glad it's always around!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 14:04:22 | More by rboinski

Lledd

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured into 12oz Hill Farmstead Snifter

A: Black. Quickly dissipating 1/3" head. (I rated three on appearance because honestly, what is an above average appearance?)

S: Not much aroma. Roasted malts, alcohol, slight dark chocolate. Pleasant.

T: Dark chocolate - bitter on the sip, toasted oats and thick malt on the aftertaste. Slight sweetness on the finish but predominantly malty and roasty. Slight hint of leather. 9% abv hidden well.

M: Very fine carbonation. Smooth and mouthwatering. Thick and creamy.

O: This is my go-to stout. It's well balanced, complex, high abv when you need the job done, and drinkable. There are a few better stouts but this is available year round and packs a punch for the price.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 04:29:22 | More by Lledd

sleuthdog

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into Kuhnhenn tulip

Pour: As expected this beer is a huge looking beer being ink black with a stunning creamy, fluffy milk chocolate head of three fingers. Lacing is evident as the head recedes.

Smell: Nice! Smells so chocolaty! Big time chocolate with a secondary note of roast and this is intriguing me because most RIS seem to be roast forward. There is some vanilla and molasses in here creating a somewhat sweet smell. Coffee, malts, some nuttiness, and dark fruits. Digging this nose

Taste: Smooth creamy chocolate with a sweet taste but this is very quickly followed up by a bitterness. More roasty and malts than in the nose creating a nice complexity. Some bitter coffee comes through along with some dark fruits and nut taste. Alcohol is perfectly hidden. Aftertaste I would have to say is more bitter coffee bean like than anything else.

Mouthfeel: This beer is very creamy but I'd have to say leans toward the medium spectrum actually. Thinner than I expected and carbonation seems lower.

Overall: The nose really got me excited but must admit the taste let me down slightly. I liked this beer a lot but was hoping for something a little different when I smelled it.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 01:52:09 | More by sleuthdog

lwillitz

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12-oz bottle into New Belgium globe

A - pitch black body under an enormous thick, foamy head of dark tan

S - tons of roast malt, coffee, dark chocolate, sweet caramel, booze

T - coffee, chocolate, booze, a bit nutty; bitterness kicks in for a pleasant balance, with plenty of malty sweetness in the finish

M - creamy full body, medium/high carbonation, slick, plenty of warmth from the alcohol

O - Excellent imperial stout. It's a classic for a reason.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 21:28:26 | More by lwillitz

bambam2517

Arizona

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From the nitro-tap to a 12oz. chalice at Whole Foods.

A - Dark coffee brown body with a chocolate milky waterfall pour settling into a creamy head on top.

S - Roasted malt, toffee, semi-sweet chocolate.

T - Delicious. Reminscent of a milk stout, some nuttiness, and that semi-sweet chocolate cuts in at the end.

M - Sweetness from the malt is balanced out by a lightly bitter aftertaste. Very creamy.

O - While not as roaring bold and complex as other RIS ive had, this brew has a nice clarity in development and i enjoy the way the flavors unfold as its consumed. Worth getting excited over.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-11-2013 05:13:45 | More by bambam2517

WalterHeisenberg

New Mexico

4.98/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Bottle aggressive pour into pint glass
A: dark black oil like with coffe colored head good lacing/ retention looks fantastic!
S: coffe dark chocolate slight alcohol burnt caramel vanilla smells great
T: roasty toasty malty up front chocolate coffe cream then finishes hoppy bitter.Wow !
M: creamy yet not quite as thick as I expected silky smooth
O: yeah wow. I'm converted. this is no doubt the best beer I've ever had. And the reviews say this is above average. What's top shelf taste like?? I'm in for life with the RIS.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 04:20:20 | More by WalterHeisenberg

alex_hart

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: black black black with a tannish, brown half finger head that dissipates quickly. Beautiful, thick lacing throughout the duration of the glass.

Smell: Burnt coffee, dark cocoa, sweet malt, and a hint of toffee.

Taste: Follows the nose almost to a T. Burnt coffee right off the bat, then the cocoa comes in along with the sweet malt. Slight bitterness on the tip of the tongue, but not overbearing at all. Pretty good.

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy. slight carbonation twinge on the tongue. Leaves a bit of slick residue on the finish.

Overall: This is a pretty good RIS. There is a lot of hype about this one, but it isn't the best thing I have ever had. It is inexpensive (under $8 for a 4 pack) so it is worth the try. Everyone's palate is different! cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 00:46:58 | More by alex_hart

smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into snifter glass.

Wonderful R.I.S.

A= Rich, deep brown, almost black. Decent head, though could be thicker. Lacing is nice throughout a pretty large snifter glass.

S= Wonderful nose. Deep chocolates, coffee, cherry and coffee liquor. Sweetness lingering throughout the nose, perhaps cherry.

T= Deep chocolate and espresso. Caramelized grain and hops. Rich, lasting sweetness with mild bitterness and, again, liquor taste.

M= Only average. Prefer the mouth-feel to Guinness, Nitro Milk Stout, etc. But not bad nonetheless.

O= A great imperial stout. A little boozy, but flavorful and complex, with deep, robust coffee and chocolate undertones. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 22:13:03 | More by smooth_aleing

RaulMondesi

California

4.69/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Oh baby, Old Rasputin is a constant go to. Like flippin' to page 29 in the 1999 Victoria's Secret Winter Catalogue when I was 15 - go to.

Now, the Kings just took a 2-0 lead in the first, but Raul was pumped even before that. This bad boy is just splendid. Rich, dark, luscious... (and no, I'm not talking about Beyonce). I mean, just smooth. Nina Agdal promoting a Cod sandwich for Carl's Jr. smooth.

Find it my children. Find it good.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 03:09:14 | More by RaulMondesi

Roman5150

Michigan

4.34/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottle purchased from Total Beverages in Murfreesboro, TN.

Appearance: One of the darkest beers i've ever seen. LIght coffee head, wonderful lacing all throughout the glass.

Smell: Chocolate, very bready, espresso. very pleasant and complex aroma.

Taste: An amazing Russian Imperial Stout, a standard by which others should be measured by. Smooth coffee initial taste, bready mid, and chocolatey smooth aftertaste. Reminds me a lot like a Founder's Breakfast Stout

Mouthfeel: Creamy full stout flavor, dry aftertaste.

Overall: One of the best stout's ive ever had, I would rank it right up there with Founder's Breakfast Stout and my local Liberty Street Brewing's Emperor Norton. So smooth and heavy, and every flavor note you would expect in a world class stout; chocolate, coffee, bready... This one one beer you should try, even if you're not a fan of the style, it is a solid representation of a perfect Russian Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:48:00 | More by Roman5150

dar482

New York

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A dark brown, black color with a light coffee head and wonderful lacing. It almost looks like an milk stout with its carbonation.

The aroma has this sweet milk stout aroma with milk chocolate, but with also a sweet, milky malt smell.

The flavor is very creamy. However, the taste follows the aroma. There’s a slight sense of hoppiness in there to uplift it, but there’s a coffee creaminess in general. The finish is a very bitter chocolate or maybe hop bitterness. It pushes towards almost an oatmeal stout/porter style to me than anything.

This doesn’t quite do it for me in the style of Russian Imperial. I think of it more as a 9% oatmeal stout, which it does amazingly well. Because it has such a deep rich chocolate and ashy and burnt notes. It reminds me a bit of Ten Fidy, but not quite there.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 03:40:46 | More by dar482

realbama

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This and "Celebrator" are the two finest beers known to man. Rasputin is pitch black. You would think you're about to down pure oil if the smell didn't hit your nose just before the liquid gold hits your mouth. It smells of smokey chocolate, hops and alcohol. This beer tastes very creamy, very complex. If my kid is ever diagnosed with a terminal disease and we get to go somewhere via the "make a wish" foundation, I'm gonna demand to see what the heck they're doing at Lost Coast with this brew. ....not really, of course. I'll let my kid go to Disney World or something. But I'll always wonder.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 04:10:25 | More by realbama