Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

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rAvg: 4.31
pDev: 10.44%
Reviews: 3122
Hads: 2949

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Brewed by:
North Coast Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
Russian Imperial Stout | 9.00% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (2815), on-tap (157), nitro-tap (142), growler (7), nitro-bottle (1).

Notes:
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View: Beers (19) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by bigdonniebrasco:

bigdonniebrasco

Kansas

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

Old Rasputins' ghost emerges from the bottle with a better cascading action than Guinness (its the lack of nitro). Blacker than doom? Not exactly, you can see through ruby-colored glass if you try hard enough. Quite impressive is the head that is created, a dirty ivory that squirms like its alive. A fine sticky lace has formed even before the first sip.

Hmm, interesting aroma. Sweetness is the first thing I encounter, scrambled with dates, prunes, and malty alcohol. Roastiness abounds. Also, an unfortunate amount of metallic twinges.

An amazingly carbonated hoppiness greets you initially, then follows the gulpingly thick sweet mass of Stoutitude. The mouthfeel is right on, thick enough to back up the huge amounts of alcohol, but light enough to allow carbonation to cut through the mess. The hops aren't out of control on this one, but quite noticible for the style. Like many stouts, your mouth is left with puddles of sourness on the beers' way down, but in this case it cloaks the alcohol perfectly.

If someone handed this to me as a stout, I wouldn't instantly think "imperial" and would probably put down one too many. Read: VERY drinkable.

Overall a damn fine creation from the talented folks at North Coast. Have another? Well thanks for asking - I will.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 02:03:18 | More by bigdonniebrasco

More User Reviews:

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5 rDev -1.4%

05-20-2013 03:56:44 | More by Kmat10

PlayitAgain

New York

3.75/5 rDev -13%

05-20-2013 03:02:55 | More by PlayitAgain

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4.25/5 rDev -1.4%

05-20-2013 02:11:26 | More by eyeenjoybeer

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