Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

zrbeer1579

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

EDIT: Updated review

Appearance: Just black with a one and half finger light mocha dense creamy head that lasted for a quite a while.

Aroma: Roasted and burnt malts. Dark chocolate and some coffee. And some dark fruits as well.

Taste: Dark roasted chocolate and coffee. Burnt malts. A slight of dark fruits. Nice bitterness throughout the flavors . Finish have a lingering roasted chocolate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-heavy bodied. Almost creamy but the carbonation feels a bit too much.

Overall: Even through the stout it's not as intense as I thought it would be (and as described on the bottle); it tasted good. I definitely would not mind having it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 16:26:03 | More by zrbeer1579

Segelstrom

Pennsylvania

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

A - this stout pours to a light brown head. It is very frothy so be sure to pour slow down the side of the glass.

S - not strong or bold. rather mild for an imperial stout

T - wonderful and rich

M - carbonation is not harsh

O - recommend to all stout lovers

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 18:39:10 | More by Segelstrom

weonfire

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - Dark dark brown, opaque, HUGE fluffy mocha head, patchy lacing

S - Roasty dark chocolate, coffee

T - initial: Roasty (4/10) dark chocolate, caramel, honey, expresso, dry malt, vanilla. finish: roasty nuts, coffe, touch of smoke. roastyness does linger a bit. hops is low (2/10)

M - Frothy, real creamy, high viscosity, even has a touch of velvet, med/full body

O - Nose leads you to believe this might be a roasty beer. While it does have some roast, not as much as thought. I find this to be an excellent brew. While i personally don't like the roast beers - it had just a touch more than I like and it could be a bit sweeter. Appearance, while poured vigorously,was spectacular. Mouth is excellent. I do wish the nose was better. Overall, very good.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 00:45:58 | More by weonfire

craft_shannie

Indiana

3.91/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: black; two finger dark khaki foamy head. i hate to say this, but i thought it would pour thicker. but, still a good looking brew.
S: roasted malts; bit of vanilla; i'm not getting a lot of complexity at all. and i've allowed it to warm plenty.
T: roasted malts; still not a lot of complexity, but solid. some coffee, chocolate, vanilla, but overwhelming roasted malts. good bitterness.
M: it's thin for the style. disappointingly so.
O: sorry, Old Rasputin. you had the great misfortunate of being second in a two RIS line-up tonight and you followed ten fidy. in all fairness, this is a solid brew, but pales in comparison in terms of looks (esp. the pour), smell, taste, and defintely the mouthfeel. old rasputin tastes more like a regular everyday stout than a Russian Imperial.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 00:14:02 | More by craft_shannie

JarMills

British Columbia (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

The foam just stays still the entire time you drink it. It's like nothing I've ever seen a beer do. I tilted the glass, and it just stayed one blob! It smells like chocolate or coffee. But the more important thing, the taste: it's great! A bit bitter, but smoother than any other ale I've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 01:55:45 | More by JarMills

jjchristiano

New Jersey

4.66/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into my Duvel Tulip.
Took bottle out of fridge a good half hour ago.
Man I love this beer. A very very easy drinking 9% ABV Russian Imperial Stout.
I liked it so much I dont have any more to sip and make additional comments. Only bought a single in a mix-a-sixpack. Will buy a 4? or 6? pack next time I see it.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:20:04 | More by jjchristiano

JeanPaulValley

Pennsylvania

4.54/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was very excited to finally try this beer. I've only within the last year really started drinking great beers, and have become quite a stout-head. This was a huge WANT for me, and finally found it at a beer deli last night.

A- Motor oil black. Poured from a bottle, left a lot of tan head that was thick and slow to dissipate. A ton of intricate lacing left on the glass

S-Strong coffee and roasted malt, with a backing of chocolate and alcohol. Everything an Imperial Stout should smell like.

T- Very strong coffee and chocolate, segwaying into a bite of hops and alcohol. The alcohol taste isn't boozy, but well balanced and leaves a nice warming sensation.

M- Almost milkshake thick. The warming alcohol gives a very pleasant mouthfeel.

Overall- Rarely does a beer live up to its hype, but Old Rasputin totally did for me. My only regret is that I wasn't able to have it on tap for my first time, as I'm sure that would only amplify the already awesome quality of this beer. Very highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 18:19:39 | More by JeanPaulValley

RWLawman

North Carolina

3.76/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A - Jet black with generous creamy head and lots of lacing left behind.

S - Absolutely delicious smell. Creamy, with chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt notes and a touch of alcohol at the end. If this beer followed the nose, I think I'd have an all-time favorite.

T - Starts with heavy roasted malts and black coffee notes, followed up with alcohol, dark chocolate, and finishes with a pine hop punch. Reminds me somewhat of a thin mint for some reason. Must be the chocolate and pine. Pretty good, but surprisingly...not my favorite imperial.

M - A lot of carbonation. Heavy mouth feel. While I typically enjoy less carbonation in my beers, I still found this to be a worthwhile experience. I've heard this beer described as a fine representation of the style, so if nothing else, try this beer for that reason.

O - Enjoyed it. I think I'd absolutely love it on draft, and will look to do so in the near future. For a bottled imperial, I was mildly impressed.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 02:47:48 | More by RWLawman

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Half Acre snifter.

A- pours black with a huge 3" dark tan head. Huge trails, clumps and blotches of lacing all over the glass.

S- chocolate, roast, bitter coffee, anise, and big pine aroma.

T- bitter chocolate, roasted malts, some coffee and bitter pine.

M- full body and medium carbonation. Nice creamy feel with a crisp finish.

O- very good RIS. Probably the best option for a RIS that is easy to find and available even at none beer bars.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 04:12:29 | More by kawilliams81

mfavoino

Washington

4.26/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into a New Belgium globe.

A: Pours a thick, black with a creamy head. Head retains well and provides great lacing on the sides of the glass.

S: Milk chocolate, roasted malts, nutty, and some soy sauce.

T: Sweet chocolate flavor, burnt malts, light coffee. Some subtle dark fruit and alcohol starts to come out as it warms.

M: Creamy, full-bodied stout that still has decent drinkability.

O: I can't believe it took me this long to try this classic. A very good stout that I will come back to.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 03:45:38 | More by mfavoino

RenaudNW

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

About as well balanced a Stout as you are going to find in a widely distributed bottled offering. This has the appearance that a good stout should; very dark but not jet black with just enough opacity to see nucleation bubbles form the sides of the glass. It produces a nice balanced head but I would prefer it to be a little finer in texture (the head that is). The smell is reminiscent of a good working man's Irish stout. The aroma has just the right balance of bitterness and toasted grain. The taste is where Old Rasputin really shines! It is full bodied and flavorful with a clean finish. It is neither too bitter nor in any way weak. As I said, very well balanced. Mouthfeel is good; it's smooth and clean without feeling watery.

This is an EXCELLENT every day drinking Stout! I always have a few in the door to the refrigerator as a nice treat at the end of the day. The 12oz offering also lets me enjoy one without feeling lightheaded due to the high alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 02:13:43 | More by RenaudNW

tylerf19

Texas

4.34/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance - Basically the staple RIS. Yes there are thicker, more robust RIS, but there are also weaker ones that can kiss rasputins ass. Pours nicely, I got a great creamy-brown head that laced throughout.

smell - Okay it smells good, it smells like a good RIS... more chocolatey than roasty or coffee ground. got a great aroma when I swirled it a bit.

taste - Old rasputin just tastes good. very rich sweet chocolate/roasty malts. a delicious RIS that is not hard to drink at all. If you want to branch in to russian imperials then try this... I believe this is the best starter Russian Imperial for those who have not had many stouts. I noticed no hints of any boozy alcohol...

mouthfeel - Like I said above... it is not the thickest stout and it is definitely not weak and watery. A great balance that people continue to re-visit. Creamy with no alcohol fume.

overall - Try it... if you like RIS then you must try old rasputin. If you want to branch away from hop-bombs and get in to the stout game then you MUST try old rasputin.. it is definitely a staple RIS that you can base other stouts off of. In texas, it is highly available.. try this beer!!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 20:48:42 | More by tylerf19

boesesfleisch

California

3.93/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This is a very good beer. Looks good in the glass and had a nice creamy head that laced all the way down. I was a little disappointed with the aroma and mouth feel as I found them to be a little weak and thin for the style. Overall I thought this was a good, solid beer that everyone should try, but did not quite live up to the hype in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 07:40:03 | More by boesesfleisch

andrewjraab

Michigan

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

A - Black velvet, with huge mocha head with good webbing and stick.

S - Chocolate, coffee beans, roasted malts, alcohol.

T - Dark chocolate, roasted coffee, malted milk balls, amazing complexity and many layers to the sweet chocolate. Finishes bittersweet.

O - This is the best Russian Imperial Stout I have ever had. It is amazingly smooth and the drinkability this glass of motor oil is second to none in its class. Perfect for a relaxing winter day.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 22:26:28 | More by andrewjraab

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

4.29/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Solid black with a light brown head.

S: Very rich malt aroma and some alcohol.

T: Strong chocolate and roasted malt flavors. The mildly bitter finish is balanced by warming alcohol.

M: Smooth, Creamy and a little heavy but not overly so.

Overall: A great beer with a lot of flavor. Like an alcoholic French roast coffee.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 18:08:05 | More by JuliusCaesar

tviz33

New York

4.51/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle in to a pint glass.

A- Darker than hell with a little less than a finger of light brown head and lots of sticky lacing all the way down the glass.

S- A little subdued, but good. Lots of coffee and roasted malts with some black licorice and vanilla. Maybe a hint of alcohol.

T- Just about perfect. Too complex to name everything that comes out in this beer, but it's everything you'd want. Very balanced, but it still leans toward the bitter side even though there is a very strong malt presence.

M- Thick and silky. This possesses the ideal mouthfeel for me. It's carbonated just right.

O- My favorite RIS I've tried so far. I'm really starting to get in to stouts now and this will be there beer I base all the others off of.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 17:47:50 | More by tviz33

screamking

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into snifter.

Appearance-pours black with a creamy light brown head, 2 finger height on the head tho I did pour it aggressively. 4

Aroma-roasted coffee, hint of vanilla, brown sugar, slight toffee, overall smell is kinda muted. 3.75

Taste-milk chocolate, light coffee, roasted malts, mocha, slightest hint of vanilla and toffee. Taste follows the scent, which is kinda middle of the road for a RIS. 4

Feel-thick & full bodied, some carbonation, coats mouth evenly, bitterness finally sets in. 4.25

Overall-I guess I would have to say I'm underwhelmed by this beer, it has everything a RIS needs but doesn't go beyond the normal. It is available year round and at a very attractive price. However, I don't think I would go out of my way to purchase this again. 4

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 04:36:04 | More by screamking

trxxpaxxs

New York

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

A: Pours a deep black with one full finger of frothy khaki colored head. The foam takes a bit to settle, and there is a ton of lacing left on the glass as it drinks.

S: The nose is roasted malt, burnt toast, and caramel. Some of the chocolate notes begin to come through as it warms. Smells good.

T: I initially get a smooth sweetness, a touch of spice, and as it progresses a bit, I get some chocolate.

M: Full bodied beer. Sweet, coating, and a solid amount of carbonation (maybe more than I really want).

O: Really nice Imp Stout. This was one of the first beers that got me into the style. I'm glad I went back to try it again. Would drink again/10.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 22:29:20 | More by trxxpaxxs

mfnmbvp

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, no bottled on date present but I am pretty sure the 4 pack I landed is from sometime in 2012 because it had a pretty good layer of dust on it. Stoked to finally be trying this beer. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours the blackest of black with a very nice looking two and a half finger mocha colored foamy head with excellent retention. Some nice fluffy lacing as the head recedes.

S - Alcohol strikes my sniffer initially followed by some dark fruit / fermented nut smells with some rich dark chocolate in there as well. Roasted coffee beans. Not a terribly complex smell going on, but there is a decent amount of action happening here and it smells wonderful. Some faint hop nugget smell coming through.

T - Smooth velvety chocolate. Faint bourbon booze type taste. Roasted dark coffee bean & pungent hop cone bitterness. Dark fruit / nut taste is very apparent and inviting. Even more inviting is this beer's nice cozy 9.00% abv which is very well masked; a slight hint of the alcohol begins to emerge as the beer warms. A fair level of carbonation present.

M - Again, smooth and creamy texture. Very well-balanced, doesn't sit heavy in the stomach like some overly carbonated stouts tend to do, which is impressive especially for a 9.00% abv. It gives you some room to really taste the flavors. Some roasted coffee bean / hop bitterness hanging out for a little bit with some sweetness in the finish. A wonderful taste, I must say.

Overall, definitely a stout worth trying, one of the better Russian imperial stouts that I have had thus far. Fairly simple, yet still packing enough action to be unique and notable. It is probably the landmark beer for North Coast Brewing, and it is a beer I would surely have again. I would be interested in trying the Old Rasputin XV Anniversary Barrel Aged Stout, or any of this beer's other variations, if I could ever find one. Although, I suppose I am content enough with the regular Old Rasputin for now.

North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 06:40:00 | More by mfnmbvp

Fusion7777

Virginia

4.56/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very approachable dark RIS with a thick head, dark cocoa, roasted malt flavors, and a touch of dark fruit. Creamy and full-bodied. Alcohol fairly well-hidden. Available year-round and compares favorably to some more hyped-up limited release stouts.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 01:50:42 | More by Fusion7777

artdob

California

4.95/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

This is the stuff. My desert island brewski. The one that sent me into a panic nearly 14 years ago when I first stumbled on this brew from a then unknown micro brewery when I was living outside of Columbus Ohio. I was immediately taken in by this beer and quickly, shuddered to think, oh my, what if this brewery doesn't make it? And that thought sent me exploring the world of home brewing to see if I could personally brew something that came close to this, in the event, heaven forbid, that Old Rasputin would cease to be.

The good news is that I was able to come close enough so I feel prepared if that horrible day ever comes. But even better news, I haven't had to resort to that workaround. Old Rasputin lives!

Pours an exotic black with a tan head that tops the beer nicely before evolving into a layer of a tan sudsy blanket that drapes this brew. Oh yes, and I always drink this one at cellar temperature, never chilled, in a snifter as well.

Nose is spectacular, inviting with notes of chocolate cake, licorice, and roasty espresso.

On the palate, this is like a slice of liquid black forest torte, nicely balanced with roasty and sweet tones.

Mouthfeel is nice with very light carbonation. Wouldn't want any more for this style. A nice warmer this one.

Overall, nothing else but a top score for my personal all time favorite beer. If there were a beer hall of fame, this would be my inductee. Rasputin lives.

Sto lat North Coast (get yer Polish dictionary handy here).

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 04:58:43 | More by artdob

Stevedore

Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Note: personal system uses whole numbers)

12oz bottle without bottling date poured into CCB snifter today 2/9/13.

Aroma: Not a particularly impressive nose- some toffee and caramel, a bit of burnt sugar. (3)

Colour: Pours a dark cola colour with a very nice 2cm brown head that sticks around for less than a minute. Lacing is very good, seductive even. (4)

Flavour: Follows the nose but much more forward. Starts off with a nice smoky maltiness, followed by the nose's toffee and caramel with some dark chocolate. The toffee dominates the finish. Very tasty but not superbly complex like some of the other RIS's can get to be. (4)

Mouthfeel: Nice thick body but closer to the medium range of the spectrum. Not particularly creamy but it isn't a BA stout. Carbonation is solid but doesn't particularly stand out. Aftertaste is a nice toffee bitterness which sticks around a while. It's a bit bitter for a stout, even a RIS. I find it interesting. (4)

Overall: A pretty good RIS, above average for the style. It would be nice if it had a better nose and wasn't as bitter to fit the style which would make it an even better brew. As it is, its year-round availability and price point makes it a very worthwhile purchase for anybody craving a shelf RIS. (4)

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 00:45:33 | More by Stevedore

takemetothelion

4.01/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Last beer I'm trying of the night as a gift from my brother, Picked up at bootleggers. Im a fan of the high alcohol content and a stout is the perfect thing to send me into bliss, so I'll our it into a tulip and rock out.

A- One finger head rises to the top. It's literally as black as black can get. No visible carbonation. Good lacing.

S- not that strong of a nose. Though chocolate and yeast are popping pretty strongly. The chocolate is actually like a strong potent "pure cocoa". Definitely a lot of alcohol coming through.

T- Dry, malt chocolate, alcohol is hidden fairly well, but it really blends nicely with the overall taste. Kind of a bitter dark cocoa. Loving this one. This one is definitely warming me up. Not a creamy stout but it works.

MF- Like I said not very creamy, yet still full and flat with not much carbonation. Let's you really taste that cocoa, the definite highlight of the drink.

Overall, this stout is really deserving of the high ratings it got, world class for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 22:55:54 | More by takemetothelion

barczar

Kentucky

4.11/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Been in the fridge a couple years, so...

Pours an opaque black brown with a dense, frothy one inch mocha head that lingers indefinitely. When it dissipates, it leaves thick, sticky sheets of lacing.

Dark fruit, a touch of soy, roast malt, and chocolate start the aroma. Deeply toasted, nutty scents are accentuated by sorghum sweetness and earthy notes, finishing with a touch of coffee grounds. Malted milk balls and licorice emerge. There's a touch of plasticy phenols.

Flavor is dominated by deeply roasted malt, lightly sweet, which becomes chocolatey mid palate, and finishes charred, a touch acrid, and fairly bitter. Underlying notes of dark cherries surface, adding complexity. Toasted, nutty notes and dark chocolate are evident in the aftertaste.

Body is thick and smooth, with low carbonation and substantial alcohol warmth. There's a bit of astringency at the finish.

Aside from some light phenol presence, an excellent brew. It's more bitter and dry at the finish than I recall. Good complexity, but the bitterness is offputting to me.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 00:34:59 | More by barczar

machalel

Australia

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Thick and dark, verging on black, with very little light being let through. A thick coffee coloured head, which lasts for a reasonable time. Leaves a bit of lacing down the glass.

Aroma: Really nice aroma that combines a shot of coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, caramel, and a little bit of hops. Definitely coffee forward on the nose, but perfectly complex underneath.

Taste: Where the aroma is more coffee forward, I found the taste was quite a bit more chocolaty, with a good whack of malt and caramel. There is a bit of burnt grain somewhere in there, but not enough to become unpleasant. The hops are quite balanced, and even though a bitter dark chocolate aftertaste is present, there is enough refinement and balance that nothing is overpowered. Nice warmth from the alcohol, but again it is very well balanced, and adds to the flavour rather than distracts from it.

Mouthfeel: A little bit drier than the flavours would make you think it is, but I think that is partially due to the ABV. If I had to find a fault, it could probably be a little thicker and creamier, but that is just my preference.

Overall: Wonderful! I was wondering if this was going to live up to the rating here, and I can pleasantly report that it does. It is both easy to drink, and complex enough to savour. A really terrific stout that manages to tick every box.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 23:11:15 | More by machalel