Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

charlzm

California

4.93/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Consumed 07/05/08 at Verdugo Bar, Los Angeles CA.

Very dark brown with exceptional clarity (yes, it's true): deep garnet and ruby highlights when held to light. One finger creamy tan nitro head that sticks around forever.

Aroma is awesome: dark semi-sweet chocolate, coffee and even a subtle red grape character.

Texture is velvety smooth.

The flavor is substantial roasted dark malts, resulting in a profile similar to the nose: bittersweet chocolate, rich roasted coffee with a hint of cream and sugar and restrained but noticeable bitterness on the aftertaste.

Sublime and drinkable as anything I have ever had, the glass was drained far too soon on this one.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-07-2008 01:03:34 | More by charlzm

chileman13

New Mexico

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

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a samuel smith glass.
A-black with edge of mahagoney wher the light can get through. 1" tan head that laces out.
A-Roasted malt with chocolate, coffee and brandy/alcohol notes
T- As it smells with earthy hops.
M-Smooth perfect carbonation for style.
D- very drinkable, with a knowledge of high alcohol content.
Great stout!

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2008 02:21:40 | More by chileman13

kkipple

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on nitro-tap at the Flying Saucer in Columbia, SC.

Arrived in a fine looking branded Old Rasp pint glass, sporting a gorgeous 2 finger tall toffee-tan head. The head is amazingly dense and milkeshake like. It was fun to draw pictures in with a straw. But I digress. The beer is pretty darn dark, not *quite* black, and the contrast between light and dark in the glass is a thing of joy. Did I mention the sticky lace that runs down the glass as the beer goes? This is a beaut.

Tastes of heavy one-note roasted grains and rich coffee. Molasses, burnt raisins and a little astringency tickles the palate. The bitter hops are there but seem toned down from what I recall. Malt sweetness is complimentary and nicely balanced for me. Bittersweet and cunning, as it warms a few new flavors trickle out -- chocolate, alcohol, and a dry, almost chalky note.

On nitro-tap, the mouthfeel is hideously creamy. Smooth and very lightly carbonated, which makes it all the more easy to drink. It's a little thinner than I remember, but no matter, the big roasty finish with a hint of sweetness lingers and keeps me coming back for more.

Oh yeah, the nose. Grainy, roasty and boozy, this is simple and respectable for the style. Sweet, simple, strong, safe. It doesn't go for the jugular immediately, but the sheer drinkability of this means it may betray you later.

Old Rasputin on nitro is wickedly different from the bottle, and like the vile priest himself, sneaks up on you and gets under your skin. I had two pints before I knew what was happening. Taste at your own risk!

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-19-2008 00:39:53 | More by kkipple

JonathanL7890

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served at the Flying Saucer in Austin.
Poured a 4 finger cascading head into an old rasputin glass. (OT -- is that guy giving the loser sign or what???). Loved that glass. It took all my good upbringing not to nick it.
Appearance. Thick motor oil black with a tan head.
Smell: Not much - - a bit malty.
Taste: chocolate, roast malts. a little hop bitterness at the back of my palate.
Mouthfeel: creamy, smooth, thick, silky.
Drinkability. Not too boozy for an RIS.

Overall, this is a very nice RIS. The nitrotap made it quite interesting. Not as complex in the malt profile as some I have had. This is definitely a staple in my beer collection.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-18-2008 23:10:04 | More by JonathanL7890

gunnerman

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on nitro tap at the Yard House PBG, FL. Poures an amazing motor oil black with a foamy frothy nitro head that stays the entire time, Beatiful looking beer. The smell was pretty intense with ints of malty molasses prunes and also a bit of chocolate in the nose. Taste was even better, roasted malt character that goes down very smooth with hints of oak in there as well. This is a damn fine stout one of the best that I have ever tried and just amazing on Nitro tap.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-11-2008 12:19:39 | More by gunnerman

blakesell

Ohio

4.8/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from the nitro tap into a standard pint glass.

Appearance- Beer pours a solid jet black with a three finger head of solid tan that doesn't dissipate for a solid five minutes. Lacing clings to the sides of the glass and doesn't let up.

Smell- Roasted smoky malts and slight hops. Head is sticking in my moustache giving a bit more in the way of aroma. Milk chocolate and black patent malts very similar to a malted milk ball. Slight prune and fig, LOTS of black licorice.

Taste- Creamy, black licorice, black and milk chocolate, caramel, creamer, dark chocolate again, light vanillanin, chocolate milk, prunes, figs, brown sugar, light burnt malts, dark burnt malts, black patent, 350L+ torched malts. Good lord this is sweet.

Mouthfeel- Creamy, full-bodied, smooth, well carbonated. Excellent.

Drinkability- Wow. Nitro tap is the way to go on this delicious elixer. I will be ordering this again before it's too late.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-06-2008 18:02:47 | More by blakesell

dill

California

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

served on draft into a flute glass.

A - this beer was beautiful to watch settle as the creamy brown gradation gave way to a rich ebony body with a creamy tan head full of tight carbonation.

S - smells of coffee and toasted malts.

T - rich with coffee, mocha, and a touch of toastiness.

M - creamy. very creamy.

D - had this one at the end of the night and was hugely impressed by it. i can't wait to try it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2008 19:37:18 | More by dill

Kendo

New York

4.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got it on-tap -- the nitro-tap -- at the Lionheart in Albany on 4/23/08.

A: Body is black -- dark black -- but with a hint of crimson on the edges when backlit. A thick, foamy 1.5-finger tan head rests on top with great staying power. As expected, it leaves behind sheets of lacing all the way down the glass.

S: First impression is roasted malt with a hint of chocolate. Also hints of anise and black licorice. Pleasant all around, but not terribly strong on the nose. I suspect the serving temperature may have had something to do with that (it was a little colder than I like my RIS's to be); as it warmed I got stronger chocolate in the aroma. . . .

T: First impression: roasted malt and coffee, with dark chocolate at the back of the mouth. Then I get some black licorice on the front sides of the tongue, a touch of alcohol warmth at the back end of the sip and a dry, coffee-like bitterness coating the back and roof of my mouth. As it warms it becomes more chocolatey.

M: Wow. Heavy in weight but creamy. The nitro-tap has turned this into one smoooth-drinking experience.

D: Excellent. Again, the addition of the nitro has smoothed out any rough edges, and for this fan of chocolatey flavors in my RIS's, I find it actually becomes easier to drink as it warms and the chocolate becomes more dominant. The pint was gone much too fast. . . .

Notes: Normally I don't bother adding a 2nd review of a beer just because I get it from a different source (i.e., on-tap vs. the bottle). But having this on the nitro tap made for a substantially different experience and I was glad I'd brought pen and paper along to memorialize that experience. Truly excellent -- on more than one occasion I took a sip, shook my head and said something like "damn, that is one excellent beer." Kudos to the Lionheart for getting this. . . .

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-24-2008 14:23:42 | More by Kendo

aerozeppl

New York

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on nitro tap at the Lionheart in Albany. $3

A: Black. It was sunny outside and still no light got in. The nitro yielded two luscious fingers of off white head. Just about perfect.

S: Tons of chocolate and roasted malt. Little bit of sweetness and just enough of a hint of booze to let you know it is serious.

T: Wow. I have had this before but never on tap. The chocolate really pops out in front of everything else. The roast is there but not as prevelent as it is in the bottle.

M: Beyond sex. Super creamy. Oh man was this awesome.

D: Damn this was good. I am going to go back again this week for more. Yes I can stop whenever I want. Glad I got a small one though. The drinkability was off the charts and I would not be able to restrain myself. Thank god they had liquid gold from capt lawrence to ween me off this.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-21-2008 23:21:37 | More by aerozeppl

neenerzig

Ohio

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

Drawn into a pint glass. This beer is a very dark brown/almost black color. Tan, creamy head is a good inch when drawn from the tap. Settles to a nice 1/4 inch and simply refuses to go away. Great lace. Roasted, malty aromas of coffee, chocolate, and a hint of caramel are present along with a bit of alcohol. In a way the taste is sweet and a bit milk like in taste and texture. The taste is also exactly like the smell, but even better! Toasted malts and coffee along with chocolate and hints of caramel, and light hints of some hop bitterness and alcohol . Excellent. Has an extremely smooth and creamy mouthfeel with a full body and moderate carbonation. Perfect! Great drinkability especially with the high ABV. This beer is simply superb in just about every way!

Eric

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-18-2008 03:42:00 | More by neenerzig

MisterClean

California

4.88/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at Manderes. Too bad not nitro.

A - Pours jet black, with a moderately foamy chocolate head. Dissipates slow without much fanfare from the legs.

S - Cherries, raspberries, and milk chocolate. Just amazing!

T - Dark chocolate and black cherries. What a beer.

M - Chewy, moist, slightly gritty feeling.

D - Excellent. Had to force myself to slow down.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2008 05:39:01 | More by MisterClean

gwong

New York

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Jet black with a thick, creamy tan head. Good amount of lacing left on the glass with each sip.

S: Coffee and roasted malts dominate with hints of chocolate.

T: Roasted coffee and chocolate mingle with a little bit of hop flavor to create an absolutely delicious taste.

M: Creamy and thick with a very smooth finish.

D: So tasty, it demands multiple servings. The ABV might be high but the nitro-tap makes it go down so smooth, you don't feel it until you realized you've finished the darn glass in record time.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-18-2008 04:15:36 | More by gwong

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap last night at Deep Ellum. I saw they had this on nitro tap, so I figured it was worth a re-visit. Pours with a huge frothy head, that unfortunately got so big that it spilled onto the table. The smell was what I expected, a symphony of roasted coffee and chocolate. The taste was even more delicious. I have had this beer before on tap, and I love it. But the nitro makes it that much more smoother and silky. Tastes like a chocolate imperial stout milkshake. Goes down way too fast for a 9% beer. One of my favorite RIS on the market. The nitro makes it that much better.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-11-2008 23:49:49 | More by morebeergood

pershan

Maryland

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

Had this on-tap at Frisco Grille in Columbia, MD.

The beer poured an impenetrable blackness into a chalice with a thin, dark head. The smell was of roasted malt and alcoholic esters. Alcohol was the predominant flavor initially, with roasted malt in the middle and a nice lingering hop bitterness at the end. This is a full-bodied beer, with a great balance between the alcohol, malt, and hop components. Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2008 15:25:52 | More by pershan

mnstorm99

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice black pour with a good tan head that stick around very well, and the lacing was nice throughout as well.
Little hoppy on the nose and smokey, spicy notes in the hops.
Flavor is of smokey coffee malts (but not overly smokey), a touch of spicey hops rounds it out, this one is overly sweet like some RIS can be, nice change.
great chewy thick mouthfeel as expected with this type of beer, this is a pretty easy drinking RIS, overall a great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2008 13:59:53 | More by mnstorm99

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Capital Ale House (Richmond, VA).

Pours a deep black with just the smallest amount of red highlights around the bottom and a thin creamy tan head that retained beautifully and left thick lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma is thick with notes of chocolate, deep roasted malts, dark fruits and hop bitterness.

The flavor profile is deep with chocolate sweetness, espresso notes, and dark fruit tartness. The real highlight of this beer though is the combo of burnt and hop bitterness that pervades throughout. A honestly think that this beer almost achieves a perfect balance of the sweet and bitter. The mouthfeel is full bodied and creamy with just a touch of warmth. That 10.5% is insanely hidden, making for a most smooth and drinkable experience.

IMO, Old Rasputin is one of the most underrated beers on the market right now. Just packed with all the flavors you would want in an RIS but in one hugely drinkable package. Plus you can usually find some fantastic prices on this at the store. For the money, one of the best beers on the market.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2008 23:02:48 | More by Kegatron

cfleisher

New Hampshire

2.4/5  rDev -44.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Never thought I'd say this, but this beer was too highly hopped for me. Nice dark espresso color and low carbonation, smelled of caramel malt, but could barely taste it. I love highly hopped beers (Stone's Ruination is a favorite) but not so much with the stouts and this could have been so much more if the malt could come forward a little.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2008 22:03:48 | More by cfleisher

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Max's the other day, where it was every bit as wonderful as it is on tap in Ft. Bragg.

The beer pours a lovely black color with persistent, long lasting head and lacing. This beer looks very impressive. On the nose, I don't know what it is, but I'm not getting a lot. There is a hint of coffee and licorise, but that's really about it. On the palate this is a very impressive beer. The beer is very soft and creamy, with flavors of coffee, vanilla and more licorise. The licorise flavor is actually quite pronounced. The beer finishes pretty well, though you can tell the abv. is up there. This is definitely a very big beer, but on the nitro it's very soft and easy to drink.

A good solid beer from North Coast brewing. Well done.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-21-2008 19:54:59 | More by johnmichaelsen

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours jet black, with a small tan head. In the aroma, caramel, and coffee hints. In the taste, caramel, cocoa, and a roasty coffee flavor. A smooth, big body mouthfeel and a malty, dry coffee aftertaste. Big flavor and hides alcohol very well, smooth and very good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2008 16:51:54 | More by OWSLEY069

paskinsj

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Like Guinness with a kick, a must try. This has all the smooth taste of a creamy stout with the after kick of bitterness like from arrogant bastards ale. Dark rich coffee flavor with a smokey chocolate hints. This is something to drink very slow and savor.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2007 19:03:13 | More by paskinsj

MiScusi

California

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

On tap and poured into a tulip at The Library Bar in downtown Los Angeles. Poured jet black with a brown head. Smell was all that imperial stout stuff- roasted barley and chocolate are the main things. The taste was very rich with a pretty big roastiness. Had a nice slick mouthfeel but didn't overwhelm with thickness or syrupyness. A very good tasting stout, much different than what I experienced from the bottle I tried a few months ago. Ratings have been updated.

___
Bottled version 12.16.07

A- Poured into a pint glass, a nice dark brown to black, can be seen through at the bottom of the glass and had a fluffy light-tan head.

S- The smell was pretty faint but definitely roasty and slightly acidic. This was much more tilted toward the roast then other RIS's which tend to be sweeter to me (ie Stone)

T- Roasty with a deep bitter chocolate second half. There is just a bit of alcohol at the very end. On about my 8th sip, something happened and the taste just became unbearable. At first it was an average, maybe even slightly above average beer to me, but at that point it turned to something that was making me sick having in my mouth. The taste just became a big alcohol and astringent mess. I don't know what it was but I couldn't finish half this glass.

M- Exceptionally smooth, the carbonation you know is there, it wasn't flat by any means, but in the mouth you don't get one hint of carbonation as it is all hidden under a blanket of malts.

D- I had to pour it out. Didn't even get through half of the beer. I would not seek this out again. This specific RIS may be for some people, but it isn't for me.

4.5/3/1/3.5/1

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2007 06:50:01 | More by MiScusi

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

4.65/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Sycamore last night, I was pleasently surprised when it was served to me in the appropriate snifter glass.
I didn't take any notes or anything so these are just the broad strokes.

It was basically the same off the tap as it was out of the bottle, except the texture was even more velvety delicious.

Worth trying off the tap, basically the same but a little bit better.
It was so good I just had to pull out a bottle today and review it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2007 21:19:16 | More by BradLikesBrew

r00tarded

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is my closer any time I'm out and its on tap.

You can have a line up of beers and if you end your evening with this beer, you've done well for yourself. This beer is the equivalent of a fresh from the oven molten chocolate cake, home made vanilla ice cream and an espresso all at once.

Dark, rich, mellow, smooth, flavorful, not overpowering but yet full of flavor... when it's placed in front of you take your time appreciating it in its glory.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2007 20:56:13 | More by r00tarded

pwoods

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review based on notes:

On nitro-tap at Dilly Deli on 10/20. Served in a 10oz. tulip.

A: Body is as black as motor oil. 1/2+ finger light tan head on top stays fluffy for quite some time. Beautiful thin lacing.

S: Deep roasted coffee beans and bitter dark German chocolate. Dark sweet chocolates trying to come through but not much. Not detecting any alcohol.

T/M: As expected, huge amounts of roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate. Bitter seems to come more from the black strong bitter coffee taste. Just a very slight sweetness suggests the Dark fruits I was picking up on. Body isn't as thick as I would have expected but has a great creamy feeling to it.

D: Tastes even better on tap and a perfect after dinner drink. 1 of these as an after dinner treat or desert is the perfect application for this beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-23-2007 19:49:39 | More by pwoods

genog

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Third pint at Bodega, and I was starting to feel good!

Pours a rich, deep, dark opaque black color with a cascading tan head that flows from the bottom to the top creating an illusion like a lava lamp. In my slowly deteriorating state I was memorized watching this take place. Smell is of roasted malt, milk chocolate, a cup of cappuccino too. Taste is of chocolate and smokeyness. This one is absolutely smooth and delicious. I only gave it a 4 for drink ability because it was so rich I had trouble toward the end of the glass. If it was only a 12 oz taste I might have had an easier time.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-12-2007 15:31:00 | More by genog