Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

Moose90

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a 20oz tulip pint glass.

A - Pours thick and dark, leaves a nice 1" foamy light brown head. Standard stout, plus a bit extra. Just sitting there it looks delicious. Head fades to thin layer, but leaves great lacing.

S - A lot of hop from a stout, somewhat unexpected. The usual dark roast coffee, and chocolate do come through. I also pick up on some solid black licorice on this one, and a little burnt toast.

T - Really dark roasted malt character, almost burnt, yet not off-putting. Starts strong and bitter, and fades to a nice dry stout full of coffee, licorice and molasses.

M - Carbonated a tad more than some other stouts, but this helps to balance out the minimal alcohol bite. Makes for an enjoyable beer. It is full, rich, and chewy, but not cloying or sticky. I like this.

O - So glad I finally tracked this beer down. It has lived up to the hype and I imagine some age on it would make it even better. Absolutely great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 05:25:58 | More by Moose90

tectactoe

Michigan

4.36/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a shade of black, barely dark brown around the very top and edges of the beer - looks super viscous and thick as hell. Leather-tan head, super thick with little fine bubbles; great definition and nice retention.

The chocolate aroma is noticeable even before putting your nose to the glass. Huge bouts of unsweetened, dark cocoa beans and bittersweet, black coffee/espresso beans as a secondary note. Big-time roasted malt aromas fill your head, leaving a silky smooth and buttery feeling before even taking a sip.

First sip, chocolate amasses on the palate to a huge degree; dense and deep - not like a milk chocolate bar, more like a less-sweet version of dark chocolate, raw cocoa beans, dry cocoa powder. The chocolate gives way fairly quickly to a charred, woody, nutty flavor; oak and nuts, just toasted to hell and burnt to a crisp. Some slightly bitter coffee is in the background, maybe more like espresso - very strong, deep, rich, and dense.

The woody flavor lasts until the end and even begins to take on a smokey character after a bit. A few seconds before the final moments of the sip, the bitterness of the hops start to come alive, and are very noticeable here, unlike many RIS's where the hops are almost nowhere to be seen. They take on a very herbal, leafy, and grassy profile, playing hand-in-hand with the bitterness from the unsweetened cocoa and coffee flavors earlier.

The bitterness from the hops grows and fades out - the aftertaste is a combination of the herbal burn, charred and smokey wood, slight tobacco, and an overall roasted-character finish. Overall, a very dry, bitter, and nearly harsh finish which is supported by some underlying sweetness from the malt. Alcohol warmth is notable at seemingly random times, but never impedes or distracts. Thick and creamy body, silky smooth, robust, and rich. Medium carbonation, slightly higher than many other RIS's.

Wow, a truly complex beer, and very true to it's style. This RIS is unique enough to stand out and that's what has allowed it to make a name for itself. Nice, noticeable bitterness and herbal hop presence which goes unnoticed in so many brews of this style - very refreshing for a change of pace. Slow sipper at 9.0% ABV, but the alcohol plays well with the palate and never gets overbearing. Bottom line: if you like RIS's - get some of this, pronto.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 12:43:30 | More by tectactoe

BucannonXC5

California

3.65/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into a pint glass at my house on Nov. 27, 2012 (purchased for $2.09 at BevMo in La Mesa, Calif. (San Diego) on Nov. 27, 2012). Mahogany black with 3-4 fingers of tan head that lasted for quite some time. Good and thick retention on the top and the sides of the glass.

Smelled a sharp bite of alcohol first. That was followed by coffee, roasted coffee beans, roasted nuts, hazelnut, dark caramel, toffee and dark chocolate.

Tasted that sharp bite of alcohol up front, like the smell. Really a liquor type of alcohol, maybe vodka. Also coffee, hazelnut, toffee, dark chocolate and caramel. Nice warming finish.

Full body. Creamy slick texture. Average-to-above average carbonation. Long warm finish with some bitterness.

I’ve always seen this beer in the stores and I finally pulled the trigger tonight. It was basically what I expected, which is an average Russian Imperial Stout. And that’s coming from a guy who probably overrates all RIS’s. EDIT: This grew on my as it went down. I upped a couple of ratings.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 03:24:50 | More by BucannonXC5

natescape

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Managed to find this on tap at CBS Scene in Foxoboro, MA. I had never tried it before, and was completely blown away. Served in a standard pint glass, the beer arrived black as midnight in a cave on a cloudy night with a blindfold on. It had a thick, rich finger-width head with an aroma of deep smoked malt and hints of chocolate and espresso. Mouthfeel was rich, slightly chewy, and utterly fulfilling. Tasting it was like entering another world... smooth, deep, just hoppy enough to add a little something extra. The flavor lingered for a while afterwards ... a blessing.

I'm normally a hop freak, but this may just be the best beer I've ever had. I can't wait to go back and have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2012 14:43:56 | More by natescape

snaotheus

Washington

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

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. I've had this so many times it's hard to believe I haven't reviewed it.

Pours black and tarry with a medium sized light brown, thick and frothy head. Medium amount of slow carbonation. One of the prettiest stouts I know, even when not on nitro. Smell is black licorice, coffee, and yeast.

Taste is licorice, roasty bitterness, creamy flavor, sweet plumminess up front. One of my favorite stouts.

Mouthfeel is thick and creamy -- good from the bottle but fantastic on nitro. Overall, excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 05:47:28 | More by snaotheus

AxesandAnchors

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A fingers worth of a creamy coffee colored head, good head retention. Jet black, no light seepage. A light syrupy pour.

S: First wave is coffee and vanilla. Slight burn in the nose from the alcohol. Rich toasted malty smell, with a hint of dark chocolate. Nice mellow floral undertone from the hops.

T: Espresso, burnt toast, vanilla, more bitter than sweet, tobacco character.

M: Carbonation is average-to-high. Mouth-feel is creamy but not thick.

O: Not my favorite Russian Imperial, but a solid example of the style for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 05:16:35 | More by AxesandAnchors

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

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

Beer pours jet black with a brown head that fades back into the glass. It can easily be recovered with a gentle swirl of the glass. No highlights.

The aroma is of burnt toast, roasted dark coffee, and dark chocolate or maybe bakers chocolate. Everything is very well balanced with nothing sticking out.

The taste starts off semi-sweet with notes of chocolate, coffee, and toast. The finish is like the after taste of black coffee but with no bitterness. Very well balanced and not at all cloying for the extreme amount of alcohol, which does not even make an appearance in the taste.

The beer is very smooth, very pleasant to sip.

Very enjoyable beer. It is nice to finally get to try it and have in actually live up to the hype. I would certainly recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 00:45:21 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

BigBarley

Texas

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

A - Poured slow, you can see the thickness. See it! Jet black, with a nice finger and a half of tan foam. Standard stout characteristics, but somehow darker and more thick. You can see the flavor waiting.

S - Fantastic smell, great hop character, with a mild alcohol nose, and some notes of cocoa, coffee and sweet roast

T - Heavy roast bitterness up front, mild hops, dark coffee. Very multi-layered flavor. Alcohol on the back, the roasted black flavors of coffee, chocolate and burnt sugar, all rotating and being balanced by a prominent, floral hoppy bitterness.

M - Thick, lively carbonation, foamy finish. A wonderful texture for a RIS. Heavy, hearty, full.

O - A fantastic beer, just as great as I'd heard. I love Russian Imperial Stouts, and this one captures all the great notes of the style, and exemplifies them in a unique way. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 17:48:40 | More by BigBarley

alexipa

Colorado

3.2/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Absolutely opaque black with lots of lacing and a small film of head.

S: Feint espresso/coffee with some chocolate backing it up. Burnt malts.

T: A burnt malt taste hits first which I didn't love. Tons of bitterness, almost a black IPA if you ask me... (nobody asked me).

M: Creamy with great carbonation. A little too boozy and thick.

O: Pretty good RIS but really not executed as well as I thought given the reviews. Definitely one of my least favorite RIS I've had to date, but I seem to like them all.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 05:34:42 | More by alexipa

LBeaux

New York

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black body, BIG brownish head. Took a bunch of pours before I could empty the bottle.

Pronounced, grassy hop aroma, I can smell the chocolate, and the alcohol.

First taste: THICK mouthfeel. I found myself unconsciously chewing to get it down. First of these I’ve been able to taste the carbonation on. Quite bitter, but it’s more under control than the Victory. Flavor profile takes 5+ full seconds to roll around my tongue. It’s like there’s a beginning, a middle, a bridge, a climax, and a denouement. Starts quite sweet and chocolatey, then becoming more bitter, going through a black coffee phase and then . . . almost like the char on a grilled steak? Hard to describe, but deep and rich flavor. Does leave a bitter aftertaste, but it’s not as oppressive as some imperial stouts. My mouth still chews automatically with every swig, haha.

Without question the best imperial stout I’ve tried so far. I’m starting to see why imperials have a cult following.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 02:29:46 | More by LBeaux

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

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

Appearance - motor oil black. big, nearly 2 finger head that is think and foamy, almost the consistency of whipped cream. awesome. head is tan colored, darkest head i've seen. good retention and lacey all the way down the glass.

Smell - touch of burnt oats, bitter coffee.

taste - mild malty sweetness immediately taken over by burnt oats and bitter coffee. the head tames the bitterness with a smooth creamy slight sweetness. finishes pretty dry, and begs you to take another drink. Although you have to monitor yourself; it's pretty heavy.

Mouthfeel - thick and creamy. the carbonation is very low, despite the large whipped-cream-esque head, and is perfect for this style of beer.

Monster! the best stout hands down! A little too bitter for me, but that's just the style, and I'm a sweet malt lover. I'll take one anytime anyplace.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 19:11:50 | More by TastyAdventure

SeamusDoyle

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep black color with a large dark brown head. The aroma was a beautiful mix of espresso, chocolate, bitter hops, and roasted grain,some alcohol crept in. The flavor was intense woody/charcoal, chocolate, coffee, roasted grain, tobacco, hops bitterness. The feel was surprisingly crisp and bubbly that made this beer feel not as big as it is. Very wet finish that coats the tongue and throat.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 01:04:15 | More by SeamusDoyle

mjurney

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
Pitch black, can't see through the light. I can see some thin bubbles rising up on the side of the glass. Thick tan color head. Leaves a very nice lacing behind.

Aroma:
Dark roasted malts, bittersweet, espresso, fudge, boozy.

Taste:
Dark roasted malts up front, espresso, dark chocolate, burnt caramel, spiced rum, dark dried fruit, bitter-dry finish. Big full bodied, creamy, smooth, a little boozy, moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 21:52:50 | More by mjurney

Samuel906

California

4.09/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This is a beer that I've had many many times before, but never got around to writing a review for it. All around one of my favorite RIS. Pours a deep dark red with some mild khaki color head. Smell is great, but a tad benign compared to other heavy stouts. Malt, chocolate syrup, and vanilla. Huge toasted flavor, with lots of malt and milk chocolate. Good balance of sweet and bitter. Just a hint of alcohol. Little thinner in the mouth that one may expect, but also means it's not overly sticky. Overall, a great beer that's widely available. One of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 05:37:41 | More by Samuel906

begforme4484

Connecticut

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

On nitro-tap at Tyler's Taproom in Apex, NC.

The beer is black as can be with a really thick creamy head. The head clung to the glass all the way down like it was painted on. It had thicker rings showing where each sip was.

Smelled of cocoa/coffee/roasted goodness.

The taste was different than normal Old Raspy. It still had the cocoa, coffee, and deep roasted malt complexities, but it drank like a milkshake. A Russian Imperial Stout ice cream.

Great mouthfeel, creamy and very full bodied.

I originally only planned on having one of these but felt compelled to enjoy two.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-26-2012 19:51:15 | More by begforme4484

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Seany for this one.

Poured from a 12oz. bottle.

Appearance: Huge mocha head forms, very bubbly with a black body, Foam doesn't really seem to move much. Long drapes of foam.

Smell: Espresso beans, chocolate, straddles the sweet and bitter with some baker's chocolate shavings.

Taste: Rich, slight licorice, bitter sweet chocolate but then the over the top roasted coffee permeates the flavor. Too unbalanced to be properly enjoyed.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is prickly, body is a beast yet manageable but the finish is quite abrasive and bitter, almost bordering on astringent.

Overall: The unbalanced harshness is too much for my liking. Overshadows the other potential good flavors.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 02:24:08 | More by papat444

ChiPool

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter glass.

Old Raspy: review long time coming. Smell of burnt raisins, chocolate malts, . Poured jet black, and a generous amount of carmel colored head. More carbonated than would be expected. What a brew, when it comes to the taste. Roasty malts, but a backbone of hops on this one: an inverse of the IPAs that predominate. This is a complex character: strong stout roasty flavor, but not too boozy. This review is from the bottle: must have from nitro tap!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 03:39:37 | More by ChiPool

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Pours jet black with a monster mocha head that does not allow a quick pour.

S - Slight dark coffee. That's about it. Perhaps I have an old bottle.

T - Strong bitter dark coffee with some roasted malt and dark chocolate. Spot on for an RIS.

M - Heavy body with medium carbonation. Once again, spot on for an RIS.

O - Overall, this is a great RIS, and a great beer for the time of year, especially here in Michigan

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 03:20:00 | More by SometimesIfart

gcamparone

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Wakefield Liquors in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours a very dark brown, nearly black body with a thick, fluffy mocha head that sticks around for a while and leaves some heavy lacing.

S- Milk chocolate, coffee, hints of dark fruit. Inviting so far.

T- Bittersweet cocoa bean, coffee with cream, slightly milky. Warming malt finish. Very enjoyable.

M- Smooth, creamy, silky with little carbonation. Thick and fulfilling.

Overall, one of my favorite, if not my favorite russian imperial so far. Rich and flavorful. Must try.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 20:06:20 | More by gcamparone

KKB

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A – Deep, deep mahogany, hints of ruby when held up to the light so not quite black, a large, pillowy, beige/tan head that rises up to the top of the glass. This is one of the better looking beers that you’ll ever encounter….lacing doesn’t last too long though, probably owing to the full-bodied oily nature of this beer.

S – Now I’ve had this beer many many times before, and in my opinion the single best thing about it is the way it smells. The hops explode out of the bottle right off the bat. Hops? Hell yes, hops. But it is overwhelmed with chocolate and coffee and heavily roasted malt. Chocolate is the overarching smell though…or is it hops? So close, so complimentary. Oh my dear god, so good. So good that I don’t even feel like drinking it, just smelling it. Has kind of a fresh baked cookies smell to it too, that… and hops… oh and chocolate.

T – Did I say the single best thing about it is the way it smells? Because it very well might be the way it tastes. On the palate the battle of flavors is even more pronounced than in the nose, chocolate and hops, malt and coffee, and CHOCOLATE AND HOPS and so much yes. The chocolaty goodness derives from the heavily roasted black malt giving it that kind of bittersweet essence, as well as espresso/coffee.

M – Full-bodied, silky, smooth, almost a little bit chewy, which is how I like my Imperial stouts, carbonation is very light, very right.

O - It’s just such a unique beer. I’m used to the imperial stout having that nice chocolate/coffee flavor going on, and even a little bit of hops like with the yeti imperial stout, but the hops in this compliment the beer in such an incredible way owing to their sheer overwhelming presence. But it works. Inexplicably it totally works, and the flavors come together and play off of one another to make one of the best beers out there. I’ve been told it’s North Coast’s best beer. Well I haven’t tried all of them yet but I’m inclined to agree. It’d be tough to beat this.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 01:57:38 | More by KKB

Theheroguy

Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow this is great beer, very rich and complex I regret having waited so long to try it.

In terms of appearance it's everything a stout should be deep black with an enduring and respectable but not thick head.

This beer is like drinking a malty dark chocolate bar. The malt and some fruitiness are first flavors you taste but the rich chocolate quickly assumes its role. This beer is seriously delicious.

The only thing bad about this beer is that is smells incredibly boozy. The 9% alcohol is hidden from the tongue but not from your nose.

It is expensive but well worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 01:50:38 | More by Theheroguy

bengore

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a deep, deep black into a tulip glass. Small amount of cherry bronze head that dissipates slowly. Aroma reminds me of chocolate cake with booze. Taste is relatively malty, coffee, and ultimately leads to an alcohol-y aftertaste. Overall a great, strong stout that is easily available. Goes great with a strong, hearty stew or curry. Definitely a go-to.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 23:38:48 | More by bengore

flyingvrod

4.7/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

poured from a bottle to a nice two finger light brown head that slowly falls to a quarter of an inch with good lacing and black as pitch

the smell is earthy with the bold malt and coffee

the taste is not as strong as some other stouts but so well balanced without a burnt or overpowering chocolate as some have the hops are at the back of this one quite subtle the abv is hidden almost too well

the mouthfeel is great nice and crisp without coating the pallette carbonation is just right not flat at all like others

this stout is one of the best i have ever had i could drink this more than a few times a week excellent beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 02:03:58 | More by flyingvrod

pkalix

California

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

black. just black. tan film on top. beautiful to behold!
roasty, malty, roasty, toasted smell . . . .
taste is like a creamy roasted coffee bean in an over-roasted starbucks cup.
mouthfeel is heavy, rugged.
overall . . . . in the world of stouts, this one's a great brew. i will admit, however, that i dont feel all that knowledgable about the stouts and porters. i appreciate them for what they are, and prefer the higher abv ones. there's a certain 'chalkiness' to this one that i really like, and i appreciate the 'espresso' and 'roasted' flavors, but i really need to learn more how these are produced. regardless.... cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 00:40:21 | More by pkalix

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

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

Picked up a four pack because the price was right. No bottle date to be seen..Not sure how I feel about a beer calling itself a cult classic but that's ok let's get to it..

The pour is damn near black. More head than I imagined leading into some lacing.

Smell is big dark chocolate and malts, booze, burnt chocolate cake with dark fruits.

Taste offers creamy chocolate with a really nice roasted character, sturdy amounts of bitterness and more booze in the aftertaste.

Creamy and smooth, warming finish.

Glad I got to try this one. Would pick it up again

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 02:03:03 | More by TheMultiYeast