Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

arfenhouse

California

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Black with a light brown head. Head can get large and the retention is good. Getting some lacing as well.

S: Nose is dominated by dark chocolate. Some dark fruit (raisin/prune). Some alcohol. A bit of coffee.

T: Bitter dark chocolate that transitions into a charred malt. Grain flavor is a bit bitter. Aftertaste is of dark chocolate. There's a bit of dark fruit sweetness hiding behind all the roasty flavors. A bit of the alcohol comes through.

M: Light bodied with medium carbonation. Fuller body would be better. Some stickiness and wet.

O: Good complex, roasty, and bitter RIS. Not very expensive and good quality.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 08:48:31 | More by arfenhouse

messyhair42

Colorado

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

A: poured into a Boulevard snifter. Very dark ruby with three fingers of head that quickly fade into a thin lacing.

S: Caramelized sugar, dark chocolate, and grilled meats

T: Roasty, chocolate. This beer has a lot of hops among RIS but the balance of malty to bitter is so well maintained that the hops don't have a flavor so much as add to the whole experience. The 9% alcohol is completely masked, if I didn't know better I'd session this beer.

M: Not sticking to the roof of my mouth, but the flavor says it could be. lots of bubbles.

O: Fantastic, the best example of a RIS I've ever had. also very affordable for the RIS category. This beer is a treat as much as it is a beer that I could enjoy everyday.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 07:56:03 | More by messyhair42

Sokool

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Appearance- Pours black with a finger's worth of head that stayed through almost the entire glass, leaving heavy lacing all down the side.

Aroma- I got a lot of hops with a hint of malty chocolate.

Taste- The overall flavor of this beer is dry and bitter (and yet somehow so drinkable) with a complex layering of hops, burnt/roasty coffee and chocolate flavors. Over time, as the beer warmed up the balance started tipping a little more to the malty side. After each drink I got a really warm feeling in my throat after 5-10 seconds.

This beer has a lighter mouthfeel and more carbonation than many RIS's that I have tried. Also not as malty/sweet, which is perfect for my taste!

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 06:36:51 | More by Sokool

xoagray

Florida

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

Thick, dark beer with flavors of fruits and coffee. Has a good head and looks great in a glass. Feels a little syrup like in the mouth, but doesn't get bitter at all if it lingers for a while on your tongue.

Starts off with just a tinge of bite, but that's all you'll ever get, the rest is smooth and tasty. I could see this going very well with a roast beef sandwich.

In short, very very good.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 05:59:36 | More by xoagray

GotWad629

Massachusetts

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

Pours an opaque black with a thickly textured tan mocha head.

There is a wonderful bouquet of dark fruits, sweet chocolate, and espresso.

A slight hint of alcohol hits the tongue first. Some slight sweetness and dark fruit comes through in the middle fading into a roasted malt espresso bitterness that lingers on tongue.

The mouthfeel is creamy and almost chewy.

Overall a great way to end the work day in the dead of January. Although you can't really taste it, the 9.00% ABV really warms you up.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 05:24:47 | More by GotWad629

dpodratsky3

Georgia

4.31/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into snifter glass

A: Big 2 finger head, a dense light brown color, settles to a film after a few minutes, leaves small lacing, impressive for a 9% abv beer, beer is black but the edges show through as chestnut brown in light, an epic looking dark beer

S: Smells smooth and creamy, kind of like a bready dessert, hints of roast come through and mingle with hop aroma, floral and intense pine

T: Much more aggressive flavors, still has that breadiness but the roast that accompanies is much stronger than hinted in the aroma, dark burnt roasted malt accentuated by the very firm bitterness, piney and floral again, alcohol bends nicely with hops to add sting but no off flavors at all

M: Not too dry, dry but dense body gives a good mouthfeel

O: A very good beer, something is just holding it back from being epic though, maybe a little more depth to its roast

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 02:46:51 | More by dpodratsky3

acsprouse

South Carolina

4.84/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured very dark into a snifter. Very robust, strong, deep roasted malt character with slight hop aromas in the malt. Thick dark head.. perfectly carbonated. The mouthfeel is creamy but balanced. Roasty yet clean. The taste was malty.. chocolate notes.. coffee notes.. strong but pleasant. Easily one of the most drinkable imperials i have had. Perfection. I give this beer an overall 5/5.. why? Legacy is a part indeed yet taste.. style.. and everything about this beer was exceptional to me. Cheers mates

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 07:35:05 | More by acsprouse

Jacurdy60

Alabama

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

Poured into a tumbler pint glass. Had a very dark appearance with a creamy, 2 finger head that was coffee colored, almost had a hint of grey. The lace was beautiful and formed a nice latticework all the way down until the last sip. The nose was oaky and burnt with some undertones of some kind of nut, I couldn't quite tell. The flavor was dark,dark chocolaty with strong notes of coffee. MF was thick but very smooth. This is the best stout I've ever had, and definitely in the top 2 beers I've ever had in my entire life. An overall blissful experience from the appearance all the way to the last sip. I enjoyed it at a little less than room temp (60 degrees F).

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 23:37:26 | More by Jacurdy60

hctap00

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a red wine glass. Not the best for head retention, but all that was clean.

Pretty standard imperial stout appearance. Pitch black. Solid tan that fades to a thin lacing.

Aroma is not overpowering, but still has a lot going on. Roasted malt and some coffee first. Dark chocolate. Fruity also, cherry and the licorice/anise I get from good stouts.

Pretty bitter up front, with some coffee flavors. Good roasted malt flavor. Sweeter through the middle, but still very astringent. A bit harsher than I would like with the bitterness. Finishes fairly smooth, with some of the fruitiness from the aroma. A nice alcohol warmth to it. Coffee and roasted malt lingers for a while.

Mouthfeel is a bit puckering. Felt like I was drinking red wine at times.

Overall very enjoyable. Not my favorite. I would drink a Ten FIDY first, but I still enjoy this one. Given its availability and reasonable price, definitely one to keep around.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 04:37:20 | More by hctap00

niday2288

Illinois

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

A-Pitch black pout that is thick out of the bottle with a two finger head that is dark khaki.
S-Nose is coffe and semi sweet chocolate
T-Hint of dark chocolate and roasted malts with a slight hop undertone to add bitterness
M-thick with little effervesecence
O-Pretty good. I would take a couple others over this if I were stranded on an island, but all in all pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:38:30 | More by niday2288

KFBR392

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark as night. Nice amount of lacing on the glass. Thin head but that is to be expected.

Smell: A really awesome hop presence here. Smells like what a RIS should. Like malt undertones mix PERFECTLY with the hops. Nothing fancy, just everything that it should be.

Taste: Yep, just awesome. I think this is one of the best representations of the style that is widely available. The malt smokey flavors hit right away, followed by such a wonderful hop bitterness. Man this beer is good.

Mouthfeel: A heavy lacing makes the mouth water, but at the same time those hops dried out that palette. A smooth body really carries this beer through to the end.

Overall: This beer just paints the picture of sitting in front of a warm fire on a cold winter night. Would be good to enjoy with a strong cigar. If you want to try out a RIS at a very reasonable price, get yourself a 4 pack of the Old Rasputin

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 06:24:27 | More by KFBR392

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.31/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Black as night with a nice pillowy two finger tan head.

Aroma: Cocoa and dark roasted malts with a touch of cream. Very clean and somewhat straightforward.

Taste: Charred malts, semi-sweet cocoa, light coffee, and an overall rich roasted malt flavor that engulfs the palate. The flavor gets more intense from the beginning of each sip until the end and leaves a lasting bitter burnt malt flavor in the finish. Exactly what I'm looking for in this style. Just a hint of grassy hops but not much bitterness from that department as far as I can tell. I'd file this one under the more coffee/chocolate flavor profile with very little in terms of dried fruits and currant flavor one gets in other Russian Imperial Stouts. Some hints of caramel and amber malts right before the finish and the flavor develops more as it warms. As far as alcohol goes, the modest 9% ABV doesn't appear until about halfway through the glass when it gives a slight warming in the back of the throat. The roasted malt bitterness is also subdued as the temperature goes up. An almost bourbon-like quality emerges as well. The whole flavor profile starts simple and then gets increasingly complex and smooth. Masterfully done.

Mouthfeel: Medium to slightly below medium in body (a tad light for the style). I gave this one an aggressive pour knowing that a common complaint is that it has a lot of effervescence. That being said the carbonation was still very evident but just at the threshold of not being overly done. Decently smooth and more so as it warmed. Easy drinking.

Final Thoughts: For the price (<$9.00 a four-pack) it's a phenomenal deal. I might pick a couple more bottles up to cellar. Wish they would sell a barrel-aged version. Would I drink it again? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 03:30:15 | More by JamesMN

C20Percent

Virginia

4.36/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark brown with a big, bubbly, tan colored head. Very clean appearance. Really nice head. And, the lacing really adds to the beer-drinking experience.

S: Roasted malts. Dark chocolate and cocoa. Some coffee notes in the background. Some sweetness in the aroma, and the hops are coming through as well.

T: Hops and cocoa -- first and foremost. High quality malt work here. Not a bunch of complexity here, but that's not a bad thing. Super clean, with a sweet and salty finish.

M: Quite possibly the most smooth and creamy beer I've ever had. This beer sets the standard. Perfect carbonation. Velvety. Chewiness that brings out the cocoa. Superb.

O: This beer doesn't overdue it. What it does is gives you a very clean, simple, high-quality tasting RIS. It doesn't try to push the limits, which is low risk, but it gets it right. Highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 20:04:26 | More by C20Percent

Kevin73

Washington

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

Pours deeply opaque with the slightest tinge of red. Pours with a thick sturdy head with tons of lacing. Looks absolutely gorgeous in the glass. Roasted malts, coffee, baker's chocolate, raisin.. all classic sensations intensified in the imperial style. The alcohol not so apparent in the nose for me, but in taste a nice shot of heat. Surprisingly on the sweeter side, but exceptionally well balanced. Not too aggressive with the hops or any one ingredient. Unfortunately a bit tinny. Noticeable metallic note, hard to get away from in stouts, I recognize that, and thus not a deal breaker. But still it's a bit of a turn off. The beer is otherwise sensational.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:56:59 | More by Kevin73

SerialHiker

Illinois

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

Appearance: Pours the darkest possible brown, though it looks black…mocha colored head about a finger width formed and hung around…it’s thick and full of tiny bubbles…really nice lacing…a good looking brew! (4.5/5)

Smell: Full of roasted malts accompanied by coffee, cocoa, toffee, dark fruit and a touch of alcohol heat, which becomes more apparent as the beer warms…(4/5)

Taste: Much like the nose…starts with heavy roasted malts and fades into roasted espresso bitterness…mild dark fruit (plum, fig) sweetness, toffee, cocoa, alcohol heat all come through at some point adding nicely to the overall flavor…certainly warming my belly as I drink more...not overly hoppy…(4.25/5)

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium to lots of carbonation…wet and mildly chewy…some alcohol heat on the palate…finishes with a dry bitterness…(4.25/5)

Overall: This is a good brew...it’s hard for me to say it’s the best imperial stout I’ve ever had, kinda feels like a run-of-the-mill upper level stout in smell, flavor and mouthfeel quite comparable to say Left Hand’s Fade to Black (which I love)…with that said, it definitely is an upper eschelon brew that deserves all the kudos it receives from beer aficionados…a very drinkable brew that I would consider sessionable, 1, 2 or even 3 would be a very happy night and one that would warm the belly as an indoor fire would warm the face…highly recommended, I’m excited to see how this beer after a year or more in my cellar will evolve…(4.25/5)

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 01:45:24 | More by SerialHiker

Bills453

Ohio

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

Appearance - black as night as this brew settles into my new Belgium tulip glass. A great and frothy 3 finger head rest atop my bear and looks the color of hot cocoa.

Smell - toasty malts, milk chocolate and cocoa all together in a fantastic pleasure filled experience for my nostrils.

Taste - very much like the smell and equally pleasure filled.

Mouthfeel - thick and creamy...smooth like budda.

Overall - such an amazing stout and perfect for a cold January dinner time!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 22:38:33 | More by Bills453

Lucidious

California

4.16/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a "tall-tulip" glass from Enegren Brewing Co.

A | BLACK. Looks thick, fat, mocha head spilled over even with a gentle pour.

S | Roasted malts, grains, alcohol. Sweet, almost chocolate, espresso.

T | Crisp start to a dark roasted/burnt espresso & malt. Bitter hop finish to balance the sweet espresso. Little of the alcohol is sensed until after taste. This is a heavy beer.

M | Medium-full bodied, not syrupy, leaves sticky saliva. Bitterness builds on the back of the tongue.

O | A great, strong stout for a cold winter day. I served straight from the fridge, I'd let it warm up just a little before starting. Very strong, very bold, well balanced and not short on flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 04:08:59 | More by Lucidious

NovoAleMan

4.81/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A very excellent stout. I picked this up from a local store on my way to get lunch.

The appearance is classic, very dark. It produced a nice head of foam.

The smell is absolutely fantastic. I pick up hints of chocolate, coffee, and a light hint of some fruit, leaning towards a very light hint of cherry.

The taste is superb. It starts with a nice jolt of flavor that subsides into a coffee-like taste and feel. Low bitterness. Nice and rich.

It drinks very easily. This is a high-quality, top-notch beer.

EDIT: It also goes surprisingly well with the pizza sandwich I bought next door. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 17:33:08 | More by NovoAleMan

mikechance

California

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

A --- deep rich blackness and a nice head

S --- roasted malts, chocolate

T --- chocolate, dark malts, slight bitterness

M --- full-bodied, but not heavy smooth, oily, creamy, perfect carbonation

O --- An excellent RIS

At $6.99/four pack at Total Wines this beer is a steal. An excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 05:47:29 | More by mikechance

spoony

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

A-A normal pour produces a one-plus-finger head of dirty, mocha-colored foam. The foam hangs around for a bit before settling into a ring. The beer is pitch-black. No light gets through this stuff.

S-The smell is a relatively simple, but pleasing, mixture of dark chocolatey roasted malt scents with a lightly bitter coffee component. There is a touch of caramel in there, too.

T-Taste is dark, roasted malts with a semi-sweet chocolate flavor being the most identifiable for me. There is a touch of cold coffee, as well. The finish is lightly bitter (a touch of hops) but sweetens as it fades. I thought the flavor was a touch simple and metallic for an RIS.

M-A little light for the style with some prickly, fine carbonation. The feel works against this beer, I think.

O-It has been a year or two since my last Raspy, and the beer is mostly as I remember it: a decent, widely available RIS, but nothing I would seek out. This beer doesn't have the same complexities as Ten Fidy or Narwhal, but if you are fan of the classic, roasted, mildly bitter malt flavor, look no further. I suppose this brew earns points for being true to the classic style. This is not a bad beer, but it has been out-paced by the competition.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 05:01:48 | More by spoony

SlothB77

Virginia

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

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter

Has the standard coffee, chocolate, creamy flavor of a Russian Imperial Stout. Here's the kicker: the distinctive flavor that sets it apart from other RIS'? A mix of a flavor of cherries. Chocolate, coffee, cream and cherries.

A distinctive RIS. Excellent.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

01-12-2013 04:21:24 | More by SlothB77

Luminol

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

12 oz bottle poured into a Stout glass.

A: Pitch black with four fingers of brownish-white head. Head retention is fairly decent.

S: Smells of roasted coffee and mild hops. Maybe a bit of fruit.

T: Tastes of burned/roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and grapes. The grape flavor is similar to a red wine type of flavor. The beer has a nice malt that connects all the flavors together. It maybe has a touch of hops but not too much. It's also not too bitter and not very dry. Pretty sweet overall especially since it has a 9% ABV

M: This is pretty thick. It also has a smooth mouth-feel and has little to no carbonation.

O: Amazing! Easily one of the best beers I've ever tasted. It's a very flavorful and complex beer. It is also very balanced with the flavors yet still allowing for the distinct flavors to come out with the taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 08:28:33 | More by Luminol

WSGosset

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep black, nearly opaque with a finger-and-a-half of light tan head which recedes fairly quickly. Nice lacing around the edges.

S: Dark roasted malt with more than a hint of booze.

T: Imperial indeed! While not totally out of control, this beer's gravity is readily apparent, giving it a little bit of a cough syrup-like quality. Surprisingly bitter, though, as with many imperial stouts, I suspect this beer isn't short on hops. The bite of the alcohol and the hops begin to mellow out as the beer warms a bit.

M: Very smooth, almost slippery. Not too heavy.

O: Though this really is a very solid beer, the taste is a little on the boozy side compared to, say, Narwhal which I tend to like a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 02:32:32 | More by WSGosset

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.24/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown/black color with a half finger head and some lacing.

S: Very sweet smelling roasted malts, espresso, dark chocolate, and some fruit as well.

T: Lots of roasted malts, espresso, dark chocolate, and some hops. Nice bitterness for a stout. The alcohol is well hidden.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

O: This is a very solid RIS. I'll gladly drink it anytime.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 23:44:11 | More by nUgZ

DilisioYCBC

Colorado

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

A- poured out black with a think tan head . No haziness. The head retained itself throughout staying tight with a layer of foam all the way down, little lacing.

S- a bunch of roasted malt, chocolate, toffee, and chocolate chip cookies. A touch of alcohol and fruitiness.

T- a lot of roasted flavors up front that seemed to mellow after it warmed a bit. Chocolate, dark dried fruit like plum, toffee, a bit of malty sweetness balancing out the bitterness of the roast. No hop bitterness. The rated bitterness sticks around for a while, then the warming comes down the esophagus bout 15 seconds after the first swallow.

M- Appropriate carbonation that makes it drink smoothly. Not as viscous as I would expect. Dry felling on the finish.

O- a great Russian Imperial Stout that packs a ton of roasted flavors, but has some nice sweet malt and toffee to meld with the stronger flavors. At 9% this is a warmer, but the alcohol does not take away at all from the brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 01:29:12 | More by DilisioYCBC