Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

PandorasBottle

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours almost black with a toffee-colored, rich head. A very sexy and impressive glass of beer.

Aroma: Smoky malts and bitter, unsweetened chocolate with a hint of coffee. The smokiness is to die for!

Flavor/Finish: Deep roasted malts, with elements of coffe and chocolate. the midtones are quite sweet while the finish has a coffee-flavored bitterness. Lingering, mouth-coating finish which betrays the high abv at times.

Body/Mouthfeel: Very full-bodied and creamy, not a heavy mouth-coating. Very low carbonation lends to a somewhat syrupy mouthfeel at times.

Drinkability: With a somewhat syrupy texture, high abv and a heavy, full body, Old Rasputin is a sipper to end a evening with. Greater ambition might result in an upset stomach.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2010 01:19:26 | More by PandorasBottle

RussianImperial

California

4.9/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I got this exceptional beer in the cool 4-pack. pours out a dark brown and has some nice lacing around the glass.

beer smells of chocolate, anise and licorice (heaven).

up-front there is a bit of a bite, but after a few drinks the bite is gone. this stout is good below 50 degrees and is better as it warms. Chocolate and Licorice are present in the middle with the warming of the Alcohol for the finish.

Mouthfull is medium, not as thick as you'd expect from such a good Russian Stout, but you get past that very quickly.

The drinkability of this beer is scary, it goes down very smooth with a big flavor that is hard to put down. This is a very good Russian Stout,the best beer from North Coast Brewing. I will be buying this beer again and again.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2010 05:08:39 | More by RussianImperial

alobert

Illinois

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

I had this beer while visiting Providence, Rhode Island. I was very impressed. I had heard lots of great things about this beer and was excited to try it. It poured black with about a finger of head and smelled like dark chocolate and coffee. The taste is what made me love this beer. Dark chocolate and coffee, finishing with tobacco. The beer reminded me of smoking a good cigar. The beer was perfectly balanced.

Overall I give this beer the highest marks. If you are looking for a delicious stout this is a great option.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2010 05:11:16 | More by alobert

atlasproaudio

Florida

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

Pours a dark opaque coffee brown/black with a substantial but not overblown head. Smell is nutty, roasted coffee.

Taste blew me away from the get go. Coffee, nutty, alchohol, big IBU, it's all there. It's like turning a guitar amp to 11.

My only gripe is that the alcohol taste is just a little bit on the dominant side, but that's a subjective thing (I'd like to taste maybe 10% more malt). But I appreciate that it is a big beer @ 9% ABV.

If you like Imperial Stouts, or want to try something that will put your taste buds on a fun ride this excellent beer is highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 02:54:55 | More by atlasproaudio

ScottishBrew83

Georgia

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

First and foremost many people forget that everyone has different palette and taste things differently. This review is based on my palette and how I perceive the flavors of this beer.

Appearance: The color is a lovely black with medium brown head. The color reminds my of dark roast coffee. The head resembles coffee ice cream.

Smell: The smell is wonderful and full of roasty aromas with hints of caramelized sugars.

Taste: Flavors. flavors, flavors! It has a smooth roasted coffee and cocoa. It has a wonderfully bitter finish that entices one to sip and enjoy further. I can get mild notes of oats and caramel but they are very faint.

Mouth Feel: The flavors that this beer has a mouth feel that resembles beers that have been oak aged. This beer hasn't been but the feel on the palette reminds me of many barrel aged treats.

Overall: This beer is delicious. Dark , roasted and bitter. Just the way I like them. Top-notch and outstanding quality to price ratio. I highly recommend for experienced and sophisticated palette who love dark beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 02:28:35 | More by ScottishBrew83

Army

Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

a: Head builds to a ¼ inch of rusty tan foam and is sustained throughout drinking. A lacy network of foam surrounds the glass as the black fluid is drained. Numerous large bubbles continue to feed into the head throughout.

s: Sweet chocolate caramel aroma predicts the flavors to follow.

t: Coffee and chocolate flavors dominate the flavor with sweet caramel backgrounds. There is a bitterness and bite to this brew that is well balanced by the malty sweetness.

m: Big bubbles and very full body contribute to the velvet smooth feel.

d: Bitter coffee aftertaste leaves you wanting another drink. Its warm and enticing flavor and feel are perfect for a cold winter night. A very hardy beer of sustenance.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 16:13:49 | More by Army

Grin

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The smell is strong but nothing characteristic. The initial sip was bitter with a strong, almost cough syrup taste but I noticed the rich chocolate after letting it breath for about 5 minutes. The texture is smooth and thick with a light bite of carbonation.

Ultimately, a favorite but not a regular. I would say, better suited for the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 03:20:28 | More by Grin

Dominicvampire

Mexico

4.55/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

EXCELENTE CERVEZA
COLOR: Obscuro (Característico de el estilo Stout) una cabeza café que desaparease de inmediato
AROMA: Chocolate, Toffe. Excelente y marcado aroma
SABOR:Es muy marcado el sabor a caramelo y chocolate, el LARGO se persive una sensación muy peculiar a caffe la cual también es muy típico del estilo Stout, la malta tostado chocolate le da un sabor muy agradable y el Lupulo y la fermentación un excelente amargor y cuerpo

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-22-2011 06:51:20 | More by Dominicvampire

manemota420

California

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

A: dark and erie, when I first had this beer I knew it would be a good one.

S: an aroma of coffee but had some trouble because I have a poor sense of smell. Some reviewers say chocolate but I will have to re-pour to see if I get a better hint of it.

T: bitter but by no means a bad one! It is the beauty of having this at school after work and before class that makes my mid-days so great :)

M: My buddies hassle me saying that this beer pours like motor oil, so it must taste and linger like it. Not at all. This creamy beverage is one to savour.

Overall: This is the main beer I respect out of my choices here at CSU-DH's sports lounge. It brings me joy and delight that CA breweries are brewing these. I am hoping to one day get this on-tap.

***

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 17:15:04 | More by manemota420

GoRedlegs

Kentucky

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

Poured from a bottle to a pub style glass.

A: Pitch black with a serious creamy mocha colored head. Frothy patches of lace.

S: Burnt oak and mild.

T: Bitter, smooth, with a bit of a dark chocolate finish.

M: Full and oily.

O: A very nice stout that I think I chilled a bit too much for the start. The flavors came out more pronounced after being glassed for about 5 minutes. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 21:41:33 | More by GoRedlegs

Beanmeister

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is my first beer I have reviewed on this site. Drank out of a pint glass

A - Rich dark brow (almost black) with a mild brow head

S - The hops stood out the most

T - This was not the most complex stout I have ever had yet the flavor match the I would consider this RIS to have more of a hop character than other RIS

M - like it said on the bottle "worming finish" I couldn't put it any better myself

O - overall i thought this beer brewed well for its genera. I'm not going to go out and by cases of it but I wouldn't turn it down

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 21:01:43 | More by Beanmeister

ElderRasputin

California

4.72/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Got this at whole foods on my way home from work the other night. Came in a 4 pack of 12 ounce bottles with paper labeling.

T: Tastes of dark chocolate and coffee with a little bit of raisin mixed with a malty complex aftertaste that finishes slighty bitter but smooth.

S: Strong brewed dark coffee with a little bit of chocolate and burnt oak. Has a sharpness to it of alcohol and slight fruitiness.

A: Very dark almost pure black in body with beige carbonation that comes up through the glass to form a tan two finger head. The had retains very nicely.

M: Mouthfeel is creamy smooth that is also heavy with sharp medium carbonation.

O: overall is a very complex and heavy style stout that I think does justice to russian imperial stout. one my most favorite beers and I will be buying this regularly.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 02:52:11 | More by ElderRasputin

Engineerbob

New Mexico

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

pours thick and slightly cloying. Large butterscotch head that quickly collapses to form a thin, well retained head.

Appearance is thick and deepest black. The nose is heavy, with malt, marmite, leather, chocolate lightly roasted coffee and mild tobacco.

Taste is Very slightly sweet on the tip of tongue, but immediately overwhelmed by tarry, burnt chocolate and bitter coffee. Great aromas on the palate of bitumen and feintest hint of soy sauce.

Mouthfeel is round, full, soft and caressing. Long finish of bitter marmite, and a little meaty.

A wonderful example of IRS. Top value!

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 04:21:13 | More by Engineerbob

AllAboutTheTaste

California

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

This will be my first BA review. In reviewing this beer, I tried to dutifully follow the guides and process so that I could write a useful, accurate, and objective-as-possible review.

Appearance - Poured a solid opaque black color with a small dark/tan head. Did not pour with a thicker, creamy head which left me disappointed (Would like to try this on tap)

Smell - A few things that stood out in my notes: dark chocolate, hints of coffee, and alcohol which was not masked as well as I would have liked (I might have poured too cold)

Taste - A hearty mix of chocolate and malt flavors and a touch of bitterness

Mouthfeel - Smooth and creamy, not too robust and not too watery

Overall - A distinct taste that's affordable and available; a great introduction to RIS that I will definitely revisit!

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 15:54:38 | More by AllAboutTheTaste

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

Eltorrente

Maryland

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

Just an excellent brew. I bought a 4-pack and poured a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. It was at about 45 degrees when I poured, smelled, and started checking it out.

It poured black and beautiful. I was intrigued and gave it a deep smell.. coffee with roasted malts is what I detected, in strong amounts. Wonderful smell and I could tell it was something that I would want to drink, and in fact I've brewed several stouts looking for this sort of "in your face" roasted/coffee aroma.

I tasted it and was not disappointed, just a wonderful Imperial Stout.

Heavy roasted flavor and coffee notes. Any carmel or chocolaty notes were beaten down by the omnipresent roasted malt. The taste would linger, and was really in-your-face. It was telling me that it was not to be messed with, when a strong, but pleasant, alcoholic-type aftertast slapped my taste buds into shape.

This beer seemed to have a good amount of IBU's, which the malt calms down a bit, but then the roasted malts bring the percieved bitterness back up to balance it perfectly.

I was very impressed by this beer. It tastes like the Imperial Stout that I've been trying to make.

I look forward to drinking the other 3.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 03:38:43 | More by Eltorrente

Nicknackpaddywack

2.78/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

WAY OVER-RATED micro-brewed high alcohol content export extra-stout. Character is way too busy on tongue back-outside tastebuds. After-taste all over the place.

I like a simple ultra-strong Cohiba extra-vigoroso torpedo maduro cigar. This beer is way too tootie-fruity to go with my favorite simple but strong cigar.

I much prefer best match: Leinenkugel's Big Eddy from original Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin brewry spring brewed seasonally with year on bottleneck band - cigar bands come off on way into humidor.

Rasputin is SISSY GIRLY Stout only good for fruit cake. I cannot believe the rating Rasputin gets here & I've lived in many places in the world to acquire local appreciation for water, ingredients & process characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 01:10:42 | More by Nicknackpaddywack

GuitarRob22

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

I have had this beer on-tap and from the bottle and I have to say, this is what a stout is all about. Dark chocolaty and bold. The 75+ IBUs and 9% alcohol are hidden behind a fantastic flavor. The head is tan and allows for fantastic aromatherapy while drinking. Highly recommended.

From the bottle this beer does seem to be lacking some of the finer details of flavor found when it is on-tap.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2012 02:10:13 | More by GuitarRob22

Greybeard

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

I chose a 12 ounce bottle from the singles section in my Trader Joe's. Upon opening, my dog began to bark and ran under the house as the heady aroma of coffee grounds, bacon drippings hops and Hershey’s chocolate syrup filled the air. Oh, I forgot to take the trash out again.

This stuff goes down smooth, like molasses on corn bread, or white on rice. The +8% alcohol content makes it easy to brag to my wife, “I’m just having one, dear, I’ll do the dishes after Sports Center is over.” And the check is in the mail.

And such clever package design. Is that the Giant's closer Brian Wilson on the label or Karl Marx?

This is sipping beer and I drink slow so the last two inches in the bottom get pretty warm. I use those last dregs to dissolve the brake dust off my car wheels, it is powerful stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 17:54:13 | More by Greybeard

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

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

Rhower

Pennsylvania

4.29/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

An overall fun & outstanding experience with a pint glass of this renowned RIS.

A: Enjoyed this for my first time on a nitro-tap (I know, don't be jealous) at the West
Reading Tavern. The thick, creamy head settled itself into a two-fingered, pillowy soft
foam that lingered for the entire session. Black, dense, motor-oil appearance with a
pleasant "drink me" syrup viscosity. 4

S: Smoke, caramel, and malt. Very rich in the nose with a nearly buttery warmth - much like
the appearance, the nose of this brew begs a hearty quaff. 4.5

T: A burnt caramel front, melding with a back-end tobacco hint that finishes with a malty
flare. The place where this beer veered for me - not into anything even remotely
unpleasant, but just a slight let down - was at it's close as it warmed. Where the first
half of the beer, experienced at a pleasant just beyond cold temperature soared. I found that the beer took on a sour finish as it warmed. Not bitter - not deeper in it's malt character - just ... sour. Surprisingly, I found I wouldn't nurse this beer toward warmth in future pints, but would rather enjoy the full glass before it struck that final chord. 4

M: A beautiful aspect of this beer; it's heavy, dense, buttery soft feel in the mouth. From
start to finish, each sip is very easy - never touching on a place where the alcohol draws
on the mouth. It is one of the smoothest drinking RIS I've ever had. 4.75

O: This is one of those "kid at Christmas" beers. If I walk into a bar and see this on the
draught list, my excitement soars and my knees start to jump ... from first sip to last
(albeit a little faster "last" than on this visit), an exceptional brew! 4.5

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-29-2013 17:51:31 | More by Rhower

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

ERRL710

Illinois

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

Served in a snifter. Bottle not dated. Finger mocha head

Smell- slight alcohol, mostly coco nibs. Smells DARK

Mouth Feel- Surprisingly thin, expected motor oil. Smooth, little bite.

Taste- Complex, mostly deep roasts and coco. Slight coffee after taste.

Over all must buy/rebuy

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 22:35:47 | More by ERRL710

lpgarcia8

California

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

Probably my favorite beer. Great taste, nice, dark, rich, light hop, coffee/chocolate taste. Awesome name, awesome brewery. Really high aclohol content. I would reccomend this beer to anyone, and I do all the time. Have quickly converted all my friends to it. Pretty expensive but worth every penny.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 01:44:01 | More by lpgarcia8