Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - North Coast Brewing Co.

1santore

New Jersey

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

This is one exceptional beer. Being a newcomer to "better beer" I'm just now finding Russian Imperial Stouts. Of the stouts I've tried this has to be the best. It pours thick and black. The taste is incredible. The mouth feel is very light and smooth, but this is one drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 00:24:11 | More by 1santore

Duhast500

Massachusetts

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

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a stemmed glass.

The color is a completely opaque black with two fingers of brown head and some nice thick lacing.

The smell is pretty sweet for an Imperial Stout. Has some hints of raisins and grapes. It also has a bit of a sugary flavor as well.

The taste is pretty malty with a sweet chocolate and toffee flavor. Some nice bitter coffee flavor mixed in as well which makes for a very satisfying

The first sip was so good it was almost overwhelming. It is packed with so much malts and yet a nice pack of hop and coffee bitterness. There are chocolates, toffees, molasses, and some alcohol.

The feel of this beer is pretty light for a heavy dark beer. A good drinking beer that goes down really well.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2009 01:10:32 | More by Duhast500

dciBA

Maine

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

pours a nice and black with a fingers worth of light brown head that holds on for a while. Smells of smooth milk chocolate and burnt malt. Just a hint of hops.

Taste is simply perfect for the style. Lots of chocolate, coffee and plenty of earthy hops. Just the right amount of hop balance really. Very creamy and smooth in the mouth and not a hint of the high ABV. This beer always sneaks up on me when I have it on tap. So easy to toss back a pint and not even realize how much alcohol it has. I'm glad to be enjoying this one at home, but I think the draft version is slightly better. I can't help but think if I had never had this on tap then I would probably rate the bottle version perfect.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 01:29:29 | More by dciBA

tanousa

Virginia

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

A- Pour a dark black color, intense , small lace foam with chocolate taste , great initial presentation.

S-strong coffee aroma , some chicolate, dark fruits.
T- Again, chocolate, coffee expresso, malts and hints of molasses.
M-Medium body, great carbonation, very well done.
D- Awesome, I can share a few with my pals, no problem !

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 02:14:02 | More by tanousa

willPS21

West Virginia

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

This RI stout is fantastic. The drinkability is probably higher than almost any RIS or IS or IPA I've had, or should I say any beer of 8.1%+. I like the bitterness and tang which separates it from most RI's, there is a crisper finish to me and a hint of welcome metallic tones. It almost seems like someone added a few tablespoons of Newcastle to this one. Additionally, there's a bit of sweetness which comes in the form of distinctive carmel. The texture in the mouth is a bit less viscous than the Stone, my permanent reference point, but also a bit less round and unified. Again one could say mouthfeel is heading towards Newcastle or even Guiness ever so slightly (and just slight enough). Besides that rare nutty-metallic tang, Rasputin has lovely dark malty flavors with the coffee/chocolate/toffee somewhere and just enough herbal notes to round it off. It's rare that a beer can avoid overdoing the hoppy and floral tones to my liking while still including them, and this one does it to perfection. If you're a fan of floral tones, I've noticed those flavors are more pronounced as you approach room temperature, where the beer seems more oily and chewy.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2010 07:13:37 | More by willPS21

PaulfromNoVa

Virginia

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

Caught my eye on a visit to Cape Fear Wine and Beer, picked up a few bottles, and returned to the B&B.

I'm with Todd: a freakin' evil looking bottle, with the iconic image of the Mad Monk conferring a blessing - perhaps casting out the young Prince Alexander's hemophilia but just as likely laying a Holy Whammy upon any who deign to imbibe this magical elixir...but the Cyrillic inscription (and, frankly, Cyrillic looks ominous to Westerners, like vestigial Klingon) is heartwarming: "One does not become an intimate friend in single evening."

Poured into a pub pint, but in increments - partially a straight pour, letting the head froth up, inches high, which subsided rather quickly to a persistent lacing. Body is black as pitch: held up to light, nothing penetrates. A liquid black hole: what secrets does it conceal? Awesome.

Nose is a first high, sweetish, hoppy-fruity. The dark toasted malt comes through in second place. Surprising.

Taste is of a magnificently balanced imperial stout, thickly sweetishly bitter, broken down into flavors easily associated with the word "black" - molasses, licorice, dark, dark, chocolate, roasted tree nuts, burnt toast with a thin coat of current jam, oatmeal with raisins (?)... The 9 percent ABV is hidden somewhere but has an unctuous invigorating taste of a wonderful health beverage, the kind of specialist marvel for which one has to visit exclusive spas to enjoy the privilege of drinking.

I finished the bottle 10 minutes ago and its finish lingers on my palate. I kid you not. The mouthfeel is characterized by implicit carbonation, sufficient to give the profound weight of the stout a wisp of airy lightness.

Compared to this, Guiness Stout is club soda...

It is sub-freezing in Wilmington, our room is like a meat locker, I half-expect to see a side of beef in the wardrobe, but this remarkable brew is cosseting in its warmth. I'd very much like another. My glass cries out for renewal, but the cupboard is bare, the bottle empty, Old Rasputin vanquished, no more. A pity. But the delight lingers, as will the memory. And thanks to the wonderful North Coast Brewing Company, a memory that may be renewed.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 03:48:19 | More by PaulfromNoVa

sdj5

New York

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

This beer is black with a very small tan head. The glass has quite a bit of tan lacing on the side. The smell is of burnt caramel, chocolate, toast, dark fruit. The taste is very complex, dark fruit sweetness, roasted malt, coffee bitterness. It feels good in the mouth with a good amount of carbonation and a rich heaviness. It is a beer that one drinks slowly because of its strength and richness. It may be my favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 23:51:06 | More by sdj5

Crundy

Ohio

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

Appearance: black but a dark brown where light can pass through around the edges, thick mocha head

Smell: Chocolate, coffee, caramel roasted malt

Taste: delicious, strong coffee flavor, chocolate, quite sweet, roasted malt flavor

Mouth feel: Thick, full bodied, had a syrupy feel that kind of coats the mouth, slight bitterness of the finish

Overall: Very taste, great beer very rich powerful flavors, now when I think of how an RIS should taste it will be like this.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 04:34:01 | More by Crundy

12owls

California

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

youwza! what a great beer...pourned into a pint glass. smell was choclolaty,with some mocha/coffee. some roasted grains. the color and head at extremly attractive...frothy lighter brown chocolate head, that left beind some cooll lacing. mouthfeel is robust, light carbonation toasty flavors all over the place. taste is great, i caught coffee roast grains, some smal fruit rind inbetween the first taste, to the last. some bitterness behind thats bind everything nicely. a.b.v is not to crazy but good where it is. great beer, great stout. very very enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 23:31:24 | More by 12owls

bbeerman

Massachusetts

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

A..Beautiful dark black pour. Only reason I didn't give it a 5.0 is there was almost no lacing.

S..Plenty of chocolate notes and a pronounced malty presence. Truly inviting.

T..Toffee, coffee and chocolate flavors, all of which are more complex than anticipated. Great smokey taste, just great!

M..Very easy to drink considering the high ABV and style. Great example of the style.

O..Wish I had not waited so long to try this incredible Russian Imperial Stout. Looking forward to having this one again soon!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 13:58:58 | More by bbeerman

srv33

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

Very dark amber pour, almost no head. fine lacing. Rich complex smells of dark chocolate, bourbon, a hint of mint, and caramel. Taste is beautifully complex, multilayered. First notes of chocolate and bourbon, then a bit of leather, light tobacco, mellowing to caramel. Tastes like KBS's brother. As a result I like it just about the same! Its a little more mellow, though, which in some ways I like more, though on the other hand KBS is more rich.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 23:07:54 | More by srv33

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

Labeorphile

Texas

4.86/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Poured from bottle into a pint glass. Jet black pour leaving a giant foamy head that lingers for a long time, and leaves sticky lacing sliding down the sides of the glass.

Aroma is amazing. Malt, some buried hops, coffee and dark chocolate. The smell was so amazing, I literally sat there with my nose in the glass for about 5 minutes before taking my first sip.

Flavor lived up to smell. Malty goodness with hints of coffee fading to some subtle hoppiness, then with dark chocolate bitterness showing back up at the finish.

Mouth feel is a little thin for style, but carbonation is surprisingly nice. Good lingering warmth down the throat.

A really great beer that I am glad I bought in a 4 pack instead of a single.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 17:05:34 | More by Labeorphile

AaronRed

New York

4.85/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I had this on tap at their brewpub. Alcohol was just the first thing you notice. I could sit back all night and drink this, of course then I would never get up

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2001 21:17:46 | More by AaronRed

mmthompson33

Kansas

4.85/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

One hell of a good beer. This is a top of the line imperial stout - it has plenty of kick and a deep full flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2001 23:30:08 | More by mmthompson33

John

New York

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

(12oz. bottle) Awesome black opaque liquid. Rocky tan head. A truly remarkable appearance. A thin creamy layer of foam lasts, leaving residual lace. Huge aroma of chocolate, burnt molasses, ripe prunes and alcohol. Perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness...doesn't possess that sticky sort of sweetness. Just of multitude of flavors happening here; chocolate malt, prunes/raisins, coffee with a welcome alcohol warming sensation in the belly. A delicious, outstanding treat.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2002 07:33:52 | More by John

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

An old, old favorite that I've been loyal to since my very first sip.
Huge, cocoa-colored head, properly boisterous and fizzy. Phenomenally aromatic: all the regulars for this style and more are here in attendance--cocoa, coffee, toffee, nuts. Very mellow, despite the flavor and strength. Perfectly black in color, fantastic texture: thick and chewy, but not overly so.
This is a great accompaniament for any meal, particularly rich and spicy food. I'd compliment the finish, but it never stops! The flavor sticks in your mouth forever, it seems. One of the finest stouts in all the universe.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2002 14:05:31 | More by feloniousmonk

stoutman

Michigan

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

Aroma is most interesting with notes of coffee, nuts and brandy. It pours thick and is darkest brown with garnet edges...beautiful canyoned mocha head...Lace like sea-foam...Rich roastiness and subtle candy sweetness that is tempered with that warm brandy-like kick. Awfully smooth gong down...amusing Blackstrap tang hovers behind wisps of hop essence as a last remark. This is simply a superior product.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2003 17:27:28 | More by stoutman

pezoids

Pennsylvania

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

Bought A four pack at Canals in New Jersey for $8.99

Wow, what a beer! Poured a midnight black with an amazingly dense and creamy head. Fresh roasted coffee, dark chocolate and alcohol on the nose. The taste is of heavy hops, roasted barley and alcohol. An easy sippin' brew. I haven't tasted too many IS's, but this comes close to what I would call perfect.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2003 19:27:54 | More by pezoids

karst

Missouri

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

I poured this"staretz," or holy man out as a absolute blackness. Only the direct sun refracts a deep mystic brown red peasant hue from its edges. Rich aromas predict assassination of the Imperial Family of beers. Born in Siberia on the banks of the Tura River and renowned for his drunkenness, stealing and womanizing were activities Rasputin in fact was developing into a rake, a man with a debauched, and endless, sexual appetite. This brew will change you in a similar way. This extreme aromatic stout is truely a liquid full of flavors. Rasputin was an advocate of the renegade sect within the Orthodox faith, the Skopsty trying to reach God was through sinful actions practicing "sin to drive out sin." A awesome brewed RIS to drive out all other RIS's this miracle worker's powerful aroma and stong flavors hypnotize and cause the bleedings for the ultimate RIS to stop. Old Rasputin will gain your undivided support.
During Rasputin's fateful last evening, the conspirators drugged, poisoned, beat and shot him. Yet the staretz survived all these and actually died by drowning when his body, wrapped in a carpet was thrown into the Moika Canal on the Neva River. As you wrap your self in its 8.9 abv rug of thick run of coffee, chocolate, dark-roasted malts and hop weave and throw yourself into its dark velvet fluid, enjoy your ultimate plunge into darkness and sinful bliss as you overthrow all other Russian imperials.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2005 17:10:01 | More by karst

cheers2beers

Texas

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

Poured into a pint glass

Appearance: This beer poured a dark,black liquid with a tannish caramel like head.Slightly cascading in my glass,and lots of laceing clinging to the sides.

Aroma:The nose is of dark chocolate,roasted coffee bean,butter infused oats and supremely disguised alcohol. A very pleasureable moment indeed.

Taste: Chocolate all over the palate.As this beer warms the alcohol lets itself be known,but not too over powering.Caramel,butterscotch,and a long enticing bitter hop finish.A true masterpiece.(Applaudes)

Mouthfeel: Chewy,syrupy, low carbonation,but would have liked to see a little thicker mouthfeel.

Drinkability: The urge was to pound this beer, but I had to actively slow down and appreciate all of its amazing characteristics. Go out and buy this immediately. A truly orgasmic experience, I want more!


-cheers2beers-

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2005 02:17:45 | More by cheers2beers

aforbes10

Iowa

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

another pickup by my wife on her latest trip to Trader Joes. Massive head, poured too cold so i let it sit 5 minutes to settle. brilliant lacing. totally opaque black/brown color. Roasty alcohol chocolate odor. smells so good i want to shotgun the bloody thing. oh man. this tastes as close to my all time favorite (Thunderhead Brew co. Russian Imperial Stout) as i've gotten. Complex, roasted chocolate malt flavor. some bitterness. not quite the best but still a 5 for taste. almost perfect mouthfeel. a bit fizzy but i'll cellar a couple to see if i can get some of the bitterness and fizziness down. could drink these all night till i pass out.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2006 14:09:39 | More by aforbes10

ultralarry2006

Illinois

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

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle. Leaves an espresso-foam colored head of about one finger in depth, and has very good retention, and good spotty lacing. Body is almost black, being the deepest possible brown. Looks very beuatiful.

Smell - the nose is filled with roasted, smokey malt and dark crusted malt bread, as well as chocolate, figs, raisins, plums, dark dried fruits, and spicy, medicinal alcohol. Mouthwatering.

Taste - pretty much as promised by the nose, with the additon of caramel swirling throughout, and a slight lemony hop twang at times. Again, roasted, smokey malt with taste of dark dried fruits such as raisins and figs, and some ripe ones like plums. Malt bread baked long enough to almost burn the crust, with some chocolate and caramel to go along with the fruits, all in a swirl, with spicy, medicinal alcohol tying it all together. Delicious. And no harshness from the alcohol at all - it's well integrated into the taste, being pretty well hidden, only by lending its big spicy medicinal flavor do you know it's there.

Mouthfeel - full bodied, smooth, chewy at times - sort of " fluffy ", like when one eats puffed grain cereal.

Drinkability - this is an excellent ale, with well hidden abv. Very hearty, and delicious. It's that abv that holds down sessionability, so it's a sipper to be enjoyed slowly with only a couple of servings at a given session - but do so often, I will.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2006 21:25:18 | More by ultralarry2006

meechum

Georgia

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

Had this on tap at Taco Mac and was blown away with it

A - This was the most pleasing eye candy I've ever seen out of a beer..it came to the table with the look of a Guinness pour with a dark bottom, a tan middle and then a thick creamy light tan head that was like a pillow, leaving a stick full ring of dried foam down the sides..it wasn't even lace it was thicker than that

S - The smell was big with mocha and a roast chocolate smell with hints of toast and just a bit of hops

T - The taste was amazing big statement of mocha and chocolate and roasted malts with the perfect amount of hops

M - Creamy and thick and luxuriant

D - It was one of the very best beers I've had thus far along my journey and I have to believe having it on draft was the perfect way to go..this was so good I will seek it out again and again

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2007 17:06:08 | More by meechum

Douglas14

California

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

WOW, this beer is amazing. It pours black and oil like (but slightly less than other RIS's). Has an amazing dark tan head that is fluffy and dense and leaves pretty good webbing. The smell is very complex with caramel, coffee, chocolate, burnt woods, and many other dark scents. The taste is even better, same flavors as listed above but more concentrated. Its absolutely amazing ,and pretty much beyond words that I can express right now. Amazing, one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2007 01:55:42 | More by Douglas14