Old Rasputin XI - North Coast Brewing Co.

Alpar

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -6.3%

01-25-2012 22:35:15 | More by Alpar

GoldHorde

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

If any disappointment in this beer - it is in the fact that the inviting adventure of the name is symptomatic of Big Media hyperbole. The anticipation of pouring a glass of a beer called "OLD RASPUTIN RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT" predicts an experience of mythical proportions. Perhaps of an ancient, mysterious cask unearthed by Siberian archaeologists, transported to a Moscow museum and subsequently stolen and tapped by a couple of Muscovite juveniles looking for a cheap kegger - I certainly see a movie here...albeit Drive-In kwality...

As I BRACE for the first sip, my expectation is RAMPED for anything but the ordinary...I even grab the arm of my beer chair with my other hand...just in case...

No regurgitating release of the cursed dark spirit of Rasputin; no sudden prolific visions of an apocalyptic future; no suddenly alarming alien sensation of an unknown flavor or sensation that is other-worldly...NOT EVEN an unexpected carbonated burp.

*sigh*

How can one NOT be disappointed?

Its, its...JUST a beer.

Admittedly - a good beer BUT still - I expected a whole lot more.

I firstly expect A LOT from anything labeled as a Russian Imperial Stout. These are in a class by themselves - a pinnacle unto themselves. A complex flavor gamut of Siberian hardship a pour that is always expected to be: Heavy, creamy, dark, bitter and smokey with a malty sweetness.

This beer does ALL that.

A = Opaque black; heavy tan head with dissipating lace
S = Malty with a chocolate, bourbon edge
T = Deeply malty with coffee kick
M = creamy, heavy
O = A very nice Imperial Russian Stout

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 04:38:39 | More by GoldHorde

DarthKostrizer

California

3.25/5  rDev -23.9%

05-10-2013 02:01:01 | More by DarthKostrizer

jkane101

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

05-10-2013 00:13:30 | More by jkane101

drgonzo2k2

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

04-21-2013 14:57:56 | More by drgonzo2k2

Dweezil

South Carolina

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It smells malty like you would expect from an Imperial but you also get a hint of alcohol in the end. Not the sort of Barley-wine, "I'm going to die" alcohol smell, but you can definitely tell it is not something to be slammed.

It pours rich and dark with a slight head but nice lacing as it goes.

Taste is almost chocolate but again hints of alcohol.

Mouthfeel is silky, goes down nicely; just don't drink it too quickly.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 20:34:53 | More by Dweezil

Chris77McGrath

Ohio

4/5  rDev -6.3%

03-23-2013 13:39:11 | More by Chris77McGrath

daryk77

District of Columbia

4.74/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Opened on 12/26/11, 500ml bottle. Stored at room temp in a box at fairly constant temperatures.

Beer looks great, jet black as the original Rasputin, head disappears fairly quickly leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface. Great aroma, definitely some bourbon in the nose and still a bit of heat. When drinking cold the bourbon still comes through, surprisingly fresh. As the beer warms dark chocolate comes through and some bitterness at the end. Some oxidation to the beer but it does not take anything away. Great body to this, nice and thick.

Overall this beer is doing just fine. I am surprised the bourbon is still so prevalent as I thought it would fade more with time. The flavors are rich and smooth and I believe will continue to keep for several more years.

Another bottle open 03/12/2013, 500ml bottle. Stored at room temp in a box at fairly constant temperatures.

Curious about this one after reading reviews with people reporting it falling off. Appearance and smell are spot on, less bourbon in the nose, more chocolate/vanilla. Taste is great, very little oxidation, chocolate, vanilla, some bourbon (def. fading but melding) finishes roasty. Mouthfeel is rich creamy, decadent, thick, fantastic.

This beer never ceases to impress me. It has held up great, changing with much more chocolate and vanilla now as opposed to the heat of the bourbon. Still finishes roasty, slight bitterness that complements the beer. Love it, have one bottle left. I say drink now if you want more bourbon but still excited to see where the last bottle goes.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 00:02:29 | More by daryk77

MarkFy

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

02-23-2013 00:00:42 | More by MarkFy

drummermattie02

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

02-20-2013 21:02:07 | More by drummermattie02

popery

California

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%

02-01-2013 22:09:14 | More by popery

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -6.3%

01-29-2013 01:34:31 | More by Rochefort10nh

gigawatts

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

01-28-2013 01:14:13 | More by gigawatts

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.3%

01-26-2013 23:56:50 | More by Rifugium

phingdong

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

01-22-2013 17:13:46 | More by phingdong

mroque1

California

5/5  rDev +17.1%

12-13-2012 18:34:46 | More by mroque1

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

12-01-2012 14:04:04 | More by t0rin0

aasher

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This bottle was courtesy of BrewerB months ago and shared with the Charlotte crew for Charlotte Tasting 2012. Thanks Brian!

This one pours a medium bodied black chocolate brown in color with a slight beige lacing around the glass. The nose is smooth and well integrated. It is dark and roasty with some oak, light bitterness, light astringency, and vanilla bean. The flavors are light and malty. There is a lot of smooth roasted malt, light oak, and light vanilla. I really can't pickup too much more. The bourbon is gone. It drinks lighter than I assumed it would. It drinks like it should've been consumed a year.ago. This just hasn't held up really well. I'm grateful for the review and the try but this beer is on its last legs.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 03:56:24 | More by aasher

DiddyP

Arkansas

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with an overflowing head which is retained throughout. Good lacing. This rung up at 9%ABV but you'd never know. Not great picking up smells but I'm getting cherry and coffee.
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout wishes it was Old Rasputin. Killer beer bro

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 03:19:42 | More by DiddyP

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this bottle sitting in my temperature controlled cellar since I received it years ago via trade. Poured from a corked and caged 750 into a tulip glass.

A: A almost jet black liquid with a light brown nice head. Nice glass lacing that does not stick around forever.

S: Bourbon really jumps out with notes of charred wood and roasted malt. Some coffee grounds mix with dark chocolate too. Nice.

T: The bourbon starts early and lasts. A decent amount of charred woody flavors mix with roasted malt, coffee grounds, dark bitter chocolate, some slight sweeter vanilla that yield back to the bourbon finish. Not really sweet, just nice and roasty and a bit bitter actually for it's age. Drinkability is high on this beer.

M: The only knock to the beer is that you expect it to be a bit thicker and fuller in the mouth. Alcohol is there for sure, but it still is real drinkable.

O: Another great barrel aged beer even for how old it was. I was pleasantly surprised as to how this held up and how well it drank. Great beer, I hope I get a bottle of some later years versions.

I enjoyed the hell out of this beer and easily drank the bottle in an evening. Loved it.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 19:50:30 | More by Kadonny

abex44

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

09-17-2012 02:23:02 | More by abex44

beer2day

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Aged since purchase in the back of the beer fridge.

Dark, black pour with 1 finger of dark khaki head. Very little retention. Still laces well, though. Fairly active carbonation smooths out after the first couple of sips.

The bourbon has definitely mellowed out in the nose. Still very present, but not as in your face. Vanilla, bitter dark chocolate, and dark roast malt round things out. Picking up dried cherries later in the glass.

Intensely bitter flavor. Bourbon is still there, but getting much more in the way of bitter chocolate, French roast coffee, and dark cherries in the finish. Fairly complex and quite satisfying.

Only downfall here is the feel. Just way too thin for the substantial flavors.

Overall, had aged very well. Probably missed the window by a year or so with this bottle, but still better than fresh. The thin feel drags it down some, but the flavor is still very nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 01:11:44 | More by beer2day

UCLABrewN84

California

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle pour courtesy of AndrewK at Woodshop 7 held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, vanilla, wood, and bourbon and alcohol aromas. Taste is much the same with a woody aftertaste on the finish. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that smells better than it tastes but is still holding up quite well.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 02:05:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

swgwilt

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

07-21-2012 00:01:22 | More by swgwilt

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.85/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a snifter.

3.5 A: Black color. Two fingers of frothy light brown head. Retention is decent and a moderate amount of lacing is left.

4.0 S: I'm a bit surprised how good this smells. To give a bit of background, I think regular Raspy is boring as fuck and XII and XIV were nothing more than barrel aged versions of incredibly boring beers. This, in the nose at least, is much different. This is both powerful and pleasant. There's still a fuck ton of bourbon in this. Super leathery with a light earthiness. Vanilla and oak. Somewhat of a creme brulee vibe. Lots of chocolate from the stout with a supple roastiness. The stout still lacks complexity, but it's better now than it's ever been.

2.5 T: The taste, however, gives me more of what I'm used to from Raspy. Aside from roast and some chocolate, the base stout gives me nothing. Boring as hell. On top of that, the barrel aging isn't as flawless as the nose suggested. I'm getting some tannic astringency and the smooth leathery creme brulee thing is history. Strong bitterness to round things off.

2.5 M: Lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Lacking creaminess. Too light in body, which also accounts for why it is light in flavor.

2.5 D: While this had good potential in the nose, everything went to shit after that. Raspy disappoints again.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 04:51:43 | More by DavoleBomb