-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary
North Coast Brewing Co.
- From:
- North Coast Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 11.5%
- Score:
- 96
- Avg:
- 4.32 | pDev: 11.11%
- Reviews:
- 170
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 03, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 04, 2011
- Wants:
- 73
- Gots:
- 358
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Greywulfken:
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York
4.33/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Russian Imperial stout perfection: pitch black and so viscous you can see it; half-glass of stiff mocha-colored head with the density of shaving cream; drapes of lace decorate the glass as you drink
S: ethereal bourbon and oak notes hover over a sweet-smelling malt base - hints of treacle/molasses, anise, vanilla
T: follows the nose and satisfies the appearance: the sweet espresso of the roasted chocolate malts is the foundation for the flavors of bourbon barrels, vanilla, and oak. Very smooth
M: syrupy tastes intact, this beer is nonetheless rather crisp (for a RIS) on the palate, owning no doubt to the barrel aging. A leaner drinking beer than some RIS's I've had, but it serves to add a sophistication to the beer.
O: Owing to my beer taste evolution or the bottle-aging, or both, I can say that this is a better drink than I first thought when I first had it. A very refined take on an already impressive beer.
Oct 14, 2012S: ethereal bourbon and oak notes hover over a sweet-smelling malt base - hints of treacle/molasses, anise, vanilla
T: follows the nose and satisfies the appearance: the sweet espresso of the roasted chocolate malts is the foundation for the flavors of bourbon barrels, vanilla, and oak. Very smooth
M: syrupy tastes intact, this beer is nonetheless rather crisp (for a RIS) on the palate, owning no doubt to the barrel aging. A leaner drinking beer than some RIS's I've had, but it serves to add a sophistication to the beer.
O: Owing to my beer taste evolution or the bottle-aging, or both, I can say that this is a better drink than I first thought when I first had it. A very refined take on an already impressive beer.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle. Khaki head. Lace. Black color.
The whiskey seems to have come from not the best barrels. Has a sharp whiskey flavor and charred notes. Notes of chocolate, fudge, vanilla, caramel, and toasted notes. It’s solid, but maybe a bit faded.
Feb 07, 2021The whiskey seems to have come from not the best barrels. Has a sharp whiskey flavor and charred notes. Notes of chocolate, fudge, vanilla, caramel, and toasted notes. It’s solid, but maybe a bit faded.
Reviewed by BKotch from Texas
3.95/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
8.5 years old is tough to overcome. Nice flavor, well-disguised abv, aroma is a bit diminished, but mouthfeel is gone. Still drinkable, though. Sorry I let it get to the back of the cabinet.
Jul 11, 2020Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.28/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A special beer to cap a crazy week stuck at home. Cork was loose and likely flat...
Pours a small fizzy dark colored head with lower retention, nice long legs, jet black color
Nose brings loads of dark chocolate and cocoa, roasted coffee notes, rich cocoa and candy bar like, then vanilla barrel, light bourbon, bit of baking spices and toasted oak, dark fruits like raisin and some oxidized brandy notes, alcohol is very smooth, little caramel and nougat
Taste brings loads of dark chocolate again, big rich cocoa and more of the nougat and caramel, a touch of roasted coffee, not much, vanilla barrel with a little oak, baking spice, and light bourbon, more oxidized port or brandy like characters and some dark fruits with a little raisiny note, smooth alcohol almost none actually, fudgey as it warms, smooth and rich, mild bitterness throughout, mild sticky finish but a bit dry and a flash of aclohol and more oxidative notes
Mouth is fuller bod, rich and smooth, med-light carb, very little smooth alcohol
Overall pretty nice, but not bourbon was not much probably due to the age, but base stout was nice and aged well with good oxidative effects, enjoyable and dangerously smooth
Apr 25, 2020Pours a small fizzy dark colored head with lower retention, nice long legs, jet black color
Nose brings loads of dark chocolate and cocoa, roasted coffee notes, rich cocoa and candy bar like, then vanilla barrel, light bourbon, bit of baking spices and toasted oak, dark fruits like raisin and some oxidized brandy notes, alcohol is very smooth, little caramel and nougat
Taste brings loads of dark chocolate again, big rich cocoa and more of the nougat and caramel, a touch of roasted coffee, not much, vanilla barrel with a little oak, baking spice, and light bourbon, more oxidized port or brandy like characters and some dark fruits with a little raisiny note, smooth alcohol almost none actually, fudgey as it warms, smooth and rich, mild bitterness throughout, mild sticky finish but a bit dry and a flash of aclohol and more oxidative notes
Mouth is fuller bod, rich and smooth, med-light carb, very little smooth alcohol
Overall pretty nice, but not bourbon was not much probably due to the age, but base stout was nice and aged well with good oxidative effects, enjoyable and dangerously smooth
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.08/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from fridge temp. Pours jet black with some carbonation. Smell is sweet bourbon, licorice, vanilla, smoke, and chocolate. Taste is incredibly smooth. Velvet chocolate, bourbon, licorice, and almost no alcohol heat. Very smooth after 6 years. Taste is amazing. Mouthfeel is great - thick and creamy.
Jun 04, 2017
Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
596 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!