Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary - North Coast Brewing Co.

chrisrose30

California

4.88/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured this beer out of a 500mL bottle into a tulip. The appearance is nearly a pitch black with a thin head, and nice retention and lacing. Very viscous. The smell of bourbon hit me initially, but there is much more going on here - coffee, chocolate, caramel, dates.

Upon tasting, there is definitely, for me, alcohol up front, and the bourbon in this one is unmistakable, although not overpowering, like some barrel-aged beers I've had. Very rich, with lots of cocoa and coffee, and bit more carbonation than I would have expected, although this doesn't take away from the stout; rather, it compliments it. Nice, thick body, and great mouthfeel.

Overall, this one is pretty damn good. I've had better for cheaper, but this is a nice, solid aged stout. It helps that it's Old Rasputin. Now, if the brewery would begin putting their specialty beers on tap, then I'd be a fan.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 21:53:58 | More by chrisrose30

roger617

Indiana

4.48/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

500 ml poured into snifter
A: 4.5 very dark with 1 finger of head. Surprisingly more carbonated than I expected.
S: 4.25 does not hit me with any major flavors or aromas. I detect traces of malt roast, toffee, carmel, bourbon.
T: 4.5 very smooth, dark, compelling. Not what I expected, yet still true to the style. The roast flavor takes lead, after taste of chocolate, Carmel, coffee.
M: 4.75 thick as could be, as should be. Aftertaste is sweet and silky.
O: 4.5 very delicious. I would recommend this to any barrel aged fan, fits the name reputation to a T.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 02:33:29 | More by roger617

Hessian257

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-16-2013 13:16:38 | More by Hessian257

DruRho

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-15-2013 20:52:34 | More by DruRho

bigred89

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +10%

06-15-2013 05:19:56 | More by bigred89

Anonymous1

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -19%

06-10-2013 16:35:17 | More by Anonymous1

scottfrie

California

4.44/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into block 15 snifter.

A: Pours a deep dark brown, almost black, with about three fingers of dense and active dark tan head that slowly faded into a faint scum and thick collar. Streaky spots of wispy lace were left down the glass.
S: Sweeter than I was expecting with huge notes of bourbon, vanilla, rich chocolate and wood – pretty much in that order (of strength).
T: Bourbon and vanilla again dominate but I also get the chocolate and wood. The taste is more roasted than the nose and the vanilla is reminiscent of toasted marshmallows. The finish contains hints of cinnamon and barrel spice, and the aftertaste is full of roasted grains and sweet brown sugar.
M: Thick body, very well hidden alcohol (very little alcohol warmth/burn), and a very smooth and easy to drink mouthfeel. Impressive.
O: Just an all-around good time in a bottle, and a great treatment to an originally awesome beer. I look forward to this coming out every year.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 01:34:45 | More by scottfrie

Gonzoillini

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -19%

06-01-2013 19:47:52 | More by Gonzoillini

DenverBigRed

Colorado

5/5  rDev +15.7%

05-31-2013 22:46:17 | More by DenverBigRed

e30todamax

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-28-2013 11:39:34 | More by e30todamax

alamode

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-21-2013 01:02:17 | More by alamode

seplo

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

05-20-2013 23:47:28 | More by seplo

beernads

Florida

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-18-2013 07:15:58 | More by beernads

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-15-2013 11:28:30 | More by Slatetank

chinchill

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

XIV version poured near black with a durable, dark tan head.

Full bodied; light ABV heat; slightly syrupy (in a good way); (from memory) smooth than the original Old Rasputin.

Very fine smell and flavor even though the bourbon barrels partially over-power the original's RIS characteristics. Indeed, my main criticism is that there is a bit too much bourbon barrel flavoring in this stout.

O: This aging treatment has transformed this ale into something quite different but nearly as appealing.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 23:38:05 | More by chinchill

marshmeli

New York

4.75/5  rDev +10%

05-10-2013 20:52:24 | More by marshmeli

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-10-2013 12:16:23 | More by FUwolfpacker

leftoverburrito

Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -42.1%

05-08-2013 03:12:01 | More by leftoverburrito

jrpapajcik

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +10%

05-01-2013 05:15:57 | More by jrpapajcik

Buckeye982

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

04-24-2013 01:17:38 | More by Buckeye982

drgonzo2k2

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

04-21-2013 14:58:30 | More by drgonzo2k2

egrace84

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

04-12-2013 13:05:06 | More by egrace84

ystazi

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

04-12-2013 13:00:24 | More by ystazi

Atomicskis5

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -30.6%

04-11-2013 02:02:00 | More by Atomicskis5

tut2528

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

thanks again to a badass BA MatttYCE for this one!

Bruery snifter, Lousiville Cardinals heading to the NCAAB Championship Game!

A: typical RIS appearance, black as night with dark tan colored head formation that was about a 1 fingers worth. very nice lacing

S: just an absolute massive blast of oak, bourbon and sweet cocoa nibs. subtle aroma of liquorice and smoke.

T: interesting....the nose was very aggressive, but everything is dialed back and sits in nice balance. oak, bourbon, alcohol heat, sweet chocolate. vanilla and even a touch of coconut in the finish. quite nice. dark fruits also come out here as opposed to the nose. every once in a while, just a hint of smoke is noticed

M: solid full bodied brew here, slight carbonation, leaves a nice alcohol heat on the palate along with a chocolatey, bourbon flavor.

O: I have mixed feelings about this brew. the bourbon is aggressive in the nose but it also has enough cocoa presence to create just enough balance. taste had a nice balance and just enough alcohol heat to make this one enjoyable. Problem is this sucker is 500 ml and $20-$25...quite steep in my honest opinion

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 02:53:32 | More by tut2528