Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary
North Coast Brewing Co.

Old Rasputin XIV AnniversaryOld Rasputin XIV Anniversary
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
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:
596
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 lnashsig:
Photo of lnashsig
Reviewed by lnashsig from Texas

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Well, I saw this one at HEB, and never had it, and despite the hefty pricetag (22$ for 500 ml, making this one of the most expensive beers/ounce I have ever bought in a store), I pulled the trigger in the spirit of "try everything once". No bottle date on this one. Popped the cork and poured into my Brooklyn tulip (why oh why isn't my CBS snifter that I ordered a couple days ago here yet for this?). Pours a pitch black chewy thickness, big bubbles come off of a dark tan head. Really, a perfect looking BA Imp Stout. Smell- rich molasses bourbon, coffee, roast, dark fruit (maybe dark cherries). Smells amazing. Going 5 here for sure. Taste- HUGE bourbon notes up front and rough alcohol heat. The sweetness of the booze and the chocolate notes blend against the roof of my mouth and make for a sweet cherry combo. this is a little bit lighter in mouthfeel than I expected, and its way more carbonated than I expected. The coffee notes are there, as well as the bitterness from the roasted malt. This is a very booze forward BA imp stout- I can see that this may really mellow out over time, but I can't see that it would be worth it enough for me to procure it at this price to try cellaring it. Overall, my verdict is that, while this is a good BA Imp Stout, it is not a great one, esp at this price. I don't get it. These guys make one of the best readily available and consistent fairly priced Imp stouts, but when they barrel age it, it causes them to more than quadruple their price per ounce? (8$ for 48 ounces= 0.16 per ounce, vs 22$ for 20 ounce= 0.90 per ounce). Overall, good beer, but not worth the money.
Mar 10, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.14 by Mikexw from New York

Dec 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by crewfan1952 from Ohio

Dec 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.32 by rolltide from Pennsylvania

Nov 25, 2021
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

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, 2021
Photo of BKotch
Reviewed by BKotch from Texas

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, 2020
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed 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
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, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Nov 30, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

May 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.46 by Casey3236 from Pennsylvania

Oct 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.32 by Birdlegs from Washington

Nov 23, 2017
Photo of Beersnake
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
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
 
Rated: 4.17 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Feb 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.94 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Jan 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by PBRmeasap1980 from Indiana

Dec 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.26 by swanfungus from California

Sep 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.55 by Btip1969 from Oregon

Jul 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4.26 by Jhfinn from New York

Jun 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jun 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by calcnerd from Pennsylvania

Jun 07, 2016
Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 596 ratings