Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary - North Coast Brewing Co.

Impfan

Washington

5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beautiful pour, black as a moonless night, billowing off white/tan head, good lacing. Nose is bourbon, ginger, graham cracker, chocolate and roast coffee. Flavor is similar, with perhaps some cherry thrown into the mix. Not overly complex, but perfectly balanced. It’s amazing how the bourbon has seved as bridge between the roast beginning and the hoppy finish of the original brew. As a gentleman before me has commented, this is definitely drier than a few other fine examples of the style, most notably Goose Island Bourbon County, and I think this is significantly better than that very fine brew. The mouthfeel is silky/creamy, but never too thick (or thin., and the finish is extremely long and very satisfying. I’m absolutely thrilled to have scored five of these, and I hope to have the discipline to put away at least one for aging. This is my idea of a flat out perfect RIS.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 17:49:37 | More by Impfan

BelgiumBill

Virginia

5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Corked and caged. Unlike some other corked bottles, this one did not have much of a 'pop'.

Poured into a nonic producing a a solid 3 finger walnut shell brown head which was densely foamy, retentive, and quite sticky. The liquid was jet black with no light passing through at the edges. A real beauty.

Fragrant! The oak jumps out at you as you bring it near. Bitter chocolate, toasty vanilla, tootsie roll, hints of booze/bourbon, pumpernickel bread and molasses. I could spend a long time just smelling it as it is very complex.

What an evolution on the taste buds. Super long finish with waves of flavors throughout. Right up front rocks you with oak and bourbon characteristics yielding to dark chocolate and dark roasted malts with some bready molasses. Just when I expect to get hit with some alcohol burn it turns creamy and coating reminiscent of a milk stout. It finishes up giving you more oak and chocolate and it hangs out for a while.

The mouthfeel is an evolution as well; starting out crisp and nipping at the tip of your tongue, to coating the mouth with a creamy feel, then progressing to a drying, almost tannic feel toward the end of the finish.

Overall....one of the best. It is big, chewy, super complex, and balanced. Not too much bite, not too much alcohol, everything blends together masterfully. I can't think of anything critical to say about it.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 17:40:05 | More by BelgiumBill

vfgccp

New York

4.98/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - Black with trace red highlights.  Thick, creamy cap of mocha head.  Great retention and nice lace.

S - Stellar nose with rich vanilla, caramel, tootsie rolls,  soft booze, and a touch of smokey oak.

T - Simply outrageous.  Sweet booze and bright woody hops melt into a deep, smooth chocolate liquor.  Espresso and deep roast grains flow through the center accented by alcohol, and echo through the finish.

M - Incredibly smooth and creamy.

O - An absolutely stellar beer. Complex, well integrated, and delicious.  To my palate this offering separates itself into a category of what i would consider to be perfect beers, something I can say for less than 0.5% of beers I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 01:50:10 | More by vfgccp

BierJager89

California

4.96/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A: Pours black with a brown head.

S: Roasted malt, vanilla, oak and caramel in the nose. Nice bourbon character.

T: Roasted malt, dark fruit, bourbons vanilla, oak and caramel. Delicious.

M: Full bodied, but I don't remember if it's super smooth. I do remember nothing being wrong with it.

O: An amazing beer, and a great example of what a bourbon barrel can do to an already delicious imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 05:53:24 | More by BierJager89

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4.95/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle poured into a tulip

A: Pours black and thick, literally like a sugar free maple syrup consistency. The head is a very dark mocha brown, some of the darkest foam I've seen on a beer.

S: This aroma is something to behold; faint smooth alcohol, sweet dark chocolate, hints of black licorice, not overpowering at all and not really bitter either, it's all very exciting.

T/M: Carbonation is surprisingly high, it throws you off at first and then as soon as the bubbles fade off the tongue it's extremely smooth and sweet like a chocolate stout. Decadent is the best word. Alcohol is faint only on the back of the tongue and leaves a subtle burn but isn't too strong. I never thought I'd like the bubbles in something so dark and rich but they are perfectly complementary in this one.

This s**t is amazing.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 20:18:39 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Doshkin

Maine

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

This beer is outrageously delicious. Tasted side by side with the regular Rasputin, and the barrel aged version makes the original taste like water. And don't get me wrong, the original is itself an extraordinary RIS that pushes 10% abv. Back to beer on topic, all i can say is wow. It's so smooth, bourbon-y, chocolately, honestly everything you could ask for in a bourbon barrel aged RIS. Absolutely 100% worth the $20 i paid for this bottle. Had the pleasure of sharing this with a good friend and his dad while we brewed some beer.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 16:55:15 | More by Doshkin

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

PatrickSwayze

California

4.83/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: pours a dark black with a thin layer of light head that retains around the edges of the glass. A thin dark brown   at the very top of the glass. Looks amazing.

S: Rich deep bourbon exquisitely mixed with vanilla and oak. Gracefully soothes the nose in a blanket of awesomeness.

T: the first flavors that run down the tongue are intertwined with the perfect blend of bourbon and oak up front. The finish is a lovely mix of vanilla, oak, and chocolate. I expected this beer to be extremely alcy up front but to my surprise tastes amazing fresh.

M:Lays on the taste buds very nicely. Not to dry and not to sweet. This beer hits the spot and is def easy to drink considering how fresh it is.

O: This beer is insanely delicious and was surprised how wonderfully it tasted out of the bottle without a year of age on it. I will be buying more of this beer, that is a fact 

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 02:44:04 | More by PatrickSwayze

Kromes

Georgia

4.83/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Pitch black with a thick tan colored head that sits on top of the beer. Sort of looks like a root beer float. Tons of lacing down the glass.

S: Roasted malt with an almost burnt oak and bourbon flavor. There's also a nice dark chocolate aroma in the background.

T: Amazing flavor in this beer. It starts out sweet and then the bourbon and oak kick in. It lacks the over the top vanilla sweetness in some other bourbon barrel beers. It takes the best qualities...there's a muted bourbon flavor, a muted woody oak, and just a touch of vanilla. It supplements an already amazing beer. The finish rounds out with a nice chocolate flavor with the warmth from the alcohol and a slight bourbon tingle. Love it.

M: Heavy feel. Very, very smooth. A nice warmth end to end.

O: An amazing stout. They took one of my favorite beers and made it even better.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 02:09:52 | More by Kromes

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.83/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My wife and I did a side by side tasting with Old Rasputin. We poured the beer into snifters, and it pour a dark brown, almost black coloring with ruby highlights and a thin, tan head that settles into a sparse, uneven filmy covering. The beer's nose is oaky and boozey sweet, with vanilla highlights over a chocolate and mocha backbone. Flavors are super-smooth, with rich bourbon, black strap molasses, and caramel highlights over woody undertones. Dark fruit highlights on the palate as well, with a heavy dose of cherry. The body is thin and smooth, with boozey characteristics thinning out the lacing to the point of very quick recession. The aftertaste is mostly alcohol and woody/earthy profiles, with a smooth, slick finish. Delicious beer, and extremely different from its Old Rasputin counterpart.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 00:21:46 | More by GarthDanielson

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml C&C Bottle into CBS Snifter.
I reviewed the twelfth anniversary in 2010 and was blown away by it. Hopefully this one is no exception.

A- Thick black oily pour with a a creamy dark brown head that drops after some time leaving a creamy cap and gobs of lacing around the sides of the glass.

S- There is a bourbon aroma, followed by a dessert sweetness of chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar and molasses. The bourbon and the barrel both add a real smoothness to this. There is a touch of alcohol in the back end with the coffee.

T- Bourbon and chocolate up front with vanilla and brown sugar. Espresso and oak finish this with a touch of warmth from the alcohol.

M- Medium bodied, not as creamy as the XII but a good contender for excellent feel. Sticky on the lips with a lingering bitter finish.

O- Another home run, it's basically identical to my previous review except for the mouthfeel which on the XII was creamier and heavier.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 23:05:41 | More by korguy123

360logic

4.78/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours pitch black with a decently thick tan head. Some moderate lacing, but less than other Russian Imperials.

S: Lots of malts, roasted coffee, vanilla, boozy bourbon and a hint of oak.

T: Hops and and dark, rich malt hit your palette first, turning into an espresso then mellowing out into a balance of bitter roasted character with smooth vanilla. Finish is very long with a warm, boozy bourbon note that comes out more with each sip.

M: Viscous and chewy. Head and lacing are nicely creamy while the liquid gives a subtle carbonation with a nice heaviness to it. Awesome while going down.

O: Best Russian Imperial I've had, but only by an inch after regular Old Rasputin. The bourbon element gives a great warmth and a subtle added complexity to the beer, but it isn't honestly really mind blowing. Really great, but wouldn't go out of my way (or price range) to drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 06:57:59 | More by 360logic

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 500 ml corked bottle into a Surly Darkness Chalice glass.

Appearance: Pours very dark and black with no real color coming through. A big five finger brownish tan head which slowly settles into a thin tan film layer. Lots of sticky lacing around the glass.

Smell: Big bourbon aroma upfront with good hints of woody oak and vanilla. Big hints of chocolate and dark roasted malts with some coffee and molasses. Also some dark fruits lingering in the background with light hints of prunes and dark cherry. Somewhat boozy as expected.

Taste: Like the nose suggests, a big taste of bourbon barrel aging and dark malts. Good taste of vanilla and oak with dark roasty caramel malts. Notes of chocolate, coffee, and molasses. Also some light hints of dark cherries and prunes that should come out more with some age. Very tasty.

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body with a carbonation that is fairly high for a imperial stout, but it works well. A little heat is felt from the alcohol as expected with a barrel aged bomb like this but its very manageable. Vanilla lingers in the aftertaste.

Overall: A very good job of barrel aging for a great stout. A great sipper.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 08:05:25 | More by MattyG85

MaximalC

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours thick and dark, with as big a head as you are willing to invoke (a borderline perverse introduction, I'll admit, but I offer it unrepentantly). The head itself is a deep mocha color which, in my experience, is a good harbinger of what's to come in the flavor department (at least with stouts). Old Rasputin XIV does not disappoint here. The aroma is vivacious and seductive (and unapologetically boozy), another bold proclamation of the tastes to follow. As for the body, it's rich and luxurious, leaving a sticky residue in its wake. The taste is exactly what I look for in a stout--dark chocolate and coffee take center stage (backed by dark fruits), with staying power to last the entire session. Each sip is like a re-introduction to excellence. Alcohol is unavoidably present at 11.5% (possibly the only minor flaw), but that is to be expected of an imperial stout. This beer is the embodiment of decadence, and it makes regular Old Rasputin (which I enjoy) taste like discarded runoff by comparison. The price tag is quite hefty, so it's not for everyday consumption, but any stout fan looking to treat himself to something special would be well advised to partake.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 02:33:26 | More by MaximalC

Vierenner

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Picked up several months ago at Belmont Party Supply in Dayton ... one per customer.
The pour is fantastic ... rich, dark, and forming an absolutely beautiful head.
The smell reminds me of Big John and Bourbon County Stout, two of my favorite beers.
The taste is a little more bitter than I like. The two aforementioned beers have similar flavor but less bitterness and taste better in my opinion, as do a few other beers ... but this one is definitely in my top 10.
A smokey taste is quite prevalent. I also sense a little chocolate and vanilla. Bourbon too.
The three E's all tried it and felt coffee was the dominant flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 23:26:50 | More by Vierenner

bnes09

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Midnight black and completely opaque. Thick, creamy, tannish colored head with exceptional retention for the brew strength and with tons of foam clinging to the glass.

Ripe and matured aroma of sweet figs and dates, charred oak, wheat toast. Not a lot of roasted notes in the aroma but plenty of sweet, dark characteristics to savor. The oaky tones really smooth it out and add a bourbon character.

Flavor is rich and dark with burnt molasses, wheat toast, dark chocolate and medium roast coffee. Make way for sweet undertones of caramel, brown sugar, figs and dates. Hint of almond. Gentle earthy hop bitterness. Subtle tones of oak and bourbon. Alcohol is well concealed.

Full bodied and just bordering on a syrupy texture. Lightly carbonated as expected and fits well with the overall character. Soothing alcohol warmth in the chest.

Wow! Beers like this do not come around every day. Tons of flavor with a velvety smooth feel and not too much alcohol nor a syrupy body to it. Near perfection in a bottle. One minor complaint, a weak and subdued hop character, espcially for a Russian imperial. A brewing masterpiece, nonetheless. Cost $20 for a 500 mL bottle and its worth a lot more than that.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:31:55 | More by bnes09

mwill7287

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a bottle of this at Rozi's Wine House around Christmas. Enjoyed it with my brother, who is a big time Old Rasputin fan, as a Christmas gift of sorts (i.e. didn't charge him $10 to split it!).

Poured from 500ml cork & cage bottle into GLBC snifter.

Appearance: Absolutely pitch black body. No light shall pass through this ale. A finger's worth of dark mocha tan head sits prettily atop the beer. Very little carbonation is apparent in the body. Surprisingly little lacing is left behind on the glass after drinking. 4.25

Smell: Intense bourbon, vanilla and chocolate waft into my nose. The wood aging of this beer is very apparent. My brother and I think that this could almost pass for bourbon on a blind smelling! I can feel the whiskey in my nose. rich. 4.75

Taste: Wow - so much bourbon! Very creamy, chock full of vanilla and rich dark chocolate. Bits of coffee are latent in the mix. Of course the main thrust of the attack is bourbon. The taste is very rich and decadent - awesome! A mild alcohol bite and the bitterness of the standard Old Rasputin are present amidst the rich flavors of the roasty malt and bourbon. Coffee and vanilla dominate the aftertaste. The harshness that the bourbon presents mellows out as the beer warms. I wonder what this baby would taste like in a year. 5

Mouthfeel: This is one thick, creamy, sticky stout. The bitterness is a bit subdued compared to standard Rasputin but still present enough to roughen the mouthfeel. According to my limited judgment, this could perhaps still use a few months of sitting, but it's still nice. 4.5

Overall: BBA Old Rasputin XIV is one of the best BBA stouts I have ever had. The richness of the bourbon aging, with a creamy body and medium bitterness makes for, outside the ABV, a highly drinkable beer. Wish I had the funds to purchase a bottle to age. 4.75

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 00:52:37 | More by mwill7287

lookitsfelias

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a - poured a thick dark color with a long lasting 'root beer' head with lots of lacing

s - instantly got the aroma of figs, dried fruit, also thick vanilla, bitter cocoa and bourbon

t - the first flavor i get is that dark, dried fruit flavor, the bourbon barrels are apparent and show immensely in the flavor, some hints of espresso, dark cocoa and vanilla

m - the mouth feel came up short, and to me was the only downfall of the beer. not enough carbonation and it felt almost flat, this could have been a result of shipping however. also felt that it could have been a little thicker

o - great beer. the barrel aging definitely makes this beer evolve and change, however, is it different enough from the original to be worth the price? that one is up to the buyer and drinker

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 02:39:26 | More by lookitsfelias

Pahn

New York

4.63/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

500ml bottle into Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Careful pour yields a two inch tan head that dissipates steadily, leaving a small lace wall near the surface. Pours a solid black, and leaves occasional sweeps of lacing amidst the giant legs.

Smell: Powerful aroma of oak and whiskey. Deep toffee and caramel along with a spicy, almost piny aroma. Rich, and constantly changing; this is what the best smelling BA stouts are like.

Taste: As rich and decadent as the aroma. Waves of oak and good whiskey flavors; vanilla, slight coconut, mild alcohol spice, numerous caramel flavors of varying intensity, toffee, rich and complex dark malts, with a bitter roasted malt finish that balances but doesn't overtake the barrage of decadence.

That last paragraph was basically one long sentence. Instead of writing much more, I'll tritely note that each sip is pretty much like that as well: tons of different flavors that keep going and going. Unlike my writing though, each note is close to pitch perfect. Lots of pastry, bourbon, and RIS deliciousness. Hard to find fault.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, somewhat on the full side. High side of moderately carbonated, but not at all overcarbed. Dry finish. Great feel, but not exceptional like the smell and taste.

Overall: I wasn't disappointed with my one-time buy $25 / 500ml bottle of Old Stock Cellar Reserve, so I figured I'd give Barrel Aged Old Rasputin a try (for around $23). Once again, I really can't feel bad about the purchase, because the beer is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 02:41:02 | More by Pahn

Bobheed

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a nice deep black, thick like syrup with about one and a half fingers worth of a light brown, tight head.

S: Mostly bourbon initially. The more you smell it, the more you start to get dark fruits. Waves of figs, plums, rasins, and almost a brown sugar and coffee aroma

T: Dark chocolate right away. Goes into sweet, sweet roastiness, lots of bourbon characteristics, without having a harsh alcohol flavor.

M: So smooth, velvety. Quite thick as well

Overall, this one was great. I expected it to be pretty good, but I'm sort of blown away at it actually considering I don't really care for normal Old Rasputin. A really well balanced stout and for it being BBA and 11.5%, it has very little alcohol presence. Great stuff

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 04:21:15 | More by Bobheed

jegross2

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewing the Barrel Aged Old Rasputin XIV from North Coast Brewing Company. I am very excited to crack this one open. Barrel Aged Old Rasputin was the beer that got me into imperial stouts, and I have not had this brew since 2008 (the XI anniversary batch).
Score: 96

2011 vintage bottle served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Pours a completely opaque, ink black color with one-plus finger of creamy mocha/brown colored head that slowly settles in to a thin layer, leaving lots of residue on the side of the glass in the process. Excellent lacing. 5/5

Smell: Mellow bourbon, prunes and chocolate up front. Also detecting brown sugar, roasted marshmallow, and oats. Hints of nut, fig, and dark fruit. Some oatmeal. Hints of booziness. 4.5/5

Taste: Very balanced and nuanced with complex flavors. You can easily tell that this is an Old Rasputin brew, but with extra layers of complexity from aging in bourbon barrels. Mellow bourbon up front with lots of roasted malts. Toasted marshmallow, a little vanilla and unsweetened chocolate on the mid-palate. More chocolate comes through as the beer warms/layers on the mid-palate. Also detecting increasing amounts of prunes, figs and dried semi-sweet dark fruits. Prunes, raw chocolate and bourbon in the finish. A little nuttiness comes through in the finish as the beer layers. The bourbon characteristics of the beer also grow as the brew warms and layers. There is a touch of booziness the finish. Excellent linger. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Just shy of full bodied with minimal carbonation. This brew absolutely coats the palate with delicious flavors that really linger. Finishes slightly sweet. 5/5

Overall: This beer is just as delicious as I remember it being. A true top flight Russian Imperial Stout. At $25/bottle, the price tag on this brew is a bit high -- especially when you consider the regular Old Rasputin, at $7.99 a four pack, is one of the best year-round bargains in craft beer. Alas, this is one of those few costly brews that is well worth the high price.

Recommendation: A must try beer for casual beer drinkers and beer geeks alike. This brew is revelatory.

Pairings: Warm chocolate cake.

Cost: $24.99 for a 16.9 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 20:27:14 | More by jegross2

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I didn't have access to a computer or anything to write with when I drank this last week so I have to go off memory. It was basically the same as a regular Old Rasputin (see: deliciously awesome) except it had some oaky characteristics with a little vanilla/bourbon tinge to it. Well worth the $25.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 03:51:27 | More by DonDirkA

Fenris244

Texas

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my stone old guardian snifter.

Pours black with a thin light brown head, decent retention, little bits of lacing

Oak char, bits of toffee and dark fruit aromas, very strong aromas coming from the beer, very sweet in the nose, bourbon pops up too, im impressed already.

Almost like milk chocolate up front, little vanilla and some oak notes, bitterness is mild, flavors blend well. Chocolatey at first then a coffee like bitterness, some dark fruit flavors come though, followed by some of the bourbon flavors coming through on the finish. Short finish, very pleasant sweet after taste.

Heavy in body, the beer is thick and viscous, very smooth, little carbonation

Overall, not that big of fan of raspy for whatever reason, this however is nothing short of fantastic, worth every penny

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 21:34:22 | More by Fenris244

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.58/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Rasputin XIV, bottle bought at Funky Buddha in Boca Raton, Florida, for $24 plus tax and tip (around $27 total).

Poured into an extended-stay hotel cup (better than a plastic glass, you gotta admit!).

Appearance: Super creamy-thick-rich pour, just like coffee. Mocha-colored head, lots of bubbles, great retention and lacing.

Smell: Chocolate galore, sugar, sweetness. Some wood and barrel. Suave bourbon goodness, cuba libre, bubblegum.

Taste: Lots of cola, then roastiness and toasted grain. Vanilla, more cocoa but this time in powdered form, reminds of "Colacao". The bourbon comes through ever-so-subtle. Nothing super complex or earth-shattering here, but damn tasty!!!

Mouthfeel: Smooth beyond belief, but also a little watery around the edges. Nice tingly feel at the end of the sip. Well balanced, extremely easy to drink and chug. Never boozy or overpowering.

Overall: Exceptional indeed. So drinkable it's not even funny. Smooth, balanced, drinks like a Guinness despite the 11.5%! I was disappointed by Raspy XII but this one delivers, despite the hefty price tag. Not incredibly complex, but so well done and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 05:57:32 | More by DoubleSimcoe

jayhawk73

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a black color with a nice one finger chocolate head. Great lacing on the side of my New Belgium glass. The nose is great... Bourbon, oak, vanilla, alcohol. Really well balanced and smells amazing. The alcohol isn't overpowering. The taste is pretty amazing as well. The only thing added to the nose profile is a hint of chocolate. Really easy to drink, and really tasty. Feel is the weak point here.... It's a little thin for me, I'd like more malty goodness on the backbone of this brew. Overall, this is a fantastic beer that will probably be even better with a little age. Still, I really enjoyed it, and would have it again. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 19:47:33 | More by jayhawk73