Old Rasputin XIV Anniversary - North Coast Brewing Co.

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

bobhits

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 2

Purchased for 23.49, I really still can’t figure out why I did it. I guess because I only had the XII with a lot of age and really wanted to see what this was like with some heat. I’m crazy, nuff said.

Pours a huge pillowy head with very good lacing for this style (would be average to poor for say a double IPA to compare). The body is dark and thick, but not the oily lacing or alcohol legs you’d get with say a bourbon county stout.

Bourbon, caramel, almost a buttery finish with a lot of chocolate and some hints of fruity hop bitterness. I never thought highly of the XII from a flavor or aroma stand point, but the complexity is truly world class and the same here.

A very hard beer to place. Cocoa nibs, a lot of vanilla, bitter flavors from hops, and hints of bourbon. This beer is completely different from the non-barrel beer, but while there is certainly a good barrel aged effect I really feel like I’m drinking a different base beer as well. Oak oddly does not really jump out and the woody flavors seem a bit foreign to me and I’ve had more than my share of bourbon and bourbon barrel beers.

There’s a bit of heat here, but it never is overpowering. I don’t see more than 6 months of age being needed to mellow this for those not fond of that, and for those who enjoy a bit of bourbon heat, drink fast! There beer is very well carbonated making it easy to drink and enjoy. I like a bit more body and thickness in these stouts than I think this beer has, but the carbonation MORE than makes up for it.

This is a very very good beer with a price tag that is beyond absurd. I really cannot understand why I couldn’t just not buy this one. I’m taking off points here because of value. This beer is worth a steep price tag…I’d have no issue with a dollar an oz, but this is just silly. Add in the bottle is freaking thicker than hell. Guys, think about the planet when you put beer into 10 pound bottles!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 00:20:25 | More by bobhits

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a snifter. I got this for $19.99, which despite being on the cheaper end for this brew, is still a horrible price.

4.0 A: Black color. Two fingers of creamy/frothy tan head. Retention is about average, but glass coating lacing is left.

3.0 S: Like the regular, this is very faint in aroma. Light chocolate with a very soft roastiness. Surprisingly, not even the bourbon stands out. Booze is well hidden.

2.5 T: Boring to the point that it's maddening. Very light chocolate, very light roastiness, and even lighter coffee. Bourbon is light and adds light leather and earth notes. A little bit of astringency from the barrel. Booze is in check again, but is more discernible than in the nose.

4.0 M: This is easily the best part of the brew. Medium to heavier medium body. Good carbonation, but might be a tad high. Very nice creaminess on this, especially for the body.

3.0 D: I made several posts before this was released ripping on people who were planning on buying it. Well, like a dumbass hypocrite, I bought a bottle myself. I saw the good early reviews then a case of "curiousity killed the wallet" took me over. Turns out I was spot on with my prediction. A boring beer was put into a barrel and a boring barrel aged beer emerged.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 20:04:56 | More by DavoleBomb

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

dorianmarley

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is dark black with a big tan head that fades to a pancake. Lacing is very good.

Smell is mostly mellow bourbon. It takes on the fiery side of bourbon: not just toasted, but torched sugars. It also has good chocolate and vanilla aromas. The malts are light, but they are there.

Taste is initially Bourbon. The sugars are sweet and astringent. Oak and almond are consistent throughout. Finishes with dark chocolate and coffee. Biscuit at the very end.

Mouthfeel coats nicely. It has medium carbonation, and the alcohol gives off a noticeable Bourbon burn. The beer is surprisingly refreshing, considering the boldness.

Overall, this is a decadent treat that goes down a lot easier than expected. The flavors are dynamic and complex. But you can find tastier Bourbon beers for a fraction of this $20 price.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 03:11:59 | More by dorianmarley

Spadoof

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Name: Old Rasputin XIV
Brewery: North Coast Brewery
Bottled on: ???
Purchasing Date: 12/31/11
Purchased From: 101 Bottles (Kent, Ohio) [$21.99 a bottle]

Origin: 500ml cage corked bottle
Serving Glass: 22oz Snifter
Serving Temp: 60F

Appearance: Black, surprisingly thick used motor oil body. 2" deep mocha head rise gracefully form the dark depts of my glass. The head retention is surprising for the ABV%. Lacing is sticky and persistent. A masterful brew.

Smell: Strong vanilla upfront, blended with a barrel quality. Chocolate and smooth bourbon.

Taste: Ahh... liquid sin. Well balanced. Matches the nose perfect. Rich and lush. Slight boozy finish with an awesome cocoa after taste.

Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy, milkshake consistency. Awesome!

Overall: Another amazing beer by North Coast Brewery! Bravo!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 00:35:56 | More by Spadoof

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle, corked & caged, $19.99 in Columbus. This is the fourth in the series that I've tried (following X, XI, & XII). As with the others, this pours dark black and opaque. Unlike the X, this one presents with a huge pillowy head, leaving solid tendrils of dark tan lace.

The aroma is whiskey-forward, with beautiful toasty notes beneath. As expected this smells like the real deal. Slightly sweet smelling too, very nice. It tastes pretty hot, not really burning but there's no doubt where this beer has been living. Actually it might have just a little burn, also a lot of vanilla from the barrel. The sweetness and bitterness cancel each other out, easily getting overpowered by the barrel treatment.

Viscous and coating, lighter carbonation than implied by the head. Overall it's solid, tasting nearly as good as it smells, but hard to justify the price tag (as usual with North Coast barrel aged beer).

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 01:14:00 | More by TurdFurgison

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 500 mL corked and caged bottle split two ways with a friend. Poured into a couple of tulip glasses at cellar temperature and enjoyed over about half an hour.

Appearance: Almost pitch black in color, very dark. Pours a pretty large, beige, foamy head with good retention considering the ABV.

Aroma: Chocolate and espresso dominate upfront with a lighter, but still assertive pine from the hops. A lot of heat from the bourbon on the nose. A little less barrel forward in the aroma than I expected. Background bourbon and caramel are nice additions though.

Taste: The chocolate and espresso notes from the base are the big flavors upfront. Pine notes from the hops blead nicely with the sweeter notes and offer a nice counter. The barrel notes of toasted coconut, vanilla, molasses, and bourbon don't overpower, but compliment everything nicely. Much smoother than the aroma and nicely balanced.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and creamy. Carbonation is spot on.

Overall, a really impressive bourbon barrel aged stout with great balance. Not as barrel forward as others, but really good. I found this worth the price tag, even as it is really expensive.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 21:56:41 | More by Gosox8787

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml cage and cork.

poured into snifter.

Appearance: black bodied beer with a medium brown head. Easily 3 of fingers worth of head. Thick head with lots of large and small bubbles. Thick lacing on the glass.

Smell: great barrel notes mostly of vanilla and oak. This beer also smells really chocolately and has some roasty notes.

Taste: Chocolate and bourbon right away. The chocolate notes taste like a gourmet chocolate that has been liquified. Vanilla is strong at about mid palate and finishes fairly strong as well. Bourbon in this beer is there from start to finish and it just sits in the background and accentuates all the stout notes. Not at all boozey bourbon flavor and it really balances well with everything in the beer. Wow!

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a carbonation that is at the low end of medium. Super smooth and mellow. This is a bourbon barrel stout milkshake. Easy drinking, but you continue to want to sip this and really appreciate the fine beer this is.

Overall: This is the second Old Raspy Anniversary beer I have drank. This beer is just a good fresh as it is aged. North Coast this is the best beer you make. At 22 bucks a bottle the price is steep, but its totally worth it. My only problem is why does this brewery base beer is easy to come by and at a great price point, but the barrel aged version is soo steep? Still worth seeking it out!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 04:31:16 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

herman77

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Black with a big and active light brown head. Decent lacing.

S: Tons of vanilla and bourbon. Roasted malt, dark fruits, chocolate and a light musty (in a good way) like odor probably from the oak.

T: Bourbon is definitely present all the way through. It's not overpowering though. Vanilla, roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruits, a bit of coffee and hops on the backend, it's got it all. Pretty much like normal Rasputin with bourbon. This would age really nicely!

M: Pretty thick, some nice bubbly carbonation. A bit of alcohol is left in the finish.

O: Very good. Glad I stumbled on some, but it is spendy (paid $22). Not sure if it's really worth the steep price for a 500 ML bottle. Worth trying for sure though.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 03:38:39 | More by herman77

BullDurham

New Mexico

4.18/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ML corked and caged bottle poured into my DFH signature glass.

Appearance: Pours pitch black, no light passes though. One finger mocha head, lacing sticks to the side of the glass very well.

Smell: Bourbon, oak, roasted coffee.

Taste: Bourbon is present the entire taste, it is not overpowering but a well balanced part of the taste. Toasted malt, bit of chocolate. The finish of this the best part, a fantastic vanilla note that fades into a great bourbon note.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, not even close to thick. Creamy, coats mouth well. Easy to drink.

Overall: The only part of this brew that hurts is the price, I paid about $20 for the bottle. Totally worth trying but the price is a bit steep.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 11:39:51 | More by BullDurham

IKR

California

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Black with a generous beige head that slowly fades. Good lacing with the best head I've had in a bal-aged IS stout.

Smell: Mild Bourbon, coffee/roasted malt aromas, and some vanilla notes.

Taste: A balanced palate of Bourbon, roast malts, vanilla, and oak. The beer is not as barrel forward as some other Bal-aged ISs. To me it's more Abyss-like than let's say a Bourbon County. The finish is fairly dry with some roast and oak notes and a hint of vanilla. Slight alcohol presence in the finish but very subtle for the ABV.

Mouth-feel: Medium to full bodied with a good level of carbonation, especially considering the bal-aging.

Overall: I like old Rasputin and a touch of barrel makes it better. The beer subtly combines the barrel with the base beer in a balanced approach. Pricy but good.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 04:32:24 | More by IKR

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

srandycarter

California

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Near black body, nice but thin tan head, leaves to disk within a few minutes then to ring soon thereafter. Some prominent cling.

S - Choc Chip cookies, molasses and a tinge of soy sauce. Woody booze apparent as well. NOTE: Improves as it warms.

T - Burnt malt, bitter chocolate, soy and a touch of anise, I think. Not much, but it seems to keep popping up.

M - Medium to heavy, good carb, very bitter ending, but balance good overall.

D - This one is NOT deceptive. One small bottle, preferably shared, should suffice.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 03:15:54 | More by srandycarter

Lerxst

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into a snifter.

A-Pours black with a tightly knit one inch mocha head that has good retention and leaves nice sheets of lace on the side of the glass as it goes down.

S-A nice bourbon aroma is ever present but doesn't attempt to dominate. It mingles together very nicely with hints of vanilla, oak, dark fruit, chocolate. Very nice nose on this one.

T-As with the nose, the bourbon is very noticeable but really melds nicely with the other flavors without dominating. The bourbon flavor here is one of the best bourbon flavors I've ever encountered in a stout-extremely mellow and smooth. Hints of oak, vanilla, chocolate, roasted malt, nuts & dark fruit. Damn this is well done!

M-I'd say this barely misses the cut at being full bodied. It's almost there but not quite. Medium carbonation tickles the tongue and may be a bit higher than other top entries in the style, but it's working here.

O-This was an excellent experience from start to finish. It is a bit pricey (I paid $20) but I'm glad I pulled the trigger on this one. If this was a year round or seasonal, It'd be a staple in my fridge.

In the past I've always passed on the Raspy Anni beers due to the price, and now that I've tried it, I'm kicking myself for all the quality beer I've passed on with the previous releases. If you like BBA stouts and don't mind the price, pull the trigger on this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 01:59:33 | More by Lerxst

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Part of a great Christmas gift from my wife, 6 bottles of this. The XII was amazing. Hope this is at least close.
appearance: Oh is he black. Again, nice lacing like the XII.
smell: Bourbon is more up front and not as mature as the XII. I should say the XII had some age on it while this guy is barely out of the womb.
taste: Very nice and bursting with potential though the lack of maturity shows.
mouthfeel: Lots of carbonation. Full and creamy.
overall: So glad i have 5 bottles in the cellar. I think this is gonna be very bit at as good as his big brother XII with a little time.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 21:15:26 | More by cindyjeffsmith

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

rtaps

California

4.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Mrvonzipper i received this as a christmas gift, and we were planning to age it for quite some time, but also thanks to our grandfather for thinking it was a Champagne bottle and opening it, thus forcing us to drink it.

Pours black with a mahogany tint to it when held to the light. nice one finger brown head to it and good lacing around the glass.

very nice,nutty chocolate and the bourbon oak barrels aroma

fairly hot (as expected) from the bourbon, but not to over powering. nice rich chocolate but not as nutty as i was expecting from the nose of it.

mouthfeel was pretty viscous, med-light bodied, medium carbonation.

very enjoyable wish i could have aged it as planned but merry christmas to us.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 20:21:31 | More by rtaps

Alpar

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Darker than the previous releases, or at least it seems to be. Quite a bit of lacing and a big tan/brown head that recedes to the edge with a dollop sitting in the center.

S: Big glorious bourbon. Smells sweet and I am getting a good amount of alcohol but not an offensive amount. A little chocolate and roasty-ness that I might be confusing for coffee?

T: Bourbon infused fig delight! Geez this beer is just outstanding fresh. I didn't get the dark fruit in the nose but I can taste it with the barrel and some creamy vanilla as well.

M: Thin and slick for the style but barrels tend to thin these types of beers out a bit. The lingering vanilla and bourbon flavors make up for it.

O: Everything I remember this beer being while fresh. Phenomenal. I've had the X, XI and XII in the past few months and this beer is better than all of them. Just outstanding fresh or maybe that is my biased opinion because of the fondness I have for this beer fresh. Worth the price tag once in awhile but still hard to justify, its worth the experience at least once.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 04:45:33 | More by Alpar

doughanson78

Washington

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pitch black color. Two finger light mocha colored head. Creamy, with awesome retention and lacing.

S: Bourbon and butterscotch. Lots of oak. Nice roasted notes. Very light chocolate, coffee and alcohol.

T: Milk chocolate upfront. A touch of bitter coffee and a not overbearing oak in the middle, with bourbon and butterscotch coming in pretty big towards the finish. Has an alcohol bite in the finish. Chocolate comes through much more as it warms but then so does the alcohol.

M: Full bodied. Medium high carbonation. Very creamy. Good mouthcoating.

O: Very good. Takes the already great Old Rasputin and just improves upon it. Can't complain about a Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Rasputin. Could use some age to help blend the flavors and curb the alcohol bite.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 18:45:34 | More by doughanson78