Old Rasputin - North Coast Brewing Review
Russian Imperial Stouts were created by the English and sent to the courts of Russian royals, hence the name, and the style has stood the test of time and still offers pleasure to lovers of hearty beers full of flavor and history.
North Coast Brewing has produced, arguably, one of America’s favorite Russian Imperial Stouts: Old Rasputin. North Coast says Old Rasputin (9% ABV; 75 IBUs) seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes, and it is highly awarded and rated all across the board. They describe it as “a rich, intense brew with big, complex flavors and a warming finish.”
Heck yes! Often our problem with some stouts is that they become too one-note, so we are excited to take Old Rasputin for a ride to test the complexity necessary to nail the Russian Imperial stout style. Here are our first impressions of this icon.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Black as a moonless night, Old Rasputin pours completely opaque and is topped with a milk-chocolate head.
On the Nose--Roasted and rich with a touch of hop aroma. I get the slightest hint of cherry, which alludes to the complexity North Coast describes. Exciting aroma that gets the mind wandering and the mouth watering.
On the Palate--I’ll admit, it’s a little bit baffling on the first sip… but in all the right ways. The roasted malt hits first, followed by a touch of fruity and herbal hop flavor, and then it finishes with a dark chocolate dryness that coats the mouth. All of that in one sip creates something very complex and thought-provoking. The roasted flavor lingers a bit at the end, but not in a numbing way, and I think this is due to that touch of cherry and slight hoppiness that cuts through the roasted, chocolate flavor. The ABV is high, but not overly noticeable. It has a full body and mouthfeel, and I get just a touch of ale yeast flavor at the end that only adds to the depth and complexity.
Final Thoughts:
Well, I can see why Old Rasputin has such a cult following wherever it pours from taps or sits on shelves. Its complexity is the envy of all other imperial stouts. It has the roastiness, the shaving of chocolate, the balancing hop flavor, and the dry finish necessary for a perfect stout. It’s a well-thought out beer from an iconic brewer that’s been around since 1988. I paid $10.99 for a four-pack of 12 ounce bottles and I think that’s a fair price considering the quality of this sipper and the high (9%) ABV.
And if you buy this beer and see the Russian writing on the front, it translates to “A sincere friend is not born instantly.” And what truth there is in that, and in beer drinking.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew