Old Rasputin XI
North Coast Brewing Co.

Old Rasputin XIOld Rasputin XI
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From:
North Coast Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
11.6%
Score:
95
Avg:
4.27 | pDev: 10.54%
Reviews:
147
Ratings:
221
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 30, 2019
Added:
Dec 05, 2008
Wants:
  102
Gots:
  52
This brew is to commemorate 11 years of brewing Old Rasputin. This is Old Rasputin aged in 12 year-old oak bourbon barrels for nine months.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by John_M:
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Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The beer pours a dark black color with very good head retention and lacing. The head retention is very interesting in this beer; initially there was very little head, but with prolonged air contact and a bit of warming, it became increasingly pronounced as I drank it. So in fact, there was excellent creamy head retention and lacing with this fine beer. As for the nose, one whiff and you can tell this beer was aged for a while in bourbon barrels. There is a huge aroma of bourbon/booze, coffee, chocolate and milk duds (the latter aroma is something I typically notice in imperial stouts that have been aged for a while in bourbon barrels). The beer is moderately sweet, with a dry, boozy finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, with a slight hoppy, licorice finish. Alcohol is fairly well disguised, but you can tell it's up there. So ultimately this beer is just a bit heavy and tiring on the palate, with the high alcohol a warning to drink this beer slowly and avoid over indulging. Nevertheless, this is a very fine beer from North Coast, one I'm happy to have tried.

As the beer warms up it smooths out and softens a bit, though there continued to be some noticeable bourbon on the finish. Good stuff!
Apr 15, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Nov 30, 2019
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Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

4.46/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My bestie had a bottle of this chilling since 2008.....holy fawk.....its aged well. It poured an opaque dark with tan head that is not leaving much lace. The scent had bourbon and earth tones. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with caramel malt mixed with bourbon awesomeness. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall its a solid beer.
Jun 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Feb 16, 2017
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.41/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Had this for a while, shared with rudzud

Pours a faint head disappears, incredible legs, pitch black thick oily beer

Nose big chocolate, dark choc cocoa, a little cardboard oxidation, background plenty of toasted oak and raw sawdust, little bourbon, little cookie dough and caramel, little metallic note, fluffy nougat

Taste big cocoa, biscuity toffee cookie dough, fluffy nougat, a little char roast, bitter acrid black malt, oily inky and minerality almost metallic, bitter roasted malts and little hop, little weird oxidation thing, touch wood dust.

Mouth is med bod, thinner and waterier than expected, decent carb, little booze.

Overall huge let down, I knew there is age but this really went south.
Jan 07, 2017
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to JLindros for sharing this bottle.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark oily black with a good head that fades to leave light wisps and a thin wispy head.

S - Aromas of very very light bourbon, super faint barrels, light mineral notes. Rather poor.

T - Taste is similar to the nose, decent char. Light chocolate, more of that mineral. The bourbon is super faint, really uninteresting and bland.

M - Mouthfeel is really thin and watery. Alcohol hidden nicely.

O - Overall this was a very mediocre beer, super unfortunate and lackluster.

Serving type: bottle
Jan 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by sweemzander from Illinois

Dec 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.6 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Aug 22, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.76/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown, almost black, brown head, lighter, 1/3". These are always so bourbon and booziness heavy when fresh aroma wise.

Still hits with plenty of bourbon, chocolate malts imparting dark chocolate flavor and bitterness instead of sweetness. Brown sugar though, but not much to make it sweet or cloying.

Not bad stuff, just a high price tag.
Feb 16, 2016
Photo of Jimmys
Reviewed by Jimmys from Pennsylvania

4.71/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
500 mL bottle held at cellar conditions for nearly 5 years. been waiting a while for this one and tasted alongside XIV. both were good, but this was great. has held on exceptionally well over the years and is tasting great. the bourbon notes were perfectly balanced by loads of chocolate and roast. nothing was off-putting and there wasn't the slightest hint of oxidation or age. no idea how much longer this will hang on for, but for those lucky enough to have this one stashed away it is delicious right now!
Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.57 by imperialking from Illinois

Jun 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Lare453 from Florida

Mar 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by iL0VEbeer from New Jersey

Dec 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.15 by tectactoe from Michigan

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by riotontheroad from California

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by kristougher from North Carolina

Sep 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by GJ40 from North Carolina

Aug 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by KAF from Iowa

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by zestar from California

Aug 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by afsdan from Colorado

Apr 17, 2014
Old Rasputin XI from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 221 ratings