-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Old Rasputin XI
North Coast Brewing Co.
- 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:
- 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 MacDomer:
Reviewed by MacDomer from Illinois
4.65/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.65/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
BIG thanks to fellow BA Googzoid10 for helping me get my hands on this one. Much appreciated, Greg!
First off, this bottle looks like it just means business. It's heavy, dark, and looks pretty thick - just like what the beer ends up like.
I poured about half of the corked and caged 500ml bottle into my Duvel tulip. Served at 58 degrees. Looks great - black as night, with a huge frothy and creamy dark brown head. Nice lacing - about as much as you'd expect from this high of ABV. I get a nice frothy cap whenever I feel the need to agitate and stick my nose in there.
Speaking of, this smells awesome. Big bourbon, but not overwhelming. Vanilla, wood, dark roasted malts, nice sweet chocolate and the faintest hint of rich espresso.
Taste is freakin' fantastic. Delicious stout with great big complimentary blast of bourbon, vanilla, and oak. Really decadent without being over the top - gooey, caramelly, burnt brown sugar, chocolate, and just plain ol' goodness. Freakin' fantastic (again).
Mouthfeel is also excellent. Medium body, medium carbonation, and really, really smooth. Coats the mouth, but isn't heavy or too thick. Strikes a great balance.
Drinkability is amazing. I think this has to do with what I'd consider about the perfect about of bourbon - not too much, but a good bit more than a hint/nuance. Also, great mouthfeel, not too thick, not too thin - makes it easy to drink a 500ml. Would love to have this one again!
Apr 12, 2009First off, this bottle looks like it just means business. It's heavy, dark, and looks pretty thick - just like what the beer ends up like.
I poured about half of the corked and caged 500ml bottle into my Duvel tulip. Served at 58 degrees. Looks great - black as night, with a huge frothy and creamy dark brown head. Nice lacing - about as much as you'd expect from this high of ABV. I get a nice frothy cap whenever I feel the need to agitate and stick my nose in there.
Speaking of, this smells awesome. Big bourbon, but not overwhelming. Vanilla, wood, dark roasted malts, nice sweet chocolate and the faintest hint of rich espresso.
Taste is freakin' fantastic. Delicious stout with great big complimentary blast of bourbon, vanilla, and oak. Really decadent without being over the top - gooey, caramelly, burnt brown sugar, chocolate, and just plain ol' goodness. Freakin' fantastic (again).
Mouthfeel is also excellent. Medium body, medium carbonation, and really, really smooth. Coats the mouth, but isn't heavy or too thick. Strikes a great balance.
Drinkability is amazing. I think this has to do with what I'd consider about the perfect about of bourbon - not too much, but a good bit more than a hint/nuance. Also, great mouthfeel, not too thick, not too thin - makes it easy to drink a 500ml. Would love to have this one again!
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2019Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
3.41/5 rDev -20.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
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, 2017Pours 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.
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts
3.28/5 rDev -23.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
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, 2017A - 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
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.76/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
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, 2016Still 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.
Reviewed by Jimmys from Pennsylvania
4.71/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
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
Old Rasputin XI from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
221 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!