Old Rasputin XII
North Coast Brewing Co.

Old Rasputin XIIOld Rasputin XII
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From:
North Coast Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
11.2%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.31 | pDev: 9.98%
Reviews:
371
Ratings:
546
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 14, 2021
Added:
Jun 28, 2009
Wants:
  122
Gots:
  141
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mistofminn:
Photo of Mistofminn
Reviewed by Mistofminn from Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
I bought two bottles of this the first day it was available in Minnesota. I wasn't going to drink either of the two bottles for quite some time, however I couldn't handle the bottle sitting in the basement so I had to try it...it was calling to me...

Pours a jet black into my pint glass, with a large brown head. The head has great retention and amazing thick, chunky and sticky lacing.

This is definitely a bourbon bomb. I get some vanilla, oak and a thick sweet caramel malt backbone. Very enticing...I can't wait. Light alcohol scent, not as much as you would think.

The taste is as advertised, exactly as it should be. Bourbon, oak and vanilla, dark fruits and sweet malts, a chocolatey bitterness and again a light alcohol presence. Again, the alcohol is not as imposing as I feel it could be, pretty dang impressive. This is a straight up amazing tasting beer.

This beer is thick, and coats the mouth. It goes down smooth and leaves a bourbon taste lingering in the mouth. Alcohol definitely has it's warming affect, but again, not as bad as you would think. Drinkability is very high. I'm not saying just anyone could walk up to this beer and chug it, but those that appreciate the style will find this a very easy drinking beer. I could easily (and most likely regrettably) finish this bottle to myself, thankfully I'm sharing it with a friend.

Overall, this is a solid beer, any way you look at it. As far as Barrel Aged beers go, this is near the top. Possibly the best stout (in general) that has ever graced my lips. I can only imagine what time will do to this bad boy, but I know it's going to do wonders. Unfortunately for me, that doesn't bode well for the second bottle making it very far into the future. We'll see...
Sep 23, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of htomsirveaux
Reviewed by htomsirveaux from Texas

4.39/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
11 year (or has it been 12?) long trip for this bottle. Was a nice drive up to Ft Bragg but the paperwork was stupid.

Poured in the 0.33 L Maredsous goblet.

Very small brown head lingers only briefly. Minimal carbonation. Very dark brown in color, nearly opaque. Bourbon is still strong in the aroma. Vanilla, roasty, bittersweet chocolate, ethanol. Lots of vanilla and bourbon to start. Almost like a bourbon and coke. The oakiness other reviews mention seems to have faded nearly completely. Medium body. Alcohol is noticeable but not too warming until the end. Finish is roasty bitter with some lingering heat from the alcohol.

Really shoulda opened this at least a couple years ago but it has held up well.
Dec 31, 2020
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Been sitting on this for quite a while.
Pours a tan small fizzy head with med-low retention, little lacing, decent legs, jet black color

Nose has the old BCBS aroma, plenty of dark aged roasty malts, dark chocolate cocoa, baking spices, little coffee, fudge, some vanilla and toasted oak notes, a touch of whiskey, touch of nougat can candy like, plenty of aged malt, just a hint of oxidation but a nice kind

Taste starts very rich with layers of chocolate and cocoa, dark chocolate, cookie dough and wafer notes, smooth vanilla, light buttery oak barrel and a bit of whiskey but not much, baking spices, more candy nougat like fluffy notes, a touch of alcohol but pretty smooth, some aged roasted malt, a little coffee, but no char, just a touch of bitterness, mild drier finish, bit more bitterness, some smooth alcohol, hint of oxidation, bit more whiskey lingering

Mouth is fuller bod, smooth, med-lighter carb, just a hint of alcohol warmth but smooth

Overall pretty nice, aged well although the barrel characters have faded with the alcohol, wish that came through more, but the base beer is nice, good aged character
Mar 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Nov 30, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jul 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by heysuz from Indiana

Jul 22, 2018
Photo of HopasaurusRex
Reviewed by HopasaurusRex from New Hampshire

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Milk chocolate, roast, and bourbon vanilla cream on a cold winter's night. The wind whistles outside, but this warms my spirits.

A bit low in carbonation. Thin bodied for 11.2%. Perhaps the fusels have faded with time.

A worthy sipper, but not quite worth the price of admission..
Jan 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Feb 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.54 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Oct 30, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.49/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Black pour left a 1/5" tan ring of head that didn't start with much to retain in the first place. The aroma isn't for the feint of heart, it drops substantial amounts of bourbon heat, then chocolate and wet oak. Better like it hot.

The weirdest thing for me about these beers is that they take a great world class base beer, and then make it actually worse by making it way more expensive and hot in these barrels.

They get better with age, but this was just too much heat when it was fresh. The grade is an average of the scores when fresh (hot, below average) and aged 3-5 years (better, but still not worth the price).
Feb 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by w5baron from Pennsylvania

Dec 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by DWittmann from Ohio

Nov 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by changdulla from Rhode Island

Nov 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.36 by wethorseblanket from California

Nov 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Lare453 from Florida

Apr 16, 2015
Photo of dar482
Reviewed by dar482 from New York

4.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
The aroma offers huge vanilla, some coffee, and roasted malt.

The flavor follows with bitter cacao nib, wonderful oxidation of a touch of soy, lots of vanilla in the middle and roasted malt. A touch of bourbon booze on the back. The beer is smooth, yet medium mouthfeel.
Apr 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by SkiBum22 from New York

Apr 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by ajpowell5 from New Jersey

Mar 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Feb 02, 2015
Old Rasputin XII from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 546 ratings