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Old Rasputin XVIII (Aged In Rye Whiskey Barrels)
North Coast Brewing Co.
- From:
- North Coast Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 11.3%
- Score:
- 94
- Avg:
- 4.25 | pDev: 7.76%
- Reviews:
- 68
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 02, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 27, 2015
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 128
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by brentk56:
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.29/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Now that's an impressive pour, with a massive beige head building over the fudge colored liquid; the head grows rocky and the lacing coats the glass
Smell: Chocolate and Rye whiskey, with oak and vanilla tones
Taste: Dark chocolate with a Rye chaser, the spicy tones of the rye barrels building through the middle; vanilla and toffee add a little sweetness to balance the spice through the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation
Overall: While I would prefer a fuller mouthfeel, the flavor profile of this beer is really enhanced by the Rye barrel aging
Mar 04, 2016Smell: Chocolate and Rye whiskey, with oak and vanilla tones
Taste: Dark chocolate with a Rye chaser, the spicy tones of the rye barrels building through the middle; vanilla and toffee add a little sweetness to balance the spice through the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation
Overall: While I would prefer a fuller mouthfeel, the flavor profile of this beer is really enhanced by the Rye barrel aging
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MaddDoGG5150 from California
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a deep, satiny black color with a frothy white foam head. Great retention.
Aroma: Toasted malt. Molasses, Vanilla, Chocolate, rye, and slight coconut.
Taste: Rye forward, Sweet roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla and slight coffee in the mid. A lingering, boozy finish.
Overall: This is quite a strong and complex stout, with well balanced flavor and aroma characteristics. 4.5 out of 5.
Mar 02, 2023Aroma: Toasted malt. Molasses, Vanilla, Chocolate, rye, and slight coconut.
Taste: Rye forward, Sweet roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla and slight coffee in the mid. A lingering, boozy finish.
Overall: This is quite a strong and complex stout, with well balanced flavor and aroma characteristics. 4.5 out of 5.
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4.33/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle from Hops & Bottles. Black pour, skin of beige head. Rich chocolate notes throughout, licorice, rye notes. Sweet, subtle strength. Not that boozy.
Dec 05, 2021Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio
4.29/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I saw these and had to get them. I have long been a fan of most things from this brewer. This is #23.
This pours nicely black and heady. The aroma is strong and sublime - booze booze and booze. Get it? The taste is more like plain Old Rasputin, as if that were a let down. The aftertaste is a bit gritty - you know you've had the real deal.
Highly recommended. A different take on a classic brew that takes things to another level.
May 23, 2021This pours nicely black and heady. The aroma is strong and sublime - booze booze and booze. Get it? The taste is more like plain Old Rasputin, as if that were a let down. The aftertaste is a bit gritty - you know you've had the real deal.
Highly recommended. A different take on a classic brew that takes things to another level.
Reviewed by Scotchboy from Idaho
4.17/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.17/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Half-pour in a snifter, on draft near my house.
A: Dark brown/black, opaque, with a creamy tan head that laces well.
S: Strong impressions of rye whiskey, mild spicing and earthiness with oak and a good dose of vanilla, mild coconut from the barrels. There is a present coffee aroma as well as a mild chocolate/dark chocolate roastiness.
T: Moderately strong whiskey character with a strong roasted malt backbone...there is a good dose coffee flavors and earthy spice...dark caramel, char, faint smoke...bittersweet bakers chocolate.
MF: Very creamy and smooth, not quite full-bodied, with low carbonation and a present dryness and moderate clingy bitterness.
O: Really nice rye barrel characters in this one, and it’s VERY smooth; invisible alcohol presence and no booze really, just a nice rye whiskey presence with earthy spice.
Feb 12, 2021A: Dark brown/black, opaque, with a creamy tan head that laces well.
S: Strong impressions of rye whiskey, mild spicing and earthiness with oak and a good dose of vanilla, mild coconut from the barrels. There is a present coffee aroma as well as a mild chocolate/dark chocolate roastiness.
T: Moderately strong whiskey character with a strong roasted malt backbone...there is a good dose coffee flavors and earthy spice...dark caramel, char, faint smoke...bittersweet bakers chocolate.
MF: Very creamy and smooth, not quite full-bodied, with low carbonation and a present dryness and moderate clingy bitterness.
O: Really nice rye barrel characters in this one, and it’s VERY smooth; invisible alcohol presence and no booze really, just a nice rye whiskey presence with earthy spice.
Reviewed by hopley from Massachusetts
4.27/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Not sure how much 5 years if age did for this one but it was an extremely handsome beer with a beautiful creamy brown head that lasted well throughout the entire drink, at least around the edges at the end, and the taste was smooth and creamy with a slightly roasty and barrel character. Others might say smooth and creamy and it’s been years since I’ve had any form of the beloved Old Rasputin, so I’m thinking I’d like to revisit both a fresh bottle of BA as well as a bottle on non BA just to compare. Enjoyed drinking this one as I finally found the right moment to pop that cork!
Jun 16, 2020Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
4.12/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A corked and caged 500ml bottle, XVIII release. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a one finger dark tanned to brown head that had good retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, chocolate, whiskey, oak and vanilla.
Taste: Rye whiskey forward providing sweetness, light roast, chocolate, coffee, oak and vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Body was lighter than I’d prefer for what it is. I get the whiskey booze forwardness, but I don’t get much of the usual spiciness from rye whiskey (maybe I’ve held on to this bottle for too long?). But nevertheless, it is still an enjoyable sipper.
Oct 24, 2019Appearance: Black in colour with a one finger dark tanned to brown head that had good retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, chocolate, whiskey, oak and vanilla.
Taste: Rye whiskey forward providing sweetness, light roast, chocolate, coffee, oak and vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Body was lighter than I’d prefer for what it is. I get the whiskey booze forwardness, but I don’t get much of the usual spiciness from rye whiskey (maybe I’ve held on to this bottle for too long?). But nevertheless, it is still an enjoyable sipper.
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
4.09/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I can’t find a bottled on date anywhere on here, but ABV is stamped at 11.3%.
Caramel brown pour, dark and with a nice ring of beige head that settles softly around the body of the beer. Not much of any lace retention.
On the nose, immediately notes of dark fruit and rye barrel. Roasty malt and caramelized sugar compliment nicely as the beer opens up a little more.
Again, the barrel really shines here with a mildly spicy whiskey character. Following notes of caramel, molasses, raisin, oak, and subtle hints of coconut. Very well-balanced and subtly complex.
Fairy thin-bodied, with a low, soft carbonation. Not as much body as expected, but the residual stickiness and boozy warmth gives it all you need to round this out really nicely.
Aug 19, 2019Caramel brown pour, dark and with a nice ring of beige head that settles softly around the body of the beer. Not much of any lace retention.
On the nose, immediately notes of dark fruit and rye barrel. Roasty malt and caramelized sugar compliment nicely as the beer opens up a little more.
Again, the barrel really shines here with a mildly spicy whiskey character. Following notes of caramel, molasses, raisin, oak, and subtle hints of coconut. Very well-balanced and subtly complex.
Fairy thin-bodied, with a low, soft carbonation. Not as much body as expected, but the residual stickiness and boozy warmth gives it all you need to round this out really nicely.
Old Rasputin XVIII (Aged In Rye Whiskey Barrels) from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
275 ratings
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