Old Rasputin
North Coast Brewing Co.

code from the bottle 01311215 means: The first number is the year, next three the batch code and the following four numbers are the month and day it was bottled. 12/15/2020. Room temp (68F) slow pour in small tulip.
Little khaki head, dark brown beer.
Smell malty.
Taste bitter malt buzz dark chocolate.
Feel smooth bitter cream.
Solid well made classic stout worth trying.
Trying to keep this beer always in my fridge.

A solid go-to for an Imperial Stout.

 

Half pour on draft at Blue Ridge Beer Hub, Waynesville, NC. Almost or maybe a perfect balance of bitter and sweet. A magnificent impie stout. No over the top pastry vibe. This draft version is much smoother than the bottle. Pleasant bitter char finish. ABV well maintained at 9%.

 

 

 

Rich malt, roasty aroma, full body.

 

 

This beer feels like it came from the windblown russian steppe. Keep your wife away from this beer, or it might end up being her closest confidante and advisor. Known to precipitate revolution. Tounge-lashing beer that coats your mouth with the bitterness of a russian winter. Known to raise the dead and is absolutely capable of curing a child's haemophilia. This beer mus be drank with food or you'll wake up at the bottom of the moskva.

This is an American RIS through and though. Greatness is foreshadowed by a lush khaki head during the pour. It has very little in the way of dark fruit notes while it booms with roasted dandelion, chicory, coffee, and bitter dark chocolate flavors. These flavors are delivered expertly via a perfect body and carbonation, especially as this beer warms. A bit one dimensional, but this is not the most deep thinking stout, and it doesn't need to be. Old school, dry, bitter, and easy to come back to. Classic

 

 

Old Rasputin deals with its drinkers as you may expect: harshly on an empty stomach. Even now, my gut turns just writing this review.

It is what it purports to be and remains a true achievement among brewers. I have long since stopped drinking them but continue to observe their place, at a respectful distance, on my Greatest Beers list.

 

 

 

 

Look: Flawless. Deep black body with a MASSIVE tan head that has 13 minute retention. One of the finest looking beers in the world.
Smell: Lightish smoky malts accompanied by inviting coffee.
Taste: Bitter upfront. Rounded out by smooth malts & coffee before finishing again on bitter side. Just a touch of alcohol is noticeable.
Feel: Heavy in the mouth and full bodied with adequate carbonation. Soothingly coats the throat.
Overall: A truly exceptional beer that I would highly recommend.