Old Rasputin XXII - Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged
North Coast Brewing Co.

Excellent head production, retention, and lacing. Foam is a dark tan, and body is almost jet black.

Nose is clean and fairly straightforward for an Old Raspy BA brew: nutty, roasty, strong, and bitter, with tones of espresso, burnt coffee, bitter cacao nib, prune, raisin, toast, caramel, oak, licorice, molasses, and whiskey.

Hot on the palate, with enough boozy sting that it prevents savoring as much as you might like with a beer this big and deep. Bitter and not overly sweet, with an emphasis on bitter, roasty, big RIS tones, all complemented by oak and spicy rye. Flavor tones include bitter chocolate, coffee, red grape, bark, leather, oak, vanilla, coconut, pepper - in no particular order.

As expected, this beer delivers on the premise, and is a worthy continuance of the series. If you prefer your BA imperial stouts sweeter and maltier, this isn't for you; this is very much an Old Rasputin brew, bitter, roasty, and RIS through and through.

500ml bottle, foil wrap over cap. The only dating information is the 'XXII' marking on the label to indicate the release number.
Black colored body, with a red garnet back lit edge. The first pour brings forth two fingers of tan colored head, and this retreats slowly to a thick cap and higher ring. Leaves behind partial lacing walls on the non-drinking side of the glass.
Aroma of spicy rye whiskey, roasted malts, chocolate, caramel, and a nod to dark fruit.
Taste is dark roasted malts influenced by spicy rye whiskey barrels. Flavors of sweet malts, caramel, toffee, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and oak. Hints of dark fruit and spices, especially cinnamon. Aftertaste expands on the spice notes, but also remains sweet.
More than medium mouthfeel. Creamy texture with a drier finish. Very warming due to the higher ABV% but no burn. Very good carbonation.
Surprisingly sweet but with a full display of flavors (which the barrel aging seems to have enhanced). Highly drinkable, and requires control to slow the imbibing rate.

Pours a thick tan frothy 1 finger head with great retention, great layered lacing, jet black colored beer

Nose brings heavy roast and stout like beer, a little char and smoky note, thick dark chocolate and a bit of fudge, vanilla layers, a bit of spicy hop, cocoa, toasted vanilla oak, a bit of whiskey but not a lot, plenty of baking spices though

Taste starts with the rich dark malts again, fair roast, a bit of espresso, hint of char, then into dark chocolate, cocoa, nougat, mild caramel and cookie, plenty of baking spices again with some anise as well, more vanilla and oak barrel notes, a bit of spicy whiskey, some spicy hops with fair bitterness from the hops and roasted malts, thick chewy fudgey notes, semi sweet sticky finish, lingering chocolate cookie, anise, spicy hops, and some roast

mouth is full bod, thick chewy, mild warming but mostly smooth alcohol, med carb

Overall not bad, I do wish the barrel came through more, the age seems to have mellowed a lot of the general characters like alcohol and spices

 

 

Look - This pours a nice dark black color with a thick head that sticks around better than most stouts. Looks really nice!

Smell - Malt, rye whiskey, and dark fruit. Simple, but I found the nose pleasant.

Taste - Malt and a light whiskey. Good, but taste needs more strength in my opinion.

Feel - Felt ok, but a bit light at only 11.9%ABV. Not as much flavor as I expected from the nose.

Overall - This beer seemed a bit weak in my opinion; needs more ABV perhaps.

 

 

2019 vintage; drank 9/25/24 @ the Hopleaf.

Black/brown appearance.

Small tan head; nice lacing.

Rye spice, dark chocolate, candle wax & dry wood notes in the nose.

Medium thick, sticky mouthfeel.

Odd plastic marshmallow flavors; a hint of rye spice on the finish.

I'd like to think the line was bad, but the Hopleaf doesn't play like that. This smelled OK but tasted bad.

 

**
07/23/23

Bottle to snifter. Aged +/- 2.5 years.


Look:
Medium creamy, but silty, head.

Aroma:
Oak, light whiskey.

Taste:
A little smokey. Some cocoa notes. Definitely oak that starts small and builds.

Feel: pretty dry, although a touch creamy. Full body.


**

 

A nice dark brown pour, a good tan head that leaves a nicely laced glass. A "woody" aroma with a hint of chocolate, brown sugar and caramel, taste buds get that plus a hint of whiskey. It seems thin for the style, but so does the base beer. To me Old Rasputin is the beer I measure all others by, and this was a bit disappointing.

 

 

 

From the 500 ml bottle in a snifter. This fine RIS pours a deep
obsidian with an excellent head of khaki foam that settles to a
thick ring, thin clumping layer, and shows some excellent lacing.
Nose of faint oak, spicy rye whiskey, light vanilla, brown sugars,
astringent booze, and subtle dark fruits with touches of char.
Flavors excel over the nose with spicy rye whiskey, moderate oak,
light vanilla, dark cocoa, faint coffee, dark brown sugars, and
nice touches of char. Nice mouth feel; full body teetering on
medium full, smooth, very drinkable, rich, coating, light
prickly carbonation, and a full warming finish drenched in
whiskey and dark roast.

Overall----more excellence from a great brewery!

Cheers

 

Look: Very dark brown/black; good head and lacing
Smell: Burnt caramel, chocolate; rye was less noticeable
Taste: Malt, bit of whiskey, vanilla, cocoa; a big beer - wasn't boozy, hot, but you notice the 11.9%
Mouthfeel: thinner than expected but still full bodied; good carbonation
Overall: Really good beer that was fun to try; would definitely try again

500mL bottle labeled as XXII aged in rye whiskey barrels poured into the accompanying tulip glass from the gift pack. Served just above fridge temp and 11.9% ABV. The beer pours very dark brown with nearly no light penetration and abundant medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island leaving an impressive web of lacing. The aroma is rye whiskey heavy while still cool. Some nutty & cocoa notes as it approaches room temperature. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with big notes of rye whiskey, oaky barrel and ashy bitterness. Flavors of coffee, dark chocolate etc sneak through as it warms in the glass. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with less than medium carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, excellent, if you like rye based spirits, which I do. Bold "traditional" barrel aged flavors and aromas with no additives to soften the experience.