Old Rasputin XXVII (Aged in Bourbon Barrels)
North Coast Brewing Co.

 

 

(review from February 2018) Unbelievably mellow, complex & palate-whompin powerful w/the licorice, tobacco & bourbon notes toned down as well as the 12.1%!This one doesn't just "go to eleven", it goes to twelve-point-one!!!

12 oz bottle from Appalachian Vintner in Asheville, NC ($6.05). Revisited with slightly less enthusiasm in June 2026.

An outstanding barrel aged Imperial Stout with no significant flaws. The (low) bitterness and moderate levels of whiskey and whiskey barrel notes give this a bold yet refined flavor profile. I'm surprised to see critics bemoaning astringency (too which I am quite sensitive) and too much bitterness ... I think they have had to many pastry stouts.
Overall: highly recommended.

 

 

Bottle pour - dark as a moonless night with chocolate milk head leaving minimal scattered lacing. Nose is hints of chocolate, coffee, barrel wood and vanilla. Taste follows with caramel, bourbon and a hint of citrus added to the mix. Finishes with a lingering sweetness. Nice cold weather sipper.

Thin watery dark brown, 1/2" tan head fades to a ring. Snot machine senses some chocolate and booze. Taste buds get similar sensations. Thin texture does nothing for this beer. I think the plain old Old Rasputin is the gold standard for Russian Imperials, this one is lacking.

Pours a two finger tan head, receding to a thin creamy lace that clings to the sides of the wine glass. Heavy bourbon, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, brown sugar on the nose. Taste follows. Solid.

12-ounce bottle purchased at John's Marketplace, Beaverton, OR. Enjoyed in a nonic half-pint glass.

Look:
Starts off with the expected Old Rasputin profile, a dark-brown body, not opaque with orange highlights and a tan head. burnt orange highlights at the edge of the beer.

Smell:
Semi-sweet dark chocolate, laden with sweet bourbon. Notes of orange peel and char and pine around the edges. Caramel lights up the body.

Taste:
Malty up front with brown and chocolate malts behind a prominent wall of bourbon. Dark chocolate and caramel with licorice and coffee following a trail of orange zest and bourbon. The char and bourbon foundation gives way to a dark chocolate and orange burst, followed by a hot bourbon and chocolate body. The long aftertaste is big bourbon and Tootsie Rolls in a long, orange-accented finish.

Feel:
Medium-heavy body with a smooth texture. Strong carbonation exacerbates the bourbon heat.

Overall:
This beer has the dark chocolate presence and hoppy finish you want, with a layer of bourbon on top. Hot, yes, but Old Rasputin fans should be able to handle this. Bourbon adds a sweet layer to the existing deep cocoa notes and dark orange chocolate character. I don't mind the sweetness, and I do like bourbon, but I can't say this is any improvement over the original classic beer.

Extremely dark chocolate colored pour with very thick head, and the head lasts and good lacing.
Awesome nice whiskly notes, and woody aromas.
Stunning stout, with absolutely awesome whiskey tastes. Slightly sweet with good chocolate taste as well.
Very thick in the mouth, makes you want to drink way more.
Possibly one of the best beers out there!

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a pub glass. It pours a dark walnut with a half finger cap of creamy, medium-mocha-colored foam. A fragrant nose featuring roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, and modest but noticeable bourbon. Its flavor is deep and rich with abundant chocolate and caramel, along with burnt espresso and earthy char. The barrel influence is evident but doesn't overwhelm the other flavors. It has a creamy mouth feel with lite carbonation, and the 12% ABV is warming and noticeable. Overall, the barrel aging adds some sweetness to the base Old Rasputin I am really enjoying this variant.

 

 

12oz bottle - dark brown/black pour with a finger-ish of daker khaki head. Not my favorite profile of all these versions I've tried - a bit boozy, roasty, charred.

Chocolate cherries vanilla espresso roasted in Bourbon barrels.

 

12oz bottle poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 12% ABV. The beer pours pitch black with nearly no light penetration and medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is moderate in strength resembling a bourbon soaked expresso fudge brownie. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with big charred oak and bourbon. Less sweetness than the nose and big finishing bitterness. The feel is medium bodied with just less that average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, excellent, if a bit barrel intensive right now.

Look: It pours very dark brown with a tan head. Head retetention is low.

Smell: It has aromas of chocolate and roast witih bourbon. There are some dark cherry elements and very low levels of dark fruits.

Taste: It has roast elements with chocolate. There are bourbons notes in the background. There are some cocoa elements with dark cherry and very low dark fruits.

Feel: It has stronger carbonation than I excepted with a smoth texture. It has strong alcohol warming with the finish being on the bitter side.

Overall: It has a nice combination of malts and bourbon. The other elements are in support well into the background.