Beer Review – Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout by North Coast Brewing (California, USA)

A sincere friend is not born instantly. - Bottle of Old Rasputin

Even if it’s hot out, a quality stout is always welcome. 

I’ve been looking forward to this beer since I bought it last year and left it in my cellar. I’ve been able to keep my hands off it that long, but after a long weekend of hard work and a beautiful day, it is time to pop the cap on Old Rasputin. 

Old Rasputin (or Old Raspy, to its fans) is the flagship beer from North Coast Brewery in California.  It’s a high alcohol brew, which is not surprising since it is a Russian Imperial Stout (RIS). The ‘Russian’ descriptor is made all the more accurate with the name of Old Rasputin emblazoned across it, named after the mystic and holy man of Tsar Nicolas II of imperial Russia. We don’t need to go into the details of his story, but it’s an interesting side note. 

Key Points:

Alcohol: This is a strong brew at 9%, so be careful.  

Glassware: The glassware for any beer (except the most pedestrian) is crucial. An imperial stout is best served from a snifter. Snifters range in size from very small (4oz or less) to the much (somewhat uncomfortably) large Chimay chalice that I will be using here. My chalice is not entirely appropriate for the style, but certainly better than a common shaker pint glass. 

Temperature: Most people do not consider beer temperature in their enjoyment of a good beer. Consider it. A warmer beer will save your tongue from the numbness of cold. A numb tongue tastes nothing. A warmer beer will also release more aroma than something near freezing. Really, when was the last time you smelled anything that was frozen? Never. Frozen stuff pretty much smells like nothing.

A stout ought to be in the 40-45 degree (F) range, if possible.

Pouring from my large bomber (20oz) into my jumbo chalice, we get a beautiful head. The beer is dark, as expected. 

Look at that rocky head. 

Dark and beautiful.  

The Russian phrase encircling every bottle reads ‘A sincere friend is not born instantly.’ Good advice, especially for those new to stouts. Give it time.   

Availability:

Old Rasputin is not terribly hard to find. In the USA, most any decent beer and wine store will have this imperial stout. I purchased mine from Sams Club, for $7.99 USD.

Style	Russian Imperial Stout
Country	USA
Brewery	North Coast Brewing Company, CA, USA
Alcohol	9%
Appearance	Very solid head, clean and rocky. Good lacing on the glass as you consume.
Aroma	Hops hit you unexpectedly in the nose when you drink, but disappear quickly. Roasty notes take over.
Taste	Rich and dark. Flavors of molasses and roasted malts. Coffee and chocolate raise their heads as well. Very smooth, but you do notice the alcohol.
Palate	The alcohol level is well hidden, and the beer goes down very smoothly. Deceptive. It's not a thick beer like you might expect from a stout, so it drinks easy.
Overall	As far as Russian Imperial Stouts go, this leads the pack. There are some other harder to find RIS that would challenge this (Kate the Great, for instance), but for an easily found, readily available brew any wise beer-lover ought to snag at least one bottle for a taste. You cannot go wrong. I would buy this any day of the week, and would call for it on tap.
Score	92/100

Consensus from the Masses:

Thank you for reading! If you're in central Wisconsin, let me know. I will buy you a beer!