Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Filed under:Resolution Beers — posted by Dann on March 2, 2007 @ 6:41 pm

#60
Brewery: North Coast Brewing Company
Beer: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Location: Home
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I’m drinking this one today for The Session, where several other beer bloggers will be writing about drinking various stouts - all across the board. It’s a good time and a great idea.

I’ve tried several of the North Coast offerings in the past and greatly enjoyed the Red Seal and ACME IPAs - so I was looking forward to this one. Plus I’d heard nothing but good things about this particular beer. And from what I’m tasting here, it mostly delivers. It pours out with a tremendous head - nearly as thick as whipping egg whites into soft peaks. The beer itself is very dark but with a reddish tinge along the bottom of the glass. It smells of light hops, coffee and a fruit scent that I can’t quite place. Those same tastes continue coming through with the first sip - and at the same time you can taste the high alcohol level. Sitting at a powerful 9% ABV, this isn’t a beer you’d want to plow through very quickly. There’s a full, silky mouthfeel with a slight feeling of residue left on the tongue. The fruit comes back again in the aftertaste after the coffee and chocolate roast flavors start to subside.

Up until this point I’ve pretty much left the darkest beers alone - I’ve drank a Guinness and an Anchor Porter but out of 60 beers that’s a poor showing. I’ll be picking up some more stouts and porters in the future. I had almost forgotten how much I enjoyed just sitting back and drinking a full, powerful beer that tastes like a cup of coffee. I blame the Florida weather, if I can blame anything. Darker beers just seem to fit better in a darker climate - cold, rainy or foggy and dark outside. If only we had more days like that down here.nowcom online accept card creditamericredit online pay$800 credit tax advance 2008accreditation university buxtonassociation psychological colleges apa american accreditedcredit aig cards philippinesmontana credit home 580 loans scorecalifornia bsn schools in accredited Mapreleases latest movie dvdscenes movie sexyvoyeur home moviesmovies sex toonin found stuff nasty movies disneymovies sex ebonyraimi movies xxxmovie nude richards clips denise free Map

8 comments »

  1. Like your blog Dan, although I no doubt favor your roommate’s taste in beer; however, one of the things you have missed to this point about certain beers and ales is the climate in which they are brewed and drunk. It make a significant difference IMO, eg, Guinness is much better in cooler weather (and in Ireland). :-) Keep up the good work!

    Comment by ennislaw — March 2, 2007 @ 6:48 pm

  2. I’d generally agree with you - except for the fact that apparently the Jamaicans love their Guinness Export bottles. I do believe that one of the reasons Florida has so few good brewpubs and microbreweries is the climate - nobody wants to drink anything heavy or dark when it’s always 70 degrees or more outside. Alas - at least they’re shipping good Northern and Western beer down here these days.

    Comment by Dann — March 2, 2007 @ 7:07 pm

  3. […] Dann Drinks Beer: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout […]

    Pingback by beer mapping project » The Session: The Beer Mapping Project’s Expedition — March 2, 2007 @ 11:03 pm

  4. Dann:

    The Mad Monk — a great choice in stouts. This is an American classic.

    Rick
    http://lyke2drink.blogspot.com

    Comment by Rick — March 2, 2007 @ 11:25 pm

  5. […] - While Ray put the North Coast Old Rasputin back in the fridge, Dann at Dann Drinks Beer didn’t. It was beer #60 on his march to 365 for the year. […]

    Pingback by Appellation Beer: Beer From a Good Home » Blog Archive » The Session #1: Stout roundup — March 5, 2007 @ 9:50 am

  6. […] Finally made it down to the Cock and Bull pub this past Saturday night for a beer. Saw that they had this stout on tap and since I was still in a stout mood from the Stout Session on Friday it seemed like a good idea to compare and contrast the difference. And there was a huge difference from the Old Rasputin I had previously. […]

    Pingback by Dann Drinks Beer » Lost Coast 8 Ball Stout — March 9, 2007 @ 9:32 pm

  7. I have to agree that living in Florida largely hinders the true beer lover’s hobby. I grew up in New England and enjoyed the variety brewed and available there. However, I am at school here in southwest Florida and am unable to find much of a selection of beer to choose from. Even at local bars and pubs it is tough to find anything but watered down, national beer brands. Keep up your good work.

    Comment by Steve — May 27, 2007 @ 2:14 am

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