Name: Old Rasputin

Brewer: North Coast Brewing

Style: Russian Imperial Stout

Cellared On: July 13th, 2007

Original Tasting: August 5th, 2007

It’s August in upstate NY, and the thermometer is tipping 90 degrees. It is WAY too hot. So naturally I go inside, sit by the air conditioner, pretend it’s December, and crack open a stout.

And this sure is one bad-ass stout. A beer to sip if I’ve ever had one. Pours very dark, with a beautiful cream colored head. I get big roasted/burnt malt flavors as I try this, with a very nice creamy chocolate thrown in. I can definitely taste the booze, and feel it too (I should have ate sooner before trying this one). I was not expecting the slightly bitter hoppiness at the end. A damn fine beer, but not one to have in the summer.

Six Month Tasting: February 9th, 2008

A little rest has made this brew much more drinkable without sacrificing any of the flavor. The roasted/burnt flavors have subsided quite a bit, allowing chocolate, caramel, and roasted malt tastes to come to the front. Still a bit of hops at the end, but they are starting to fade, which makes the alcohol even more apparent. Color and carbonation were about the same as before, and the beautiful creamy head still held up throughout my drink. A much more balanced beer now in my opinion.

One Year Tasting: August 12th, 2008

Still holding up very well.

The same progression that I saw after the six-month tasting has held steady. It’s a pretty smooth brew now with the roasted flavors still shining through. The chocolate notes seem to be playing a pretty large role now, and the caramel flavors are holding strong. Not as much of an alcohol presence now either. There’s still a pleasant little hoppy bitterness at the end to close things off.

There may be the slightest bit of a papery oxidative taste at the end, but it’s very subtle. This is still a heck of a beer.

Cellar Outlook: Russian Imperial Stouts have a reputation for doing well in the cellar, and I expect this one to be no different. I’ll be sitting by my fireplace on some frosty winter night enjoying this.

Six Month Cellar Outlook: I’m anxious to see how prominent the chocolate and other roasted flavors will be after another six months. I think this brew has reached a nice place now balance-wise, I’m hoping it will hold there for awhile.

One Year Cellar Outlook: The bitterness has been fading fast over the past year, I’m not sure any of it can hold up with another year’s worth of aging. I think those yummy roasted flavors will be fine, however.

Next Tasting: August 2009