Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin: Rye Whiskey
North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California, United States 🇺🇸
Stout - Imperial Rotating|
Score
7.90
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Stout Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. First release XVIII (2015).
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Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5
12oz bottle from Hops & Bottles. Black pour, skin of beige head. Rich chocolate notes throughout, licorice. Sweet, subtle strength. Not that boozy.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
The 12 oz bottle was bought at the local craft beer store a month or so back. The regular Old Rasputin used to be a steady drink for me, one of the first imperial stouts I rated. XXIII edition at 11.4% abv it says on the label. I have the Buffalo Bayou snifter on the table for the pour and I see a brown-black body with a dwindling medium tan head. I take a deep sniff and determine lots of chocolate, malt and coconut maybe. A drink comes now, yes, this is pretty good. Malt, a coffee presence, booze, dark chocolate, raspberry, a bit of char and some oakiness. Find the sensation to be a bit thin, I prefer a denser imperial stout. In any case, I like it considerably, a step up on the base OR.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
9-14-21 Grand Liquor, DC
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
The Aromas are molasses dominant with dark malt, roast, black patent. Flavors are much better than nose with molasses backing off a lot thankfully, on the sweet side but not overly so, good carbonation. A bit chalky with decent body and lightly bitter finish. Barest hint of whiskey at the very end. Alcohol is well hidden. Very nice beer.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
12 oz bottle. Pours black with a tan head. Molasses, dark fruit, cocoa aroma with whiskey, definitely more muted than the bourbon barrel version. Flavor is also more muted, with oak and whiskey combining with cocoa and molasses to create a silky palate. Good, but having had the bourbon version right before this, I can't help but compare them, and I definitely prefer the bourbon version.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Bottle from Livonia Liquor. Pours a deep brown to black with a small beige head. Rye whiskey aromas with light chocolate, coffee and prune notes. More of the same on the palate with peppery rye, prune and warming whiskey notes. A bit thin on the palate, from a texture standpoint, but good barrel character. Some light smoky character towards the end as it warms with lingering pepper and warming alcohol.
Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 9
16.9 fl bottle. Pours a blackish with a big foamy khaki head that has decent retention. The aroma is quite strong, I can smell this from quite a distance (ok, just from across the desk). Aroma consists of anise, dark chocolate syrup, vanilla and whiskey. The flavor consists of whiskey, black walnuts, dark chocolates and some licorice. The palate is full and viscous with soft carbonation. The finish is medium in duration and boozy. Paired with some Reggiano shavings--for some reason Reggiano and impy stouts seem to go well together for me. Overall: Top shelf stuff
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Bottle at tasting. Aroma of dark chocolate, licorice, soft smoke, soft whiskey and malt. Taste has bitter hop, dark chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, soft rye whiskey, caramel and a little smoke. Great classic bitter ris, love it.
