North Coast Old Rasputin X

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

This Imperial Stout pours a medium to dark black color from a 500ml bottle. Small to medium sized beige foamy head. Aroma is chocolate, coffee, a touch of vanilla and some bourbon. A medium bodied Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate and coffee, with a touch of vanilla and bourbon. The hops are earthy and floral. Nice balance, with a touch of an alcohol bite. The bourbon flavors tend to overwhelm the chocolate and coffee a little. Nice and mellow, will probably improve with some more aging. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet, with some bourbon.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Thanks to thebeercellar for this one. He let us pick one of his cellar beers to bring up the tasting at his house and this was the one that I nagged him to break out. Large bourbon aroma, but not over the top in the flavor. A bit thin in the body. Well balanced with more vanilla than whisky.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottled@Akkurat, Stockholm. Deep ruby red colour (black), mediumsized beige head. Aroma is really whiskyish, oaky and vanilla mixed into some roasted malts and alcohol. Flavour is bourbon/whiskylike along with wood, vanilla, coffee and alcohol. Some licorace also shows up as it warms up a bit.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle courtesy of slob and Robert both. Poured the usual black impy stout color, head was decent, no lacing. The aroma was oak, bourbon, not much else, perhaps some dark fruits in there. The flavor was bourbon, oak, vanilla, caramel, but no hops at all, not even a touch of roast. All the original character of Old Raspy was gone, a little overcome by the bourbon unfortunately, but still quite enjoyable. The mouthfeel, despite being overdone by bourbon was still quite medium bodied, rather drinkable, not sticky, not really hot either. A decent brew. Thanks for sharing, Bert and Robert!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Thanks to tever for getting this beer for me. It pours a very dark brown with red highlights. The head is light brown and frothy. The aroma and flavor hit you with vanilla and bourbon. What's surprising is how light the body is. The bad news is that the 11% ABV sneaks up later and hits you. A nice brew, but surprisingly light bodied

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

Thanks to Craig for bringing this to our monthly tastings. This is just simply sinful. What an outstanding concoction North Coast has made to celebrate their 10 year anniversary of brewing. The aroma is bourbon, wood, toffee, vannilla, molasses and dark chocolate. Appearance is jet black with a nice one-finger dark tan head. Flavor profile is very strong on the vanilla with coffee, bitter apple core, caramel and dark fruits. Insanely creamy and smooth on the palate with a finish that just leaves you wanting to sip this all night long. It's crazy to think that North Coast can take an already great beer in Old Raspy and create something even better. Excellent job.