Bottoms Up! Old Rasputin from North Coast Brewing

Where I once shied away from trying bold beers, I now embrace the opportunity to try deeper, darker, stronger brews. A little over a year ago, I had the opportunity to try North Coast Brewing's Old Rasputin Imperial Stout and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. North Coast describes this beer as:

"Produced in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia's Catherine the Great, Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It's a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish."

Here are my impressions of this beer:

Appearance-The appearance of Old Rasputin is a very rich, very deep ebony color. This is not a beer that you can see through. It produces a thick, creamy head that lasts and offers a good amount of lacing that sticks to the glass as you drink.

Smell-The aroma of this stout reminds me somewhat of Lemon Pledge. There is a lemony scent to this that is balanced with notes of dark chocolate and coffee.

Taste-There is an upfront lemony taste that gives way to the deeper flavors of coffee and dark chocolate that were present in its scent. There are also hints of vanilla sweetness present mixed with a burnt flavor that makes for an interesting combination.

Mouthfeel-This is a good, medium weight beer. I was expecting it to feel heavier based on its color and deep flavors, but was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't. It feels almost slippery as it goes down. The feel of the bubbles remains after the beer is gone. I did notice a drying effect on my throat the more I drank.

Overall Impression-I have had stouts, but not a Russian Imperial, so I was unsure of what to expect. The flavor was a little more "burnt" than I was expecting, but I welcomed it. I am one of those strange people who enjoys burnt potato chips and French fries. For more novice drinkers, I believe it would be too overpowering of a flavor. I recommend pairing this beer with chocolate, strawberries and rich, creamy desserts such as custards, tiramisu and mousse.

Old Rasputin has many awards throughout the industry:

• 2012 Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival
• 2006 Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival
• 2006 World Beer Championships, Chicago
• 2005 World Beer Championships, Chicago
• 2004 World Beer Championships, Chicago
• 2004 Spring Beer & Wine Fest, Portland
• 2002 GABF, Imperial Stout
• 1999 GABF, Imperial Stout
• 1999 World Beer Championships, Chicago
• 1998 World Beer Championships, Chicago
• 1997 World Beer Championships, Chicago
• 1996 World Beer Championships, Chicago
• 1996 World Beer Cup, Imperial Stout

For more information about North Coast Brewing and Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, please visit their website, Facebook page and Twitter.