I’ve said it many times throughout the life of this site – North Coast’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout has been a big part of my beer drinking life. It’s an all time personal favorite and was quite integral to my early beery development. The company’s Bourbon barrel-aged variant takes that favorite beer and cranks up the enjoyment big time!
This big stout, combined with its time in barrels, makes for a wonderfully decadent experience. The base robustness mingles nicely with wood, Bourbon and a touch of vanilla. Coffee, cocoa and a touch of campfire roastiness fill in the gaps smoothly for a well, rounded and nicely balanced swallow.
The XXII variant of the beer feels a bit smoother than previous versions, but that may just be my polluted memory not fully remembering prior experiences. As with each year’s release, North Coast have themselves a classic that all stout fan needs to hunt down. Oh, and that Rye barrel variant is pretty damn tasty, as well.
This is a review of a promotional sample.
Appearance
Sizable head of dense, light brown foam. Beer sits opaque and black.
Aroma
Super smooth. Bourbon, vanilla, cocoa, espresso and light wood.
Taste
Base stout shines beautifully with smooth barrel influence. Gentle bourbon, wood, hint of vanilla. Robust. Coffee and light cocoa in the lasting, drying finish. Full bodied. Light sweetness.
