North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin XII 12th Anniversary is a 11.2% ABV Russian imperial stout, aged in oak bourbon barrels. Produced in limited quantities, I was stoked when a new friend in Chicago gifted it to me (thanks Tom!).

Old Rasputin XII poured a deep, dark raw umber—near black—with a ½-finger head that dissipated after a short time but had great legs. Its aroma was of dark, bittersweet chocolate with the heat of alcohol in the nose.

Its body was lighter than I expected but by no means "light." I’d say it weighed in at a medium to medium-heavy (heavier as it warmed up even more) with tiny bubbled carbonation that was most detectable on the tip of my tongue. The carbonation kept it from being cloying, despite the fact that it’s an imperial aged stout.

On the palate, it was dark bitter chocolate and sweet hot bourbon from the barrels in which it was aged. Positively delectable and one I would love to enjoy again.

I cannot thank Tom of theperfectlyhappyman.com for bringing this to me, otherwise I might never have had the opportunity to indulge.

Cheers!

TAGS [ BEER REVIEWS | NORTH COAST BREWING | OLD RASPUTIN XII | RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT ]