Need to Celebrate: Old Rasputin XII

By scot in Beer on Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Old Rasputin XII is a Russian Imperial Stout brewed by North Coast Brewing Company to commemorate the breweries anniversary. This was a beer that I anticipated for quite some time and grab a total of four bottles (two for friends and, it ended up, being two for me).

I have wanted to taste Old Rasputin XII since the day I purchased but drinking at work that day didn’t sound like a grand idea. I wanted it to be for a good occasion and cellar the other for a couple of years. At full price this is some roshe run costly liquid paradise, I wanted to make sure it was worth it.

My neighbor across street, Miles, is an American craft beer lover. I use that term here loosely as he gulps his beer like a large mouth bass would inhale a crayfish, but he always drinks good stuff. His wife has been pregnant with their second child, so I thought him and I could split the bottle to celebrate.

We did this past Tuesday as his wife gave birth to a bouncing baby girl on Monday afternoon. Yeah. I served at cellar temperature. Of course Miles eight ounce edition was down in two “small” sips. Mine, I savored. Some damn good stuff. So complex. So impressive to the senses. Now I really enjoy Russian Imperial Stouts but this is the best I have had to this point.

I know that I talk about cost of beers a lot but I think in these economic times it is something on most of our minds. I think the world of this beer, even received the go ahead from the wife to purchase another bottle or two from my favorite beer store, but I couldn’t pull the trigger. There is a ton of beer I want to try out there and I purchased two six packs and a bomber for $5 more than the price of one 16oz of Old Rasputin XII. I think I made a good decision.

Look for Two Beer Dudes at Great Lakes Beer Fest later today in Racine, WI. Enjoy!