Rasputin Goes Westward

Old Rasputin Imperial Stout from North Coast Brewing is a classic of the style, but even a classic can change it up a little.

Back in April 2022, North Coast Brewing Company partnered with Westward Whiskey. “Single malt barrels were shipped to Fort Bragg and filled with Old Rasputin in August 2022. Now the results of our hard work have paid off, and we are proud to bring you a special offering: Our iconic Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout aged to perfection in Westward Whiskey Single Malt barrels!”

Tonight and Tonight and Tonight

It is hot here in SoCal but we gotta stout up, eve in the triple digits, so Highland Park Brewery has us covered.

“Tonight Tonight Tonight is an 11% ABV imperial stout with coconut & vanilla. This beer is thiccc! The amount of coconut & vanilla in this beer will have you thinking you’re drinking a Mounds Bar with each sip.”

Gin on Tuesday

The Bruery is adding a Black Tuesday variant aged in, wait for it, my favorite spirit, Gin.

It will be interesting to see if the botanicals can power through the very strong base beer. Then diving deeper, I would like to see smaller bottles with different barrels. Gin, wine, cognac and othets.

Dual Review – Infinite Wishes 2020 and Infinite Wishes / Peanut Butter 2021

Normally, I would review the standard Infinite Wishes as well as any and all 2021 variants. Since normal is still a few months away, I have cracked open a 2020 as well as the Peanut Butter Cup version.

Now let’s review these two from Smog City

Oh the Wishes I should have made this time last year.  But let’s talk about this waxed Bourbon Barrel Imperial stout, which the label describes as “a bourbon chocolate pie”.  I initially get a red wine vinous note along with a touch of coconut.  As it warms up, the chocolate starts to cone through. A mix of milk and dark versions.  A tiny hint of oak adds a different taste along with a bit more carbonated sparkle than I expected. 

Now let’s turn to Reeses, Jeff, Skippy or wherever your personal peanut butter fix comes from…

Big peanut hit upon popping the bottlecap.  It is not a candy aroma or taste though.  More peanut butter cookie to me.  Maybe a cookie dough effect. Less carbonated than the previous Infinite Wishes which I think works better. The bourbon barrel flavors are effectively removed. I wish that some more of that remained to create a boozy cookie simulacrum. 

In the Dark

Haven’t talked about Three Weavers in a mo’ but they have a new imperial stout with an Irish twist to it Some Dark Hollow. A big 12.3% that aged in Jameson Irish Whisky casks. Look for it in finer beer shoppes.

Switched Gears

El Segundo Brewing is know for their IPA (they even dip their toes in Hazy on occasion) but I want to highlight a barrel-aged collab with Burnin’ Daylight Brewing Company.

Together they whipped up an Imperial Stout then stowed it away in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for 9 months. According to the brewery press release it has “notes of cookie dough, brownie mix, cherries, baking chocolate, apricot, bourbon and toasted oak.”

Switchgear Stout” will be available in 375ml bottles on April 4th

Played Out

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Ohana Brewing will soon be releasing one of their biggest beers to date when their barrel-aged Imperial Stout, To Play Us Out hits store shelves. Releasing a 12.4% ABV stout now is probably the right play as we actually/hopefully fall into autumn.