Beer of the Moment: Barrel Aged Rasputin

Being that it's winter, barrel-aged beer is commonplace here in Oregon. Just about every respectable brewery with cellar space has something aging in barrels these days (this is a major reason why something like the Tap & Growler's tasting is possible with local-only breweries).

So it stands to reason that I've had quite a few barrel-aged imperial stouts over the past few months. Everything from Bourbon County to Parabola. But there's one release I'd never managed to catch on draft, until now.

Barrel Aged Rasputin.

Now, North Coast's Old Rasputin is a world-class imperial stout all by itself. It's becoming easier to find on draft, even in its rarer (and somehow better still) nitrogenated form, but it's uncommon enough that it's an instant decision if I happen to see it somewhere and want an excellent stout.

The Barn Light was somehow able to secure a keg of the barrel-aged version, and I dutifully and eagerly showed up to partake.

Old Rasputin's such an excellent base beer that I was worried that the whiskey barrel version would somehow be lessened by addition, as it were.  Thankfully, a couple sips dispelled that notion.

Barrel Aged Rasputin is that rare whiskey-barrel beer that preserves all of the things I love about its base beer - the minerally, roasty flavor that's somehow light on the tongue, the lingering finish - and adds intrigue of its own. Most whiskey-aged beers add layers of caramel, oak, and sweetness that utterly dominate and override the base beer. Not so with Barrel Aged Rasputin. Here, the aging process adds a subtle whiskey/oak flavor to the roast, in a complimentary, cooperative fashion. I can't say enough good things about the deft, light touch and how much a breath of fresh air it is.

It's a beer well worth trying on draft. I imagine it's equally excellent out of the bottle.