North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Interesting anecdote about Rasputin: "Allegations of sexual misconduct were no doubt encouraged by his frequently embarrassing drunken behavior; on one occasion documented by a History Channel documentary he is said to have opened his pants and waved his penis in front of shocked diners at a Saint Petersburg restaurant whilst inebriated." It is only fitting, then, that a deliciously potent 9% ABV stout be named in his honor.

Old Rasputin has long been one of my favorite stouts. The alcohol content is high enough that a 12 ounce bottle will typically warm you up just enough to stave off the winter chills. The taste is that of roast grain and dark chocolate: slightly bitter, but rich and thick. I'm also a fan of the short, stocky bottles (also used by Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, and other mostly west coast breweries) as opposed to the dominant 12 ounce long neck. A four pack will set you back about $7, but the warming effect of the brew will likely offset your heating bill by at least $2 per bottle, so you're essentially earning $1 each time you by a case. At least that is how I've rationalized my consumption...

Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock

Apparently, Aventinus brews this wheat doppelbock "according to the Reinheitsgebot." For those of you who are not aware (myself included), "Reinheitsgebot" translates roughly to "Bavarian Purity Law" and was historically used to restrict the German beer-making ingredients to hops, barley, and water. I did not know this fact at the time I purchased the Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock, but the large, foreign word impressed me enough to buy the 16.9 ounce bottle for $4.19.

The bottle claims that the beer has "received accolades for the perfect balance of fruity spiciness (banana, clove, vanilla) and notes of chocolate." Clove is definitely the most predominate taste, but an easily perceptible chocolate-Twizzler flavor accompanies the spice. As the beer warms and the effects of the 8.2% ABV manifest themselves on an empty stomach, the doppelbock begins to taste more and more like the scented candle aisle at Michael's or JoAnn's Fabric. Not such a good, or pure, way to end, but it was enjoyable until the last four ounces or so.

St Sebastiaan Golden Ale

Ok, I'll admit it. I bought this beer mainly because of the attractive limited edition silk-screened bottle and artsy booklet that was attached. I don't dislike Belgian style ales, but I rarely drink them aside from a Blue Moon at the burger place in Davis every now and then. So, doling out $12 for a 16.9 ounce bottle of St Sebastiaan's Golden Ale was, essentially, an impulse buy.

Like most Belgian ales, this one smells like peaches and tastes "like potpourri, but in a good way," according to my girlfriend. The typical coriander and citrus hit heavy with a clove-laced floral assault. My initial thought was that it tasted like a perfumey cleaning product, but the harshness fades and the complex flavor array lingers pleasantly and easily hides the 7.6% ABV. It's a bit too musky and heavily spiced for my liking, but St Sebastiaan's Golden Ale wouldn't be bad if it were $8 a pint cheaper.

The bottle is really pretty, though.

Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout

Back-2-back stouts! I had never heard of Ninkasi Brewing Company out of Eugene, Oregon until last week. The brewery was mentioned in one of the anonymous comments written in the monthly food co-op newsletter where people bitch about a low supply of fair-trade organic sustainably harvested filberts and that the energy efficiency of the dairy aisle could be improved by killing all dairy consuming beings. The response to why the co-op did not carry Ninkasi beer mentioned that their brews were "delicious," which of course piqued my curiosity.

After taking the dog on a hike north of Sacramento, we stopped at the Citrus Heights Beverages and More! to stock up on, well, beverages (but no more!). Though the co-op's beer distributor can't provide it, BevMo! had a hearty supply of 22 ounce bottles of the Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout for $3.99 a piece. Maybe if those filthy hippie Davis Food Co-Op patrons weren't so opposed to driving a few miles for tasty beer, they wouldn't have to complain about not being able to find Ninkasi in the monthly newsletter.

The stout lives up to the hype. Ninkasi's stout is slightly smoother and less acidic than the Rogue Chocolate Stout. There is still a roasted coffee taste, but it is more subtle than the Rogue version. The 7.2% ABV is completely hidden and gives Ninkasi a clear win in the alcohol:cost ratio category when pitted against Rogue.

Pairs well with 2-week old roast peahen stew.

Rogue Chocolate Stout

I don't often like to talk about how a beer smells, unless it wreaks of death or has a really crisp fruity nose. However, Rogue's Chocolate Stout smells good. Really good. Opening the bottle is like plugging in a Glade air-freshener that is roasted coffee, dark chocolate, oatmeal, and malt scented instead of something like "Spring Meadow."

The taste is essentially just like the scent. The stout is thick, but not syrupy. The acidity of coffee (I don't think there is actually coffee in this, but maybe the taste comes from the roasted barley) nicely accompanies the bitterness of the chocolate and the sweet malt. I wouldn't say that this is as good as the Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Stout or even Port's Old Viscosity Ale (review forthcoming), but Rogue turns in a solid performance on their $5.99, 6.3% ABV bomber.

PS- The other blog contributors need to drink and/or write more.