North Coast Brewing Aged Its Popular Old Rasputin Stout in Westward Whiskey Barrels
Westward Whiskey joined forces with North Coast Brewing to create a barrel-aged Old Rasputin stout. (Photo: Westward Whiskey/North Coast Brewing Co.)
A very popular stout is getting a special finish in highly regarded craft whiskey barrels.
North Coast Brewing Co. announced on Thursday the release of a barrel-aged Old Rasputin Stout that matured for more than a year in single malt barrels from Westward Whiskey. The brands began collaborating in April 2022, and North Coast had the single malt barrels shipped from Westward in Portland, Oregon to the brewery’s home in Fort Bragg, California.
“This collaboration is a testament to the exceptional artistry and craftsmanship embodied by both NCBC and Westward Whiskey,” NCBC CEO Jennifer Owen said in a statement. “Our Brewmaster describes the beer as featuring robust whiskey notes complemented by hints of vanilla and dark chocolate aromas.”
North Coast Brewing’s Old Rasputin Stout is wildly popular. The brand claims the Russian Imperial Stout is done in the style of 18th Century English brewers who produced beer for the Empress of Russia, Catherine the Great.
The Northern California beer brand’s other claim to fame is its pilsner, Scrimshaw. The light beer uses a mixture of Munich malt and Hallertauer and Tettnang hops, according to the brand.
Westward Whiskey is heavily influenced by brewing, making this partnership an organic one. The brand experimented with malt typically used in beer-making in February when it released Westward Whiskey Vienna Malt.
The whiskey was created after Westward’s grain supplier delivered the brand two-row Vienna malted barley instead of the brand’s usual order, two-row pale. This “happy accident” was 2024’s first offering for the Westward Whiskey Club.
As for this new collaboration, Thomas Mooney, the CEO of Westward Whiskey, expressed that both companies have a lot in common.
“We are thrilled to partner with North Coast on this exciting and limited offering,” Mooney said. “We share so many similarities with this iconic beer producer – our passion for the brewing process and love for stout beers, our commitment to innovation and our love for bold and robust flavor — and we believe this symbiotic approach shines through in this Old Rasputin release.”
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