Stout season is upon us, and here in Colorado we're lucky to have many excellent choices available to us. Whether it's a dry, sweet, oatmeal, American or imperial stout, these complex beers offer so much character and intrigue for the drinker. On this November evening, I chose an Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout from North Coast Brewing Company to enjoy with a turkey reuben. This meal offers a lot of flavor and comfort while feeling lighter and very much scaled down from a traditional reuben. The sandwich features thin-sliced turkey breast with Jarlsburg cheese and angel hair coleslaw on marble rye, and then grilled on a panini griddler. We also had oven-baked sweet potato fries on the side.
Old Rasputin is a classic Russian Imperial Stout, very roasty and dark with complex flavors of coffee, dark chocolate and a hint of tobacco. It's more of a sipper that's most commonly enjoyed during the colder months, but can also pair well with certain foods and desserts. The beer's flavors went well with the meal, with the roasty malts playing nicely off the marble rye bread and the cheese. The turkey also works well with the dark elements of the beer, but is somewhat overpowered by the robust nature of this style. An American stout like Deschutes Obsidian Stout or Avery Out of Bounds Stout just might make a better pairing choice in the future.
Overall, this was a delicious meal made even better with the chosen pairing. Old Rasputin can be found in many states throughout the country year-round, and is an excellent value at approximately $10 for a 4-pack of 12 ounce bottles. That's quite reasonable for an excellent beer that's 9% ABV. This kind of darker, complex, soul-warming beer style is ideal during the fall and winter. It's perfect to savor with loved ones or friends while enjoying the kind of warmth that good company can provide.
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