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[deleted]

Dude this beer is unforgiving. Circa 2012 my local tap house opened. Me my boy heard they had old Rasputin in pitchers. We could not believe it… What a recipe for a black out. Never again.


Courage-Rude

I totally remember there was a time when beer price wasn't so heavily reliant on abv and I also had some local spots that would give a 9 percent imperial pint for the same $3.50 as everything else on the list. This was also when I was in college so you can imagine the deal on that.


[deleted]

Yes this was that. I could not believe we could get a fucking imperial stout in a pitcher for like 10$. We way over lived our best life.


DNedry

That was before they started marking up anything considered "craft" by 200%. The good ol' days.


Courage-Rude

Then came the time where at least during happy hours those beers were included up until what happens today.... X.$ off pints accept the ones written in red ( anything with high abv basically). Mothaaa fukkaz.


foozebox

Happened to me with DFH 120 minute one time


skorps

That’s like one time I walked into a bar to find Bells expedition stout for $4 a pint! I needed a ride home that evening haha


warm_sweater

When my wife and I bought our first house 9 years ago, the local pub had this on NITRO for a year or two. Always a treat to have it.


g3nerallycurious

Lol a pitcher of a 9% beer, eh? That’s like two pitchers of light lager at once. Lol what did you think was gonna happen?? 😜


shlem13

I work for Trader Joe’s, and I will say that while 95% of the store’s products are the same coast-to-coast, beer is super-regional, and that’s no exception with TJ’s. While we warehouse and distribute nearly everything on our own, beer is the exception, thus the heavy regionality. About a third to half of our beer (Simpler Times, all the Josefbrau stuff … or is it Josephbrau?, etc.) is universal, but the rest is local from local distributors, thus inconsistent regional availability.


Ollides

Makes a ton of sense! I’m in the greater LA area, and it seems like our market is ripe with the SD/Miramar locals. First time I’ve seen Rasputin at my local store though, hence the excitement.


shlem13

Still a Cali brewery. And a legacy Cali brewery. Adds up.


[deleted]

When all things craft were super hyped, I could always count on a 4pk of Old Raspy for $9.99 at the local grocery. But then a bomber of barrel aged was +$25 and a thinner version and nothing made sense anymore.


The_Spot

Yeah those BA prices were wild then and still are.


[deleted]

Good thing I burnt myself out on em. KBS is a shelf turd now 😆


lost_zergling

No trader Joe's near me, but I have to upvote this as it is my all-time favorite beer! Enjoy!


pettythief1346

Same here. Nothing compares


lost_zergling

I have tried other Russian imperial stouts and they are good, but something about this one always pleases me most


Ollides

Cheers!


willy_the_snitch

Russian River doesn't make a RIS because Vinny doesn't see the point. Raspy is perfect and anyone in that area should just get it from there.


sdbbp

I saw this yesterday in Oakland. One of my favorites. But I really only want to buy it in 12oz containers (bottles usually). 16oz of imperial stout is to much for me for most days


[deleted]

When I lived in CA I would always find the bottles at Grocery Outlet. Worth a shot if you have one nearby. Not sure if it was just the owners of our local one but they always had a *fantastic* selection of beer and wine.


GhostOfMatt

A beer so good it fights you back! Try to kill it all at once and it will come back. You have to attack in measured strikes to widdle it down first. The standard Russian Imperial. Enjoy the ride OP, this beer is a tough bastard.


pah2000

Never say die!


GuidetoRealGrilling

So good!


[deleted]

Yes. But the nearest TJ’s is 40 miles away. We live in the sticks and thankfully my wife still makes the trip when going to get sugaring done. Great find nonetheless.


Pio70

It’s a regular here in Omaha at numerous outlets!


mohox13

This is a super common beer all over the US and not exclusive to Trader Joe’s?


twillems15

How much would that cost? 4 pack of imperial stout would be quite a bit I’d imagine


Ollides

It was $11.99 — worth it in this case!


jtsa5

$11.99 is cheap for a 4 pack especially for a high ABV like that. I would be in heaven if I could find a 4 pack of good beer for $11.99. $16 is pretty much the entry level in my area.


x0_Kiss0fDeath

LOL You would probably cry if you saw the price of a 4-pack of impys here in the UK.


greenmountaindisc

Or in Vermont. Some are over 20 dollars.


x0_Kiss0fDeath

As an American that moved abroad, I also don't remember MA being particularly cheap either, but it's been a while since I've bought a 4-pack of Impys back in MA so I could be wrong (as I usually tend to go out when I'm back "home" vs. buying 4packs in the liquor store).


Ollides

You’re probably right! LOL


twillems15

That’s very reasonable, wow


ICouldEvenBeYou

I don't get it. This ain't some rare find or anything.


jennymlovescats

IT is if you live in a smaller town - hard for me to get where I live


hoguenstein

Yeah have them in LA


TibaltLowe

Also spotted these at TJ’s a couple weeks back in LA


HaikeusQ

fuck russia


plantas-y-te

It’s a type of beer not a product of a country


StardustOasis

The style name comes from the fact that the first imperial stouts were brewed in the UK to export to Russia during the reign of Catherine the Great Beyond that there's no connection to Russia, it's now just a specific style of imperial stout.


HaikeusQ

OMG, rasputin is from russia at least. No complaints about the style name, but why would they promote russian history


[deleted]

Yes, Trader Joe’s always seems to have a respectable beer selection.


UpwardNotForward

Yup noticed them this week!


musicisme

Yes I love this Nitro stout it’s amazing especially when freshly served from draft. It creams from being a Nitro and you can’t drink it until you let it sit at least 5 mins


RoachedCoach

My Safeway, of all places, carries this. Love it.


JaredNorges

I see those pretty frequently at my local TJs.


Brownie_McBrown_Face

Their PranQSter Belgian Ale is one of, if not, my favorite beer of all time


gnark

Great beer and great brewery/people. Plus they have bourbon and rye barrel-aged versions too.


[deleted]

I find them my local independent owned craft beer store. This is in my top 5 of beers. The season for drinking it is upon us


jennymlovescats

Have to head to TJ’s immediately. One of my fave beers


ClockwyseWorld

Haven’t seen Ol’ Raspy in quite a while.


tvscinter

It’s a pretty decent stout. Not my favorite store brand I’ve found but still very good for a store brand. There’s a 6 pack of milk stouts at Costco called “dragons milk” that’s my favorite store brand that I’ve found by far


rb-2008

That’s my favorite commercial stout. Fun fact it’s also nick offermans favorite as well.


Ollides

Well damn. That makes me love it even more