A beer geek's Old Rasputin dream come true! :)

The draft beer menu at the newly opened

Second Draft in Tai Hang

My first ever glass of the draft version of the

North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin Imperial Stout! 

Some two decades ago now, I went on a leisurely road trip with a friend from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- where I then lived and worked -- down to Beaufort, South Carolina, before returning to the City of Brother Love via a more direct and faster route.  Early on during one of those parts of my life that I'll remember -- and treasure -- forever, I found myself sitting alongside my friend on a quiet beach one evening, enjoying the sound of waves, the fresh breeze and a couple of bottles of really good beer.

Earlier in the day, my friend and I had found a place with a nice craft beer selection -- and I had opted to buy a four pack of the North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin Imperial Stout because I had been a fan of that strong, dark beer style ever since I was introduced to Samual Smith's Imperial Stout on tap in a London pub by an old English boarding school friend who hailed from the north of England.  And as I sipped my first ever bottle of that American microbrew, I got to thinking -- and feeling somewhat shocked when doing so -- that I had actually found an imperial stout which tasted better from a bottle than the draft version of what may well be my favorite English beer of all!

Although I did visit California a few times after I became familiar with the wonders of the Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, I never did spend time in a drinking establishment where that California beer was available on draft (or, for that matter, in bottles).  Also, back in those days, you'd never expect a microbrew from the West Coast to be on tap in a bar over on the East Coast as they tended to be very local products. 

Almost needless to say then, I pretty much figured that I had kissed my dream of tasting the draft version of this wonderful American craft brew goodbye once I left the US and made my way back to Asia a decade or so later.  And this especially since in the first years that I was back in Asia, about the only stout I ever saw on offer was Ireland's famous, mass-produced -- but, to my mind, rather one-note -- Guinness.  

But about three years ago, I saw an imperial stout from Norway's Nøgne Ø brewery on tap in a Hong Kong bar and realized that the times were a changin' -- in that the microbrew (or craft beer) revolution had finally reached the Big Lychee!  And in the spring of 2014, I finally came across the sight of bottles of Old Rasputin Imperial Stout on sale -- and proceeded to grab a few of them even while scarcely believing my eyes and luck!

As I came to find out though when trying to share my love of this beer (along with a few others) with friends, this rich and complex tasting brew is actually somewhat of an acquired taste.  And even though it's popular enough among beer geeks that North Coast now brews this super dark beer all year round rather than -- as was previously the case, and customarily for (imperial) stouts -- only in winter, it seemed that there would be little hope that bars in Hong Kong would be willing to offer it on draft here. 

So imagine my excitement as well as ecstacy upon seeing Old Rasputin Imperial Stout offered on tap at Second Draft, a new bar-restaurant in Tai Hang which is currently in its soft opening stage but already attracting quite the buzz and crowds.  And yes, I can confirm that this California beer has travelled well and tastes great in draft form; so much so that I not only came away very happy after having two glasses of the 9% alcohol brew this evening but also am seriously contemplating becoming a pretty regular patron of this establishment -- which, if truth be told, would otherwise be too hipster and way popular for my liking... -- as long as they have this great beer available on tap! ;b

Update (on September 20th): I visited Second Draft again this past Sunday and found out that the Old Rasputin Imperial Stout is off the menu; and worse, they don't know when it will return to the menu.  I'm hoping that they'll bring it back this winter (a season for which imperial stouts are best suited).  Sadly though, the bar manager didn't sound too enthusiastic about doing so when I spoke to him; this despite it having been very popular when it was offered at Second Draft. :S