Rainwater Oak-Aged Stout
Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC

Rainwater Oak-Aged StoutRainwater Oak-Aged Stout
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 10.83%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
31
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 20, 2014
Added:
Jan 03, 2010
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  8
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Nov 20, 2014
Photo of wisrarebeer
Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

3.97/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased in 2010 at $14.49 for a 22 oz bottle.

A: near opaque, jet black with reddish hues, thin head
S: full nose, roasted malt, coffee undertones with nice barrel-aging
T: nice beer, roasted malt with noticeable caramel and vanilla, good hop balance but stong malt dominance
M: has all the traits of a barrel-aged RIS but not a big stout in body
Nov 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by dc55110 from Minnesota

Jul 31, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by DougieFresh3030 from Minnesota

Jun 17, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by elec from Minnesota

Mar 17, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Khazadum from Illinois

Jan 22, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by aliving1 from Minnesota

Jan 03, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by tbeq00 from California

Dec 12, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by acurtis from New Jersey

Nov 30, 2011
 
Rated: 3.75 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Nov 29, 2011
Photo of AgentZero
Reviewed by AgentZero from Illinois

3.24/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Thanks to Alex for the share.

A - Black beer that lightens up on the edges and a bit of brownish head that didn't stick around for long.

S - Pretty sweet, too much sugar. Some oak, red wine, and something that smells too much like brine or olives to be pleasant.

T - A bit vinous, with some roast, vanilla, wood. Smell tends to get in the way of the taste, as the briney aroma is kind of gross. Taste is not bad though, if you can get past that.

M - Medium bodied, healthy carbonation, fairly dry finish.

O - Bad smell, okay taste. Not a huge fan of this, but the alcohol is hidden. Had some potential, but something turned a little funny on it.
Nov 19, 2011
Photo of SpeedwayJim
Reviewed by SpeedwayJim from New York

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to TheDudeRules by way of 666 BIF Round 4 for this one. Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into a Darkness snifter.

Pour yields a massive 4 finger frothy, light coffee colored head that dissipates to 1 finger quickly but sticks around. Beer is an opaque black. Lacing is stringy and thick but with little cling.

Nose is heavy sweet soy sauce, dark pureed raisins and plums, chocolate, and a hint of roasted malt in the background. Robust and sweet and very aromatic.

Opens sweet soy sauce and prune juice. A slight tartness. Chocolate comes in towards the middle along with raisin, molasses, and some roasted malt sour overtones. More chocolate and roast towards the end. Finish is milk chocolate and molasses with near no aftertaste. Pretty standard but the flavors are executed very well here.

Medium to full bodied with low carbonation. Slick and oily in the mouth and smooth going down. Finish is messy but with a clean aftertaste. Average.

A surprisingly good beer from a brewery that I've not personally heard of. I was told this was a 2009 release. If so, the flavors have mellowed out nicely through the years.
Jul 24, 2011
Photo of msubulldog25
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A 750 ml caged/corked bottle, proudly brewed in Lucan, MN (pop. 220); this bottle courtesy joshuaseresse last summer, just now getting it in Winter 10/11. Poured to a larger GDBC snifter. No dating that I could find.

On the side: 22°P/4°P and the reminder 'Enjoy Slightly Chilled' ~ mine is straight from a fruit cellar that's around 45-50°F this time of year.

A: Plenty dark ~ sure, it's about as close to 'black' as they come. Glugs out of the neck oil-like, after a couple seconds a fine tan-cinnamon cream builds to a half-finger. Head dwindles to a thin skim and breaks into (I kid you not) a fragmented pattern that looks every bit like an inebriated smiley face, from my angle.

S: Pretty good aroma of dark chocolate and a building coffee that teases the nose with a latent alcohol. 'Oak -Aged' says a lot here: there's plenty of vanilla and char, a sooty and almost BBQ'ed sweet-smokiness. Unfortunately, smell isn't as lasting nor deep as the best, but it's decent. A hint of brassy metal and citric fruit/tang (both my own personal 'dislikes' in an RIS) prevent even a '4'.

T: Has all the requisites for a Russian Imperial: loads of coffee and chocolate, strong yet not overwhelming sugariness, berries and vanilla. A wonderful 'roasted nut' frangrance turns into something sweet and butterier on the palate ~ think walnut brownies. The 'Oak Barrel' added wonderful nuances and the addition of Belgian Candi Sugar lends a sweeter and earthier touch.

M: Very creamy/smooth, yet surprisingly a little thin. Just 'a little', though, as the fudgy and ashy/bitter remnants last a fair eternity.

D: Very likable, nothing inherently 'wrong' with this stout. Drinkable enough for a 10%, worth splitting into two sessions during the evening - a pre- and post-dinner sipper.. A well-done stout by an obscure brewery that I doubt travels to Oregon much; cheers, Brau Brothers and thanks, Josh!
Feb 12, 2011
Photo of shir0043
Reviewed by shir0043 from Minnesota

4.21/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Stumbled upon a couple bottles at a local shop. I didn't even know Brau Brother made an imperial stout and I'm excited to try it.

The beer is pitch black with a nice tan head. If anything this beer was a little over carbonated, nothing that a little time in the glass can't fix. Almost nothing to the smell. I do pick out some oak, roasty malts, and candi sugar. Taste is much better and I'm pleasantly surprised. The beer has an acidic quality up front (oak?) along with hops and tons of dark malts. This beer is best on the finish. Tons of dry biscuit or maybe gram cracker with a nice subtle hops kicker. I also taste chocolate and roasted grain. No signs of the 10% ABV. Truly delicious.

This isn't the best RIS that I've had but its very good. I would love to taste this aged in a bourbon barrel instead of a standard oak barrel.
Feb 10, 2011
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.61/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I picked this up at Dennis Brothers back around Darkness Day. Served in a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.

A - Thankfully this isn't suffering from the carbonation problems its brother Rubus was. A few fingers of tan foam settle to a thin cap, leaving some spotty lace. Black body with some glints of color at the fringes.

S - The aroma is overly sweet and cloying. Candi sugar, port fruits, chocolate malt, and as it warms some oak and vanilla emerge. Needs more roast character for balance.

T - Taste is thankfully heaver in roasted malt, wood, and espresso, and improves things immensely. The Madeira barrels contribute a light acetic and vinous note in the finish that mingles nicely with the roasty bitterness.

M - Slightly overcarbonated, but not as much as the Rubus. Medium-full body, some warmth, and a tannic, dry finish.

D - This is definitely the better of the Brau Brothers offerings. It's a slightly above-average oak-aged stout that would be nice as a local offering, but probably isn't worth seeking out specifically. Conversely, the 226 inhabitants of Lucan are spoiled when it comes to the quality of beer-to-population ratio.
Jan 02, 2011
Photo of jrallen34
Reviewed by jrallen34 from Illinois

3.41/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to Alex...This is the opposite of the Rubus, horrible start but good finish, mix this 2 together and you might get a good beer...Dark murky brown with an ok light tan head, not much to look at...A really bad aroma of sweet oak, unnecessary candied sugar, red wine, vanilla, and a kalamatta olive brine finish...The taste is much better as the olives are gone and presents as swirl of oak, wine and vanilla.

Hold your nose and drink this and you'll be surprised.
Jan 01, 2011
Photo of herman77
Reviewed by herman77 from Minnesota

3.77/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
*100th Review*

A: Black with a light brown head with great retention. Just a tiny bit of lacing barely holding on.

S: Roasted malt is very prevalent and dominates right away. Dark chocolate, vanilla, dark dried fruits, plums and raisins. Also minor whiffs of coffee and oak Some smokiness lingers in the background as well. A touch of booziness. Lots of great stuff going on in the aroma.

T: As in the nose, sweet roasted malt is the main characteristic. Again, there is some nice dried dark fruits: raisins, plums. Vanilla from the oak aged influence. Oak flavors are not too obvious, but its defiantly there .Smokiness is also noticeable.

It does have an odd sweet metallic taste near the finish that I'm really not fond off (not as noticeable the longer you drink). Finishes with a long, bittersweet roasted maltiness. A little disappointed with the taste from how great the nose is.

M: Medium body. Thought it would be thicker and chewy since its a huge 10% abv imp stout. Carbonation is pretty high and active considering the style.

D: Drinkability is okay. A sipper, huge flavors, it is an Imp stout after all. ABV is hidden pretty good, but you know its there.
Jul 18, 2010
Photo of alcstradamus
Reviewed by alcstradamus from Iowa

3.23/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours black with two fingers of head and some lacing.

The aroma is of toasted malts, oak, raisins, and a bit of metallic fruity sweetness.

The flavor is big on the roasted malts and oak. There is a distinct metallic sweetness that detracts from the flavor. It is tasty underneath that off flavor, but overall it is quite average

The body is medium and carbonation is on point. Drinkability is average mainly due to the overall average flavor profile. It goes down easy for 10%, but doesn't impress.
May 29, 2010
Photo of dozer0430
Reviewed by dozer0430 from Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I pour the 750ml bottle into my big snifter glass. A 1-finger tan head is generated, which then gradually dissipates into a thin layer on top of the beer. The body is black in color and doesn't seem to let any light pass through.

The smell is making me thirsty! There are some sweet dark chocolate and roasty malt aromas. I'm also picking up some dark dried fruits and just a hint of coffee. There is also a bit of alcohol in the nose.

Wonderful flavors emerge on the first sip. Rich sweet malt comes first, along with definite oak and vanilla qualities. Dark roasted coffee is also present before the mellow bitterness finishes everything off. It's odd that I could smell alcohol, but I can't taste it. It's covered up very well.

There is a medium thick weight to this beer. I actually think it seems lighter in body than many other imperial stouts I've had. There is a creamy smooth character that is pleasing on the tongue, and a nice alcohol warming effect.

This is an awesome imperial stout! It's rich with dark malts and the flavors associated with them. I'm not sure how much flavor comes through from the belgian candi sugar, but it definitely adds to the alcohol. Without a doubt, this is the best beer I've had from Brau Brothers and I hope they brew it again.
May 04, 2010
Photo of CHSLBrew
Reviewed by CHSLBrew from Minnesota

3.72/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter.

A-Dark brown beer, looks like a porter coming out of the bottle, hazy. Head was light brown and faded to a micro-thin bubble layer and thick, light collar.

S-Roast and chocolatey tones, very malty, with some blueberry esters.

T-Belgian candy sugar character mixes with some dry chocolate and dried fruit. Some sweetness. More dried fruits and berries emerge as the flavor progresses. Hop bitterness melds with a slight roasty bitter. Finishes with residual estery fragments and a roasty, almost smokey, character.

M-Medium-full body, thought it's perhaps a touch thinner than the thinner imperial stouts I've tasted. Carbonation is moderate-low.

D-An interesting beer. I don't think this one really fits the typical mold (which isn't a bad thing), but I think Brau Bros. intended that. An interesting and enjoyable stout.
Apr 27, 2010
Rainwater Oak-Aged Stout from Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 31 ratings