Ivan The Great - Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC

yamar68

Minnesota

3.94/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a near coffee black with an edge of ruby clarity. A minimal amount of khaki carbonation retains for a moment before receding to a stubborn, consistent outer ring.

Burnt coffee grounds, fudge, a bit of that overripe red fruit, some vanilla or caramel, brown sugar and molasses, alcohol character is pretty damn tame. Smooth milk chocolate with a hint of black licorice.

Not quite as balanced on the palate... some bitter chocolate/coffee/candy that gives way to some raisin, cherry flesh, abstract bitterness, dry coffee grounds... nothing to write home about but I think it fits the bill.

I'm not totally sold on this one but it certainly has some potential. Maybe some time in the cellar would show me something special.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 04:13:51 | More by yamar68

mkh895

Arizona

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

06-16-2013 21:47:00 | More by mkh895

Lionhawk

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

06-15-2013 02:23:52 | More by Lionhawk

Zaphog

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

06-09-2013 01:30:09 | More by Zaphog

Supergenious

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

06-06-2013 01:34:35 | More by Supergenious

Woodman70

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

06-01-2013 03:23:00 | More by Woodman70

MN_Beerticker

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-29-2013 12:42:55 | More by MN_Beerticker

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Brau Brothers Ivan the Great Russian Imperial Stout. What? An Imperial Stout from Lucan, MN? About freaking' time, huh? Label says: IBU: 90, SRM: 52, Alc: 9.5% by Vol. No further gobbledygook, thank goodness. Let's open it up.

Complete and thoroughly, utterly solid and flawless black. Rich, cocoa-tinged brown head. Looking good.

Aroma: black cherries, rum, and raisins hit first, but let's not forget plum, currants, and then comes black pepper. Molasses, anise, and last, but not least, alcohol.

Taste: Cocoa and espresso flavors from dark malts rush the palate at first sip, coating the sense. Stays long and hard in the mouth, but maintains a medium mouthfeel. Not as rich and full as as some big, bountiful RIS's, but not too far a cry away, either.

A good stab at an Imperial Stout. Not rising to the top of the ranks just yet, but a fairly good stand, nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 08:26:41 | More by feloniousmonk

chugalug06

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Solid milk chocolate lacing. Black brew, toffee colored head. A bit thin.

Slightly metallic. Very dark chocolate, cherry, toffee, yum.

Amazingly dark with chocolate flavors, licorice is way mild and hardly noticeable. Leathery, coffee, deep roasty toffee. Carbonation is beyond mild and perfect. Bitterness is well represented and balanced. Slightly awkward Sweetness, but it's setback and well placed. Deep, dark, not overly roasted. No heat.

WHAM-O! Solid brew, Highly recommended. Should be considered a must try. Thanks for sharing Graham, I hope to do another trade with you in the future!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 03:43:07 | More by chugalug06

tobelerone

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-11-2013 02:03:17 | More by tobelerone

griffeyb

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -21.9%

05-08-2013 17:56:26 | More by griffeyb

DersOne

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-02-2013 19:50:22 | More by DersOne

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

thanks for the extra beer from hopazoid!

poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: black bodied beer with 2 fingers of frothy tan head. The head on the beer has really good staying power and leaves a coating lace on the side of the glass.

Smell: Roasty, milk chocolates/ lactose note, coffee creamer, fruity esters, anise, and a hint of leather.

Taste: starts off with an aggressive roasty earthy bitterness reminds me of a breakfast blend coffee thats has over the top earthy notes. Liquid smoke and some milk chocolates. The finish is moderately roasty and fruity with notes of black licorice and tobacco hiding in the back.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. The beer is a little bit thin, but its nothing distracting. Not boozey at all; abv is well hidden.

Overall: Nice and enjoyable RIS. Nothing mindblowing, but I would not be scared to pick up more of this beer. Really nice offering from Brau Bros!

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 05:34:08 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Ilafan

Minnesota

4.34/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This little brewery out in Nowheresville, Minnesota is really starting to impress this fat beer drinker! I really liked their Moo Joos Milk Stout, and this Ivan the Great Russian Imperial is impressive, too.

I love it when a beer is nuanced yet balanced. This beer has that. It has both the "sting" of a hoppy IPA and the cream of a typical stout. It's a very nice combination here, and I am impressed with the creativity of it.

I look forward to more delicious beer from this upstart.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 16:04:44 | More by Ilafan

Beerontwowheels

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

04-16-2013 16:00:33 | More by Beerontwowheels

Eric908

South Dakota

4/5  rDev +4.2%

04-05-2013 23:45:00 | More by Eric908

King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

04-03-2013 01:17:20 | More by King_KongDCO93

Cramerican

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

04-02-2013 03:21:06 | More by Cramerican

zekeman17

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.2%

03-31-2013 01:00:07 | More by zekeman17

Mdog

Minnesota

4.06/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black, big head.

Smell: Bitter chalky dark chocolate, smoky note.

Taste: Dark chocolate, mild bitterness. Bit of coffee, very well balanced.

Overall: Picked up a single to give this one a try. It's pretty good. I prefer my RIS to be a little sweeter than this, but it is well made and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 21:05:20 | More by Mdog

2Cents

Nebraska

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

L. Black as oil with a thin caramel colored head. The lacing sticks around a little while.
At 9.5% there are plenty of alcohol legs.

F. The mouth feel is pretty thick with just enough carbonation. The Alcohol presence is apparent but not over powering.

S. Pretty much your standard R.I.S: Chocolate, Coffee, Licorice and leather. The first bottle I opened was loaded with yeast esters, this one not so much.

T. Roasted malts, caramel, leather and coffee flavors at first, then a grassy, astringent hop taste slides down the tongue and dominates the after taste,

O. This is very close to being a very good American R.I.S but the hops don't quite seat with the malt combo. That's to bad because I like a brewery that grows all of there own Hops and grains on sight and, at least tries to thinks outside the box on hop and grain combos.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 06:27:20 | More by 2Cents

KWMiles

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.2%

03-18-2013 18:01:11 | More by KWMiles

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice.

Appearance: Pours pitch black with a moderate amount of bubbles. About two fingers of deep tan head that slowly fade into a thin creamy layer. Leaves a lot of lacing around the glass.

Smell: A sweet and roasty stout aroma with lots of molasses and earthy hops. Dark roasted malts with hints of chocolate, burnt toast, coffee, caramel, toffee, cream, nut, yeast, and smoke. Lots of molasses and some pretty big hints of anise licorice spicing. A little tobacco and leather. Bigger hints of hops than usual for a stout. Good hints of earthy hops and grass. Decent aroma.

Taste: Follows the nose, although the roasty chocolate flavors are kind of tame for the style. Dark malts with some notes of burnt toast, chocolate, coffee, cream, caramel, toffee, and yeast. Burnt, smoked malt and some notes of leather and tobacco. Sweet molasses and anise spice giving notes of licorice. Very earthy with some good notes of grass. A decent taste overall.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, slick, and pretty smooth. Kind of thin for an imperial stout.

Overall: A decent stout overall with a nice hop presence, but could of been more roasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 06:35:35 | More by MattyG85

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A - Solid black with a very small creamy mocha head.

S - Sweet malt, fruity, anise, caramel, molasses, light roasted malt.

T - Molasses, burnt coffee, bitter chocolate, slightly sour, hoppy finish. Slightly harsh.

M - Somewhat thin with low carbonation.

D - Enjoyed the Rye Wyne but not really this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 21:38:42 | More by brewcrew76

gdornfeld

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

03-14-2013 22:59:26 | More by gdornfeld