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Deschutes Black Butte XXI

Percentile
99
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
4024/5.03.98/5.0Special11%93.1Snifter
Commercial Description:
XX - 20th Anniversary, released 2008
XXI - 21st Anniversary, released 2009

This masterpiece is a tribute to Black Butte Porter, the revolutionary Deschutes Brewery beer that has excited beer enthusiasts since 1988. This special Reserve Series release is a colossal version of Black Butte Porter. Our brewers enhanced Black Butte XXI by adding some Theo’s Chocolate cocoa nibs from Seattle, dry-hopping it with 100 pounds of Bellatazza’s locally roasted coffee, and then aging a portion of it in Stranahan’s Colorado whiskey barrels. These regional partners provided quality artisan ingredients that give this commemorative beer a truly handcrafted complexity.
Released as Black Butte XX in 2008 to celebrate our 20th Anniversary.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 scrizzz (1265), kirkland, Washington, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
Oct 22, 2009  
Well allright. Black, medium viscosity, tan quicksand head. Ample mocha aroma of equal parts coffee and dark chocolate, I’ve had the Abyss recently and get some subliminal molasses too. This bottle is the XXI and I think it could use more time. The bourbon and coffee are awkward in each others presence and refuse to mingle. Cocoa cannot be found in way of flavor, only a slick syrupy texture. This beer is clearly going to develop into greatness, if there was any young heat it’s gone now. Chewy. And the next release of Abyss is around the corner. Niiiice.


acblue (53), Seattle, Washington, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/105/518/20
Oct 19, 2009  
Lots and lots of coffee and chocolate in the nose with a bit of oak as well. Dark, dark black with a thick, dark tan head. Flavor is malt, coffee, chocolate and bourbon. Fantastic.


 Gypsy19 (620), California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 18, 2009  
Pours an opaque black with a medium tan head. Aroma is much brown sugar, roasted malt, cinnamon, some hops too. Flavor is packed full of malts, then comes coffee, a little smokiness, and the bourbon barrels are apparent as well. A sweet bourbon finish. Thick, rich mouthfeel. I like it. A little overpriced, but damn good. Overall, excellent.


 jrob21 (1257), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/516/20
Oct 18, 2009  
Bottle from ye olde ditmier. Very roasty malt flavor. Bittersweet chocolate aroma. A coffee bitter sort of flavor as well. There is a decent sweetness. The body is reminiscient of a porter but the flavor profile and sweetness are reminiscient of a stout. Pretty well done to add the extra oomph to a relatively low key style.


 hallinghansen (265), Odense SV, Denmark
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/517/20
Oct 7, 2009  
Bottle. Black Butte XX. Black body, with a large brown head. Aroma is chocolate, coffee, sweet, roasted malt and bourbon. Flavor is chocolate, alcohol and coffee. Creamy body and a sweet aftertaste. Long lasting lacings.


 nqualls (1429), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/519/20
Oct 6, 2009  

Source:22 oz bottle at a tasting in Nashville.
Glass:Fullers snifter.
Appearance:Dark brown pour with a one finger brown head.
Aroma:Coffee and chocolate dominate the nose.
Flavor:Coffee and chocolate are prevalent with just a hint of licorice.
Palate:Full body with soft carbonation.
Overall:I know that this is heresy, but I like this more than the Abyss. Loved the heavy coffee.


 Beaver (596), Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/104/514/20
Oct 5, 2009  
22 oz bottle, best after 10/17/10 (oh well!). Pours a dark brown with a creamy tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet roasted chocolate, tar, black licorice, and coffee. A little too heavy on the black licorice and tar for me.

The flavor is sweet sugary lactic chocolate balanced by a big tarry roasted bitterness and black licorice with a little coffee. The finish has a good deal of bitterness. As it warms, the sweetness comes out and becomes a bit overwhelming. Also notes of bourbony dark fruits appear as well. It’s very bold but not at all smooth - a bit too brash for me. The mouthfeel is fairly full with creamy carbonation.

Overall, it’s a bit too harsh especially with the black licorice and tar and then the heavy sweetness. It would be interesting to try again after the best after date to see if it mellows out.


 carruthm (1124), Seattle, Washington, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/58/105/518/20
Oct 5, 2009  
Bomber. Deep black color with a ring of tan head. Aroma is oak, bourbon, coffee, chocolate. Very pungent and inviting. Flavor is smooth with a balanced bitter.



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