Deschutes Black Butte XXI

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Bend, Oregon USA

This is a real good beer. Beautiful mahogany pour with a latte, thick head. Smoky aroma: maltiness, coffee and even some fruit. Cocoa, alcohol and hops. A great melaqnge of flavor comes together to form one of the best beers I have had from Oregon.

Thanks to jonpol for the recommendation. Poured a luxurious black from the bottle with a brown head of foam. Balanced notes of cocoa and coffee as well as a bit of smoke that carries into the flavor. Thick bodied and malty. Mild lacing and notes of alcohol. One bottle yields intoxication.

Thanks to Mike for this one. Black bodied with a tan head. Aromas of licorice, chocolate, and smoky roast. Smoked, roasted flavors, along with chocolate and marshmallow.

22oz bottle. Pours a thick inky black with tan edges, chocolate head. Huge nose of chocolate and espresso. This one is off the scales with coffee roastiness. I think the fact that this is a porter rather than a stout makes it a little less drinkable. Its a little harsher on the palate and clashes a little with the very high ABV (which is really not that noticable considering). This is a well crafted beer but it could have probably been a little bit less on the coffee and a little bit more on the chocolate malt to smooth it out and balance the flavor. Definitely worth trying and I suspect this beer will age very well. The one thing I will say about this beer, it has a very great vanilla finish that keeps the bitterness from getting in the way of the drinkability. You will taste vanilla for awhile afterwards, it really lingers in a pleasant way. Had a tough time rating this beer, it excelled in some things but it had a few weak points. Its also not cheap either.

XX On tap. Pours with a large, creamy brown head covering a black body. Good lacing. Aroma of strong coffee, caramel, and vanilla. Taste is, wow, starts off with strong chocolate, then oak, vanilla, coffee and then lots of alcohol and ash. Mouthcoating/syrupy with light carbonation. Quite nice! Rerate: Bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Pours with a light brown head with some legs and lacing. (AP:4/5). Aroma is ashy with chocolate coffee and dark fruits (AR: 8/10). Taste is chocolatey with ash and coffee (F: 8/10) Syrupy mouthfeel with light bubbles (P: 4/5). (O:15/20)::3.9

Bottle. A deep red beer with a beige head. A light roasted, ashtray, bourbon and alcohol aroma and taste. Medium body with a bitter dry, coffee and alcoholic finish.

Big thanks to Gillard for bringing this bottle along. Pours deep and dark with thin mocha head. The aroma is full of big toastiness along with chocolate, coffee, almonds, wood and bourbon. The aroma is deliciously bold as is the flavor. I get bold rich goodness from velvety dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, wood, burnt malts and bourbon like booze. This is creamy, yummy, rich and very satisfying. Wow, a bit less boozy for my taste (I’m sure for most this aspect is just fine) and this one is near perfect.

Bomber w/ Schmidt. About what I was expected...thought that does not mean it was a disappointment. A big warming and bold, choclately, roasty, & vanilla noted brew. Slightly sweet but smooth. Dank.