Deschutes Black Butte XXI

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

Shared by bleeng at the September Houston Tasting. Dark chocolate pour with a one finger head that’s the color of dark mocha. Nose of coffee and roasted beans with a bit of tang. Flavor is roasted coffee, ash, pitted fruits and a touch of hops. This beer will age and open nicely.

Bottle from Windy City. Pours with a deep color of brown and opaque black density. Formation of head is an explosion of thick topping of creamy foam. So rich and robust is the aroma because of all the scents of sweet dark chocolate and roast coffee. The flavor is initially sweet with a shock of tartness but can be simply ignored with the flavors of roast black coffee, light 2% milk, the chunks of chocolate, and the slightest reminder of bourbon. So glad i was finally able to come across a bottle since its not as common as the ordinary black butte.

Tap at Fiddler’s.

Deep brown-black pour, modest but nice tan head. Sweet porter nose, plenty of vanilla. Alcohol is very forward in the mouthfeel, flavors are your typical sweet PacNW BA impy-whatever. All of the expected elements, plus some ash. Not bad at all, but lacking the something extra that would push it to a standout. Maybe with two years’ age, the bottle in my cellar will be better rounded.

Bottle, shared by someone at the Shenandoah Beer Throwdown, thanks someone! Pours black with a medium tan head. Aroma is chocolate, vanilla, coffee. Flavor is similar, with cream, and lots of chocolate. Barrel aging gives a slight bourbon flavor, but it is subdued, and there is a very smooth finish with warming alcohol.

Thanks to the Tampa Crew for this one. Pours dark brown with a tan head. Nose is roast, dark chocolate, bitterness, bourbon/ whiskey, heat, coffee, and love. Flavor is similar with dark chocolate, cocoa, earth, and some coffee. Portery with chocolate, mellow bourbon, lots of goodness. For a beer that has a "do not open before date," I expected it to be hotter.

Black w/ medium head. Lots of coffee, smooth chocolate, and a slight punch of alcohol. Fantastic mix that exceeded my expectation. Minimal sweetness. Balanced well with little bitterness coming through. Other than a little bourbon in the aroma, I’m hard pressed to pick up any oak/bourbon; I’m ok w/ that, though. They should make this a regular.

Bottle. Pours dark, dark brown which looks black in the glass with ruby edges. The head is big and bubbly and leaves a few big bubbles along the top for a while leaving good lacing. Smell is big sweet roasted malts up front with dark chocolate and espresso smells as well. Coffee and chocolate tastes abound with the roasted sweet malts present throughout. There are dark fruits and licorice hints as well in the middle before a hint of hops and the coffee bring home a slightly bitter aftertaste. There is also a little bit of alcohol burn in the finish as well. Mouthfeel is great on this one - super creamy with strong carbonation and a slightly dry finish. Not sure if I’d term this a strong ale maybe more an imperial porter. Either way, it’s pretty damn drinkable for a big beer. Very, very nice brew

Poured black with a tan head. Aroma of coffee, chocolate, and bourbon... predictable, but good. The flavor follows, somewhat sweet with some coffee, lots of buttery bourbon, and some notes of bittersweet dark chocolate. The only real surprise from this beer is the aggressive carbonation... I would have preferred a chewier body. Well-made beer, not many surprises, good.