Deschutes Black Butte XXI

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

Thanks to WeeHeavySD for this one - pours thinner than I expected, but she’s got a nice black/dark ruby color, and a dark tan lace - nose of roasted and chocolate malts, cocoa, espresso, and moderate hints of bourbon and alcohol heat - slick mouthfeel, creamy body, but the body is only around medium, which is on the light side for its strength - semi-astringent coffee bitterness, medium sweet chocolate, mild bourbon notes - some bittersweet dark chocolate on the end, and a hint of oaky tartness - it’s nice to have the barrel/bourbon elements subdued and well-integrated, but I would hardly call this outstanding - I need to stop seeking out bourbon-aged beers - I really do.

(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 20 Sep 2008) Black colour with brief, beige head. Malty, roasted nose with notes of chocolate, coffee and liquorice. Malty, roasted taste with dark chocolate, cocoa, black coffee and dark rye bread. Full body, smooth mouthfeel. Fairly bitter with balanced sweetness. Stunning balance with alcohol very well hidden. Lovely beer!

Bottle: (Thanks BlackForestCO!) Pours near opaque with a tan ring of head. The aroma has a rich chocolate and coffee presence. Has some raisin notes, heavy roast and residual sweet malt. Rich body, but never cloying. Has a great chocolate presence in the flavor, with roasted barley, a mild boozy sweetness, chocolate and coffee intermingle to create a mocha character, balanced with earthy cigar leaf and a long roasted finish. This is a gentle giant with lots going on, yet it’s well balanced, harmonious and highly quaffable.

Bottled. Big sweet aroma, water chestnut, mini corn, roast, malt sweetness are present. Chewy and vegetal, big and brash flavor, a nice pungent charred finish. Thick but relatively light in the mouth. This really reminds me of stirfry, which in this case isnt so bad. A nice beer.

Bottle at RBSG08 on 08/02/2008. Dark black body with a medium creamy tan head. Roasty and caramel aroma. Chocolate, roast, and coffee flavor. Medium full body with moderate carbonation

[1705-20080912] 1pt6floz bottle. Dark roasted malt and smoked wood-barrel aroma. Black body with a medium-lasting creamy dark brown head. Bitter roast coffee flavour has a mild whiskey finish and mild vanilla hints throughout. Full body is boozy. Very nice, great quality, sweet and enjoyable.
(w/ jerc, tupalev)

Bottle shared with and courtesy of Jerc and Mabel. Dry roasty aroma, very nice. Black, creamy white head. Creamy mouthfeel. Great taste - coffee roast, , sweet, bitter, chocolate. Excellent. Bourbon nicely in the background. World class stuff.

Appearance: Well, it certainly is black, there’s no question there. Finish it off with a frothy, bubbly, tan-colored head and we’re ready to make our way to Buttetown. Smell: Pungent aroma smelling of dark chocolate, coffee, and roasted malts supported by all those well-integrated, delightful barrel hints of maple, charred wood barrels, and fresh coconut. Taste: Sweetish dark malts shell out a deep chocolaty taste followed by a sharp roastiness that soon mellows into a generalized coffee flavor. Ah, and there’s the blooming, drying barrel character from which the flavor gleans hints of shaved coconut, wood, and bourbon. A drop or two of maple syrup. Minor fruitiness. Earthy, roasty bitterness. Rather warming all the while, even through to the roasty finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. Drinkability: Recommended. This is all kinds of good! If you’re into rich, complex beers full of dense layers of endless subtleties then Deschutes Black Butte XX might be right up your alley. Right up it!