Deschutes Black Butte XXI

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

Sample at O’Brien’s in San Diego. This beer pours a dark brownish-black color with a medium and foamy light brown head that diminishes slowly. Patches of lacing on the glass. Lots of coffee in the nose, as well as dark chocolate and malt. Full-bodied with roasted malt, coffee and chocolate flavors, along with spikes of hops here and there. The finish is roasty with a lingering coffee aftertaste. Very good all around.

Bottle. Dark mahogony beer with a brown head. Vanilla, chocolate, light roast aroma. Big caramel, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and bourbon flavors. Bourbon complements in background without taking over. Alcohol noticeable, but not overpowering. Medium-plus bodied. Chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, and big malts linger.

Poured a clear deep brown color with a red tint and small beige head. Sweet and fruity aroma with roasted malt and mild coffee. Notes of vanilla and some alcohol. The flavor was fairly roasty with notes of coffee that actually taste great in a stout. Mild fruitiness and dark chocolate. Alcohol warmth in nice.

Bottle, 11% at LCRBM08. Vinous aroma, sweet yeast. Black colour, very small brown head. Good flavour, bready, roasted, vanilla, vinous. Very good combination. The alcohol is a bit rough, but all in all very nice.

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.

Pint - Eastside Tavern - Olympia, WA
Aroma – Huge Dark malt aroma with lots of molasses and light spices lingering. Almost peppery.
Appearance – Dark Black in color, thick brown head and clear if you can see through black. .
Flavor – This beer had flavor and then some. I get the tobacco flavor butt he spices are peppery and once this beer is warm this beer explodes with flavor. Huge dark malts and the alcohol comes through also. I also got the chocolate, coffee and dark roasty malts. What’s left the kitchen sink.
Palate – Nice Mouthfeel, great texture with a very nice dry finish.
Overall – This beer should age very nicely. I will hold a few bottles for some time. This beer had some many flavors as it warmed up this beer got a life of it’s own. More and different flavors each time. Should not be a cold served beer just luke warm for all the great flavors. This was a great 20th Anniversary beer. Way to go Deschutes.

22oz bottle acquired in a couple of trades. Poured a dark black color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of chocolate, roasty and toasty, coffee, lighter vanilla, and some wood. Tastes of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, the same roasty and toastiness. I honestly would not have guessed this was barrel aged as the barrel aging was on the soft and subtle side. Alcohol content well hidden. Smooth and creamy body.

Courtesy of Gilliard. The aroma is comprised of chocolate, molasses, toasted and roasted malts with strong hints of cooked dark fruits. The flavor side of things is similar but with tons of coffee. Very solid mouth feel. Extra long finish. Quite tasty.