Deschutes Black Butte XXI

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

22 oz bottle courtesy of I do not remember. XX edition, cellared. Pours a pitch black opaque pour, black as the night, with a moderate brown lively head that settled to a decent layer, laces pretty well. Aromas evident from the pour, preaching bitter chocolate bourbon booze, roasted malts, caramel, vanilla, wet wood, chocolate chip cookies, good coffee flavors that take a more settled, rather than harsh coffee appeal. Whiskey isn’t dominant but is defintely there. Initial is a silky smooth full beer, roasted dark malts, barley, bitter chocolate and coffee meld, with a good bitterness on the back of the palate and lighter underlying sweetness. Chocolate and coffee dominant, as whiskey and barrel notes come in underneath, smooth and full vanilla, wet wood, alcohol. Warming, this beer coats the palate pretty well, leaving chocolate and coffee in the aftertaste, along with a sort of chocolate chip cookie appeal, although not overly sweet in any way. Perhaps the whiskey did it’s thing, as this gets a little smokey/ashy in the roast, a bit of char, however not really thinned out at all by the barrels. Kissed, so to speak. Very enjoyable, full, flavorful, a nice sipper. Cheers!

Pours dark black with brown head. Aromas of burnt malts, coffee and chocolate. Roasted malt flavor with oak, bourbon, bittersweet chocolate. There is a slight sweetness and some hop bitterness coming through. Full body with minimal carbonation and a slightly dry, earthy finish.

Draught at the Freakin’ Frog, Las Vegas
Black color, with generous brown creamy head. Strange brew, with flavors of coffee, medicines, liquorice, but all together rather interesting. The body is quite strong and with some sweetness; the final quite balanced and without the ashtray feeling of many Imperial Stouts. Pleasant.

Bottle thanks to Flacoalto. Pours a deep amber brown with a small tan head. Aroma is medium sweet, smoky, roast, cocoa, malt and a weird musty basement smell. Flavor is smoky, alcohol, cocoa and light fruit. Finishes silky smooth with just a touch of alcohol. Medium-full body, smooth texture.

Bottle @ LCRBM 2008. Licorice, salt, butter and coffee in the aroma. Roast, coffee, plums in the sugary sweet flavor. Very nice, surprisingly drinkable beer.

Bottle... Post RBSG ’08 O-Town/Vero Beach Throwdown Chapter 8... Pours very dark brown with a large, tight, khaki head. Great retention. The rich mocha nose displays a touch more espresso and cream than chocolate. Suggestions of vanilla and sourmash also ascend from my glass. Full-bodied with a velvety-smooth mouthfeel and moderate carbonation. The flavor mirrors the aroma, but also provides wonderful gobs of caramel. Finishes smooth and rich. Thanks to growler for providing this terrific bottle of beer!

Bottle@LCRBM08. Atoma has some wood, chocolate, bourbon, roast. Black coloured beer with a thin lacing. The taste is sweet, has licorice, coffee, chocolate, some vanilla. Ending more and more hopbitter. Good beer.

Bouteille de 22 oz partagée lors d’une dégustation Ratebeer Montréal chez Glouglouburp. Arôme: Odeur de chocolat et de café avec une pointe de caramel. Apparence: La couleur est noire opaque. Présence d’une mince col beige mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de chocolat et de café torréfié avec une pointe de vanille et d’alcool. Longue durée de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement onctueuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence de café en arrière goût. (Rating #2500)