Deschutes The Abyss

Big alcohol whaff--like brandy. Oil black color, frothy head on sides. Served in a snifter. Chewy roasted malt middle, espresso end. Heavy body and a warming alcohol down the throat. Huge beer. Huge.

I loved this beer...2007 vintage...tasted against some of the world’s best Impys...beaten only by DL 09..............................................................................................................................

black, black, and more black. A NAP in a bottle. Time and time again Deschutes knocks me out with their superb seasonals.

2008 Bottle also with my pleasure... I think the bottle from the outside is already amazing. The inside pours full black with a nice rounded, dark brown, appealing head. Aroma has some real bitter bite of grassy, floral hops. Aroma is also dark chocolate, lots of molasses, toffee, some roasted coffee and great hints of oaky wood and vanilla. Flavor is kind of a balanced mix between the bitter hops and sweet toffee malts. There’s also some nicely roasted coffee, chocolate, liquorice, wood and vanilla, hints of tobacco and ash syrup and some herbal, hoppy notes. Nice long and dry finish of chalky, roasted coffee and bitter hops. Full-bodied, softly carbonated, some tingling of hops on the palate tough. Beautiful beer by Deschutes.

2008 bottle... so over a year old. Pours a lovely glossy obsidian with a fine thick frothy wet sand colored head. Aroma is strong floral hops with a rich chocolate and coffee blend, quite gritty and full, nostril coating, touch of creaminess, oats maybe? I had an 08 about 6 months ago and the hops were way out of balance, seems to be doing better now. Deschutes always has distinctive flavors and this is no different, first taste is quite ashy, off-dry, some dark berry tartness adds some acidity, charcoal and hard roasted coffee, typical Deschutes floralness tends to integrate well with this beer and the age, maybe some oat creaminess, a bit oily with a hint of salt like an old ale, this is probably the peak time for this beer. Long coffee and chocolate shortbread cookie aftertaste, still a bit dry and ashy but with enough residual sweetness to compensate. I’m sure the licorice plays a large part in counterbalancing the tobacco flavors which are ever present. Body is great, fluffy, oily, large but playful carbonation, full bodied but not a chore, quite creamy with just enough viscosity to make you know this beer is huge. The best of the 3 I’ve had, with the others being the 6 month old 08 and a nearly 3 year old 06 courtesy of drewbeerme, wait corret that... holdenn says I provided the 08 and xnoxhatex provided the 06... but I’m sure panatap had a hand in there somewhere. Definitely one of the driest imperial stouts there is. Smokers need not apply....

Bottle at SBWF 2009. Well, that’s it. I finally reached a point where I had to say ’enough..’ This is a full on onslaught on my palate and leaves very little to be desired. At 11%, oak aged, with molasses and licorice - how much more could you want, how meaner can beer get? Surely, I think, some gasoline mixed with battery acid for that extra bite? Maybe gunpowder mixed with cocaine would take this beer to full marks? Nevertheless, I’ve come a full circle. My quest for imperial stouts perfection ends with this beer. I’m going for a lager, anybody with me?

2006. Poured think jet black with a brown head. Aroma of chocolate and coffee. Lots of coffee flavors with some chocolate. Very smooth. Shared by therealbastard before he left for cali.

On tap at San Diego Brewing. Pours a black body with a thin, dark brown head that leaves a light amount of soft and whispy lacing. Aroma of delicate chocolates, soft roasts, dark ripe fruits, oak, and a touch of coffee and citrus. Flavor is soft and delicate as well. Darker milk chocolate, soft coffee roasts, slightly sour dark fruits and citrus, and some licorice before a dry, mildly roasty finish with a semi-long, bitter chocolate linger. Palate is silky smooth, well balanced, and has a light to medium body. Overall, a very nice Imp Stout. Put together very well and loaded with soft, delicate tastes. Good stuff.