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Deschutes The Abyss

Deschutes The Abyss - Imperial Stout

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 Percentile 
100
overall
Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout

Bend, Oregon USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
6584.18/5.04.17/5.0Winter11%96.5Snifter
View Statistics  P 

Commercial Description:
This special Reserve Series brew will only be offered December – February (limited distribution)
The Abyss: Stout brewed with licorice and molasses with 33% aged in oak and oak bourbon barrels. It’s dark. It’s deep. It’s mysterious. Aged in French Oak and Bourbon barrels, this special brew has immeasureable depth inviting you to explore and discover it’s rich, comples profile. The flavor of molasses and licorice draw you in further and further with each sip. The Abyss beckons. Enjoy the journey.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 hrking (108), Muncie, Indiana, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/515/20
Apr 4, 2009  
Extra nice chocolate smoothness with a hint of vanilla and bourbon coming through. One of the better stouts out there and worth seeking out. Pours dark with a nice 1/2 finger chocolate head.Drinks very smooth and hides the alcohol content very well!


 sirpsycho (342), Murrysville, Pennsylvania, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/104/516/20
Apr 4, 2009  
2007 Bottle. Pours an almost black, touches of brown, really nice looking medium brown head. Aroma is roasted malt, touches of bourbon, chocolate and anise. Flavor is a complex mix of roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon and anise. The finish is bitter and this beer stays on your tongue for a long time after. Easily one of the most multi-faceted beers I have ever had so far. So many things hit you at different times that you are noticing new things with almost every sip.


 Magjayran (1379), Durham, North Carolina, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/517/20
Apr 1, 2009  
Motor Oil. Licorice dark roast vanilla chocolate. Bourbon some smoke. Creamy smooth. Oily. Licorice.


 Coltrane (108), South Carolina, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/517/20
Mar 31, 2009  
Nice, black, roasty goodness. Don;t see why all the hype on this beer. A standard, albeit very good, imperial stouts. Probably a bit too much licorice and astingency for my taste. More big and bad than rich and smooth.


tpd975 (95), Riverview, Florida, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/510/104/519/20
Mar 29, 2009  
2006 version, but every year since is just as tasty. A: Peel back the wax and pop the cap. It pours deep dark and thick. This one is darker than the richest cup of espresso. A thunderous milky cocoa head bolts from the bottle and dies down to a nice thin layer across the top. Lacing, yeah there’s lacing. This beer begs to be drunk. S: So nice and complex. Big bold chocolate comes right at you as soon as you crack the bottle. Once poured into the glass other aromas really come bounding forward. Fresh roasted dark coffee and licorice come out as well. Hints of vanilla and hazelnuts hide beneath a dash of brown sugar. Man I have never smelled brownie batter so nice. T: I love a good RIS and this one is at least two levels above good. I was hooked by the aromas, but the taste really hammers in what a quality brew this is. When I tell you to expect chocolate, I mean to expect chocolate. I have never tasted something so fondue like. I could dip strawberries in this beer and eat them all night long. The bitter espresso hides beneath with tones of French Vanilla. Hazelnuts and brown sugar also make their appearance known as does a dash of charcoal. M: Nice and thick. This one coats your mouth, throat, and stomach better than Pepto Bismol. D: Uber, If I could buy this one by the case I would drink it bomber after bomber all winter long.


 tarheels86 (704), Washington DC, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/105/517/20
Mar 28, 2009  
500 mL awesome waxed bottle thanks to Lagunitasfan. Pours pitch used motor oil black with a dark brown head towering to almost two-fingers in size. Spotty lacing. Huge aroma- I could smell it as I popped the cap off- of molasses, dark chocolate, espresso, black licorice, oak, and- like every one else- some anise. Taste up front reminds me a lot of the DR Baltic Porter. Super powerful roasted and chocolate malt with milk chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Almost no warming alcohol. Finish is really where this beer shines. Rather than tasting like the end of a whiskey shot like other imperials, this beer finishes sweet and quick reminiscent of cappuccino gelato. Just a beautiful thing to savor in every way.


 TheDog (350), Aarhus, Denmark
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Mar 26, 2009  
Bottle. Black with beige head. Aroma and taste of oak, alcohol, liquirice, dark sugars and roasted coffee. So many different flavors but still very balanced. OMG this is very very good.


 yobdoog (1426), Woodridge NY, New York, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/516/20
Mar 26, 2009  
Fresh its usually very hot and boozy. Tons of bourbon, oak and vanilla with lots of bitterness. Taste is smooth and sweeter with some age and very present hops when fresh. Tons of roast and bitter chocolate too.



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