Deschutes The Abyss

22oz wax sealed bottle. Once again big thanks to Mark for sending these bottles my way. Pours a deep dark brown with a minimal head. Nose is huge milk chocolate, one of the best smelling imp stouts with notes of citrus hops and coffee. Very hoppy up front with some pine hops before going into a very coffee like middle. Finishes silky smooth with no trace of bitterness and big notes of bakers chocolate. Licorice hangs on a bit, but I don’t hate it in this beer like I did in the Kalamazoo. Its used just right. Amazing beer and another winner from Deschutes.

Whoa, I thought this would be another tasty Imp. Stout, ala Tenfidy, but it’s just a tad more complex. pour and head as expected. Licorice (yes), chocolate and that burrnt layer of turbuno sugar on a creme brulee. Long chocolate finish. Yum...

Portland, OR- Nov. 2008: Nice laces left on the glass. Nice intense chocolate nose - pitch black color. Nice hoppy kick - chocolate aftertaste. Medium lasting roasted malt. quite nice.

Pours very thick and black with a dark tan head. Bitter chocolate taste follow by a sweet aftertaste. The licorice taste can be a little much if you don’t like that flavor, but otherwise a great beer.

deep black pour with creamy tan head. aroma of alcohol with chocolate malt. very thick, coats the smoth in a smooth sweet smooth chocolate malt flavor and gets bitter and dry...very very good

Vitals: From: 22oz Bomber, To: 22oz Snifter (12oz Full), Temp: 55F, Place: Home. 2008 Vintage. Pitch black, head of chocolate milk steamed foam with slightest ruby tinge. Floral vanilla perfume, subtle roast lingers in nostrils, mild alcohol awaits. Taste of herbal sweetness (fennel, clove, anise, and licorice also) at first, followed by smooth, rich, bitter chocolate, roasted cappuccino, cascadey/centennially hop taste/bitterness accompanying; lingering finish of bourbon and sweet vanilla. Remarkable in its smoothness, like resinous, vinous, refined oil. A finely viscous extraction. The Abyss is an oak-aged imperial stout that is sweet with bourbon (from the barrel) and floral vanilla (from the french oak), a sweetness that suggests milk chocolate after an initial impression of dark chocolate-covered herbal candy. Complex, warming, and indulgent. Higher percentage of aging in the oak bourbon barrels might improve overall impression.

Bottle shared with DuffmanSW. Pours a deep opaque brown/black color with a small creamy mocha head and fantastic lacing. Aroma is coffee, molasses, dark chocolate, black licorice, and tobacco. Somewhat metallic. Oak is not as apparent as expected. Flavor is more coffee and chocolate. A good amount of bitterness from the dark malts and hops. Detecting some almost minty spiciness as well. Dry finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and full bodied with nice soft carbonation. Another great stout, but could use a couple years of cellaring.

2007 bottle thanks to tronraner. Deep viscous black with a thick foam of dark tan head. Notes of tobacco, some oak vanilla, big burnt malts and licorice. Taste is vinuous red wine like tannic, earthy, tobacoo, bits of soy sauce, vanilla, chocolate, coffee. Lasting palate.