Deschutes The Abyss

Bottle and tap ratings averaged.

Bottle. Aroma starts off with a strong coffee character before developing into a blend of coffee, chocolate, molasses, and complex notes from the subtle bourbon aging that seem to come and go, sometimes with more bourbon, sometimes with more wood, sometimes with more alcohol sweetness. Flavor is big with the same notes, and I continued to be impressed with the subtle yet tantalizing bourbon component. Bitterness arrives cumulatively in the form of hops, bitter coffee, and intensely roasted malt as the glass goes down, building on the tongue and in the back of the mouth, balancing out all the sweetness in a businesslike but necessary manner. Huge creamy mouthfeel. Great beer. 8-5-8-4-16/4.1

On tap at the third release 11/08. I didn’t take notes, but looking over my first rating, it sounds pretty accurate. However, the incredible balance of bitter coffee (especially at the finish) with the rich, chocolaty malt and sweet subtleties contributed by the bourbon really stood out to me in this super fresh form. This balance also translated perfectly to the mouthfeel which became unbelievably silky, milky smooth, less viscous than than my impressions from the bottle, but losing nothing in richness. 8-4-10-5-20/4.7

pours thick with a small brown head. the aroma has lots of spice in it and some nice hops. Flavor was bitter, with a burnt coffee and some hops. It hid the 11% alcohol very well. All in all this is a good beer though a bit one dimensional on flavor.

Thick black pour with a red brown head. Very nice looking, although a bit thinner than other imperial stouts. Very spicy hoppy aroma, surprising for this style. Coffee and cream as well as some floral notes. Hoppy bitter flavor. Very dry. Chocolate, coffee and cream. Lots of alcohol lingers in the mouth.

A black appearance with a moderate tan head. The aroma is dark chocolate, coffee, licorice, raisins, and some alcohol. The flavor is rather sweet with more dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, and raisins. The finish is very smooth considering the ABV. Overall a very good beer!

Dark brown, Smooth, rich, sweet, dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, molasses, licorice.

Can only post a short note as the system wont allow it to be lengthy. short of it, ok now and potential to be better than 08 with time. 2007 bottle. Cool wax dip and label. Right from the start, BOOM this brew is stellar. Dark rich smoke, oak, lavish and layered. But extremely balanced. I’m guessing the acidity and alc just marry up perfectly with the complexity and strength this brew posesses. Intensity but elegant. Could also age this brew for several years. A bit of sweet but almost dry. Oily cigar white smoke, deep and rich coco and coffee but still subtle. $14+ is what this retails for I guess? Worth every penny.

Finally got a bottle of this courtesy my Secret Santa. Thanks man! Aroma was decent. Mostly coffee with a dark chocolate background. Pout was a perfect deep dark brown/near black with a 2 finger tan head. Taste was nice and full. Mostly dark black coffee with an underlying chocolate backbone. The bitter roasted malt dries the throat and mouth and leaves a slight hoppiness in it’s wake. Very delicious.

Thanks to Juancho. Drank it in Panajachel, Guatemala. Another perfect Imperial Stout. Pours pitch black with a wonderful tan head. Medium bodied, taste very well balanced, of coffee and chocolate, a bit sweet the way I like them.