Deschutes The Abyss

2007 Reserve - tasted early May ’08. Souvenier from Eugene, OR. Pours a pure opaque black with a drak brown rim and a fine, medium-thin chocolate brown head. Aroma of dark chocolate, coffee, a slight lactic character, sweet roasted malt, treacle, a hint of dark spice, and a subtle suggestion of anise, hops, a bourbon barrel--that’s just the aroma. On to the flavor... Bitter coffee, bitter chocolate, sweet molasses, and roasted malt that rises and then fades over a backdrop of subtle spice, licorice, and wonderful oxidized characteristics. A very deft hand with the malt balance here. Each element is well represented in a way that is complimentary to one another. Each flavor peaks at a different moment so that none is overpowered and each can be discerned both individually and together as a whole. The body is exquisitely balanced with the 11% alcohol present only in the structure and not in the aroma, flavor, or finish as any hashness. Only a slight warmth accompanies the roasted bitter finish. Everything is superbly integrated. This is one of the most balanced "extreme" beers I’ve ever tasted. The mouth feel is unbelieveably light despite the massive dark flavor profile. This is an amazingly drinkable, ponderous, meticulously crafted beer. Top marks!

Bottle sampled with Mad indian. Pours black with a good size beige head. Aroma of roast, oak, dark chocolate, light bourbon. The flavor is very smooth, chocolate, oak, slight bourbon, roast, and coffee. Excellent body, alcohol is well masked. Excellent brew.

Bottle: Pours very dark black with a slowly dissipating carmel head. Aroma of chocolate and stale bacon. Full flavors of chocolate malts, smoke, and the dryness of oak. I can actually feel this beer on my teeth. Someone said velvety. Velvety is a good word.

Bottle from ebay, sampled with Stegosaurus. WOW. Beautiful black pour with aromas of chocolate, coffee and roast. A smoke roast chocolate flavor blended rather well. This is underated.

Dense blackness, dark as you get...huge head, burnt tan, slowly crumbling, leaving lace... Roasty, toasty aroma, chocolate and espresso, yes, and more...carob and raisins, dark rum, and molasses...ah! Dark and lovely! Whoa! Once in the mouth, it’s a delivery of rich, thick, deliciousness....whiskey-toned, a bit, mixed with dark chocolate...indulgent, decadent...full, but surprisingly smooth. Velvety...someone should paint a portrait of Elvis on this. Here comes the whiskey kick again...here comes the blackstrap... I’m only halfway through the bottle, and I’m feeling mighty satisfied. Do I wish I’d saved it for friends? Maybe, but I’m too content to worry about them now.

Pours a oil dark-black body with a small large bubbled beige head. Aroma is moderately sweet,coffee, roast, a bit earthy, smoke and some bourbon. Flavor is roasted coffee, some earthy, smoke, caramel and bourbon. Medium bitter chocolate finish. Smooth full body, alcohol is very well hidden.

Sampled at DLD 2008. Don’t know who to thank as someone handed me this bottle and told me to drink up. Nice espresso aroma’s with a bit of bittersweet chocolate dancing up from the cup. Sticky but balanced with a good dose of bitterness from the hops, specialty malt, coffee, molasses and licorice. Tasted with darklord soon after and I thought this was more complex, but lacked the body of darklord. Very well crafted with many layers of complexity. Oak and bourbon come out on the backend.

Thick black with a fluffy brown head. Rich mustard, dark chocolate, liquorice, rummy alcohol and potting mix. Extremely complex and rich. Massive body, thick, oily and bitter. Flavour carries loads of mustard, dark chocolate, peach leather, tobacco and warming alcohol. Hot, long finish. Would love to see this with a bit more age. Thanks Mullet