Deschutes The Abyss

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Bend, Oregon USA

Wow, Gillard has scored us some awesome brews again, this tasting ROCKS!(May 3rd, 2008 @ Oldsmar Tap House, FL)

Pour black with brown head. The aroma is dark roasted to burnt to coffee and then at the end lesser amounts of more dark roasted malts. The mix of notes is very inviting and making the first sip nearly impossible to hold off even an extra moment. I succumbed almost immediately. I’m not weak but this beer is assuredly stronger than my will can withstand (OK, I’m weak). The taste is rich smooth chocolate notes that bleed into dark roasted malts, some burnt malts and notes of coffee. There’s a faint influence of the ABV to go along with hints of malt astringency that tend to add balance to the experience to go along with the roasted to burnt malts. Yummmmmmy.

Bottle from trade with fiver29. Poured dark brown with a moderate creamy light brown head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Heavy toasted chocolate, licorice and coffee malt with a small alcohol aroma. Full body with a creamy texture. Heavy balanced toasted chocolate malt flavor with a heavy bittersweet finish of long duration. This is a standout beer.

One of the finest beers I’ve ever had and I’ve purchased 2 cases in the last year to prove it. You know it’s a winner the moment it hits the glass and all that aroma is released. Rich roasted malts, coffee, licorice, dark chocolate. ON the back end the oak leaves a smooth vanilla and sticky molasses. Hides the alcohol surprisingly well

Bottle shared at the Bibendum beer tasting in Skåne. You know you’ve had a great night of beer tasting when this stunner is pushed into second place. But there’s nothing at all runner-up about this brutally graceful stout. Thick, menacing black body delivers an almost overpowering aroma smack of expresso coffee, milk chocolate and molasses. The best bourbon oak aging I’ve yet tasted means the liquor’s there, but it adds to rather than dominates the beer. Exceptional stuff.

Thick and black like the darkest of expresso shots. Amazing full mouth feel. Flavors of pure richness. Love the hints of molasses. Bourbon aroma is subtle. Got to find more of this one!

Sampled at HotShotz Indy tasting May 24, 2008 - Batch #1 - Aroma is roasted dark malts, licorice and dusty cocoa powder. Pours black with a ring head and good lacing. Flavor is vanilla, molasses, chocolate, licorice and burnt malts. Palate is exceptionally smooth for 11%. Strong and powerful flavors that go down easy.

My Bottom Line:
Roasting molasses, dark chocolate and licorice harmoniously converge onto resinous bittering hops for a lush Imperial Stout replete with flavor and knowledge.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sheet of foam stands atop the darkest black.
-This is a lot more cohesive than the Stone Bourbon Barrel Russian Imperial Stout which we had right before.
-Roasted malts accompany the resinous hops in the finish and their combined bitterness succeeds in cutting through the malty sweetness.
-A well-levelled anise-y spiciness comes from the licorice and fits perfectly with the grain bill.
-The body is pleasantly full, not obese.
-There is some alcohol warmth in the back, but it does not bother at all.
-The barrel-aging job is subtle and is very efficient in the flavor profile.

Bottles; 2007 vintage.

Huge thanks to Tertons for sharing this and to the new Providence Beer tasting group! Amazing beer. Pours dark black with a thick tan head. Aroma of toffee and molasses. Initial taste slides gently into a huge bitter finish. Bitterness comes in at exactly the right time. Great balance. Amazing flavors. One of the best beers I’ve ever had. Exceeds the hype!