Deschutes The Abyss

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

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

Bomber. Pours black with a large very dark brown head. Aroma is roasty malt, with lots of coffee and chocolate, and a bit of wood and alcohol. Flavor is quite bold, strong semi-sweet malt with substantial hopping and a bit of licorice, nuts, and vanilla. Long finish, with a bit of alcohol bite mixed in. Excellent.

Opaque black body with a rich mocha head. Flavor is bitter, chocolatey and roasty with a good deal of alcohol. Tasty, but just another Impy in the grand scheme of things.

From bottle - 2007 : Pours very dark black, with a dark brown finger of rocky head. Sticky lacing all around the glass. Roasted licorice in the nose, with some chocolate and vanilla. Deep taste, lots of chocolate and coffee. Very thick dark feel to the taste. Has a little alcohol taste toward the end. Roasted finish and aftertaste, with some chocolate and coffee. Pretty good Impy Stout.

Thanks to BDR for sharing! 2007 Vintage. The beer was opaque black with high viscosity and luscious thick brown foam. In the aroma I got molasses, roast malt, and mild hops. The flavor was dominated by molasses, subtle anise, roast malt, and alcohol. The beer was smooth, thick, and delicious!