Deschutes The Abyss

Pours a deep coffee color with a dark tan head. Minimal lacing. Nose has a definite tone of licorice, moderated by coffee, chocolate and molasses. Very smooth presentation - licorice, toffee and molasses resting comfortably on a bed of alcohol. Mouthfeel was superb - silky and oily, but tempered by just the right amount of carbonation. Aftertaste lets you know there are hops and malt involved in the process. Interestingly, the foretaste lingers nicely as well. One piece of advice for the brewers - lose the wax. It’s a little precious. It’s also quite brittle and went all over my counter.

22oz from HimerMan - thanks, Brian!!! Last year I got a bottle from jake65 but I’m rating the 2007 bottling. Deep, oily, inky, with minimal head on this one. Very prominent molasses notes in the nose, and some of the sharpness of the licorice too (which comes through more in the flavor). I sticky, resinous body that’s just the ticket (wish it head slightly more vibrancy to it, but that’s not a big knock). This year’s young Abyss, however, is a bit less complex than less year’s. There are some nice malts, some earthy grain, and a shit-ton of roasted coffee dimensions, the latter of which tends to overwrite many of the other qualities. Still a very nice drink, but the oaking isn’t really coming through much at all and the roasts are a bit too face-wrecking at this point. Rates highly, but I’ll have to give this a while (or tuck into my remaining 2006 bottle).

Beautiful color. Dark with a nice tan head. Dominating thought is that this is very dry. Thick with a bit of bourbon and hoppy graininess in the finish. Dry dry dry.

clean tasting and a good blend with the right weight to the barrel flavors. tends toward cleaner flavors (away from fat fruit flavors) and the anise and molasses do a great job of rounding out the malt sugars and providing depth. piutch black, some of the darkest foam I’ve seen in a while. even warming it doesn’t expand much flavorwise alth9ough some earthiness emerges. Straight forward and gigantic. Way fun stuff!

Big thanks to Old Mr. Crow for sending an ’06 and ’07. This rating is for the ’06 version. The pour is jet black with 2-fingers of dark brown head, a minor Guinness cascade, and sticky lacing. The nose is big; dark malt, chocoff, blackstrap moiasses, mild nuts, some earthy peaty bourbon notes. The palate is rich, hefty, with a flavor profile that reminds me of a slightly heftier and more complex Gonzo. The roasty dark malt taste is there, with a lot of molasses, dark choc, coffee, and a solid, noticeable hop bill. It gets a tiny bit hot as it warms, and the palate heft isn’t as massive as some Impy stouts I’ve had, but I have no problem with all the acclaim this beer has received. It is very good.

black pour with a chocolate brown head. sweet roasted malts, molasses and sugar on the nose. huge coffee and roasted malts, oak and some other stuff i can’t name. not quite as thick as i was hoping but it’s very easy and seems well balanced on the palate.

2007 bottle. Nicely balanced, if not overly complex, imperial stout. Very drinkable. Opaque body with a deep tan head. It clings to the side of the glass like motor oil. The aroma is not as strong as I thought it would be, but there are notes of burnt malts, licorice, cherry, coffee and chocolate — and a hint of fresh-cut oak. The flavor is moderately sweet and moderately to heavily bitter in the finish. Full body with a velvety texture. Moderate carbonation. Not as complex as Dark Lord and not as intense as Expedition, but a solid and thoroughly enjoyable imperial stout. Thanks Randy.

2007 edition - many thanks people! Huge creamy head, choco-mousse lookalike, fed by small but insistent pearling from black beer, and leaving textbook rings of dirty lace. Molasses, dry cacao powder, some ureum, used sportsshirts, and faraway wood, as well as spruce needle aromas. Very roasted, burnt flavours: grain, coffee, and in the end, burnt hops. Retronasal false liquorice sweetness, if just a hint, and some black chocolate. After some time, one starts to recognise some hops, greenery-like. Very slight astringency. Very creamy & rich-velvety texture, full-bodied being an euphemism. Alcohol very well hidden. What was all the fuzz about? It’s well crafted and reasonably complex, but then again, at 11% ABV that is not exactly a miracle.