Deschutes The Abyss

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

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.

Well, I was looking forward to this one. Poured a deep black into the glass, with a little light still showing through. Smell was dark chocolate and deeply roasted malt, as well as a little booze. Taste was nice and roasty, some black licorice, chocolate and a little coffee. This was nicely done, but a little dissapointing.

Black; small brown head. Rich, burnt malt aroma. Very rich, burnt/toasty malts, bourbon, bitter chocolate, hops, subtle vanilla and chalk - with some aging gets really tasty and intriguing. Excellent overal for those seeking the dark side of beer richness. Tried numerous times in bottles over the past two seasons, and on tap recently at Churchill’s and PP Carlsbad.

Bottle from Windy City Liquor. I was so very relieved after I got my hands on this bottle since I had been hearing about it for couple of months now. The aroma is a delighting smell of dark chocolate malts with a very tiny hint of cream or milk. The appearance is a pitch black stout rested in peace with a firm layer of head. The flavor is a strong and bold tasting of roasted malt but yet has a minor taste of chocolate still. The palate is rich and creamy which leaves behind an excellent finish along with a moderate dryness. This should have been distributed more than it was.

Bomber, big shout out to Tronraner, the man responsible for putting this in my possession. Pouring this stuff is comical. It’s almost like a parody of imperial stouts, it is ridiculously thick and pitch black. Lacing on the goblet is like a wall and the head, though tiny, is brown. The aroma wasn’t all that great at first, but this beer was way too cold. I got strong sweet, cola scents at first, but when this neared the appropriate serving temperature that disappeared and was replaced by pleasing espresso, cacao, earth, an ashy nuttiness, and molasses. It’s a wonder what temperature can do. But as complex and pleasing as the nose is on Abyss, it isn’t strongly aromatic. The flavor is a different story altogether. It wallops my palate with dense espresso and a very drying bittersweetness. I was actually concerned this would be too sweet, given the addition of molasses, licorice, and the barrel aging, but it is not to sweet at all. Any sugary character is deep and is always countered by a heavy roasted or dry quality. Wow. This is seriously good. A few more sips and my palate is quite pleased. An almost milky quality is noticed along with hints at hickory. God, this stuff is thick.