Deschutes The Abyss

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

Happy to say this is my 100th rating!!! Pours heavily-used motor oil topped wth a frothy milk-chocolate shake. Licorice and sticky sweet fragrance wtih a bit of oak, smoke, and vanilla. More sugary than most in this style, doesn’t begin with bitter but definitely displays chocolate and campfire burn. Extremely complex with multiple layers...caramel/toffee erodes into an almost hop finish. You can paint with this it coats the palate so well. Amazing beer...wish it was more readily available!!!

Deep deep black like the abyss it is names for. Nice tan head lasts awhile. Aroma of vanilla, oak and chocolate. Very nice as it warmed. Flavor much of the same with a great texture and chewiness. Completely coats the tongue yet is not overbearing. Really nice impy stout. I love it.

2007 22oz. Pours very Black with dark tan head. Burnt coffee and grain nose. Chewy and smooth. Well balanced flavors. Bourbon does not stand out, nor does the oak barrel, subtle. Alcohol is hidden. I still can’t get over how well blended this Imp Stout is. Its smoothness separates this one from others. One problem is that this beer is limited to once a year. One of the best that I have had.

2007 version: 22 oz bomber. Pours wicked dark black-opaque with a thick, brown head. Damn wax is a bitch to get off the cap....Nose of chocolate, sweetness, oatmeal, some alcohol-a bit of brown alcohol...Taste is caramelly, chocolate, alcohol, faint background of bourbon/whiskey but not overwhelming. This beer rocks with the mouth-thick, viscous, chewy, full and lasting all the way down. Definitely one of the better Impys, if not overall beers, I’ve had. Wonderful.

..#1700...22oz bottle from cbkschubert. Aroma is sweet molases and has good oak wood aroma also. Black oil colore body with dark tan head and good lacing. Sweet licoice thick body texture. The oak leaves a dryness there, but the bomber has enogh sweet liquid in it to savor till the bottle is empty. Dry palate and alcohol leaves eyes little heavy but beer well woth it if you can get it..

Cappuccino Head is copper brown and says "I’m the beer you’ve been waiting your whole life for !!" Velvet cream texture, soft carbonation. Nice dark chocalte-like film left in mouth. Finish is almost oily,and has a fair alchohol bite. Perfumey hops (pineapple, prune) smoky malt (coffee. licorice molasses) aromas. Has a pungent cleaning supply (ammonia) smell as well as charcoal and red wine notes. Flavors of Gingerbread, Coffee ( I wish I could find coffe that tasted this good), Licorice and Molasses. Noticable hops astringency in mid, along with oak + bourbon. Excellent balance, rich and stimulating in both hops and malt. Bitter coffee aftertaste. Butter, just about the perfect beer. .

Beautiful pour of deep chocolate brown with a thick, dark head. Nose is interesting, with coffee, chocolate, and a hint of licorice, along with a woodsy aroma. Flavor is very smooth, with everything in the aroma represented and blending nicely in the complex flavor, with a bit of a smokey, subtle bitter and clean finish. Mouthfeel is creamy and the alcohol is well hidden. Great brew.

Thanks Bockyhorsey old pal!
After cutting my wrist open getting the wax sealed cap off..the beer poured engine oil black with a super thick creamy, long lasting brown head and heavy lacing. How in the hell can anyone give this anything less than a 5 for appearance!? Aroma and flavor of rich burnt roasted malts, coffee, molasses, dark chocolate, alcohol... with pine, citrus and alcohol on the finish. Awesome beer...better than Keystone for sure!