Deschutes The Abyss

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

2007 Botle - As I poured it into my glass, the room seemed to darken around me. It’s like a black hole from which nothing can escape (in a good way). It smells like espresso and caramel, and has a wonderfully complex taste. Malt, vanilla, coffee and yeast. It showed a lot of the bourbon oak flavour from the barrel, and easily could supplant port after dinner... could probably even pour it over ice cream...

Opens with a deep berry currant and coffee nose, very restrained. A a touch of higher alcohol there. Rich, soy sauce, burnt sugar & espresso flavors and filling mouth feel that just rolls over the tongue and finishes with lingering cocoa like astringency and bitterness. Very viscous.

Aromas of licorice and darkly toasted malt. And it’s not that simple. Opaque black color with a dark tan head that’s enduring. Medium body with mild carbonation. Flavors are coffee, dark burnt sugar, wood, salt or soy. It’s not dry, but not all that sweet. The finish is a bit more dry, but it’s really about a soft landing. It’s incredibly distinct and very tasty.

Sampled @ GABBF - I will be honest this did really not blow the wind up my skirt. I thought it was extremely overdone. Loads of licorice and dark chocolate, with some dark fruits, molasses and a large amount of heat from the alcohol in the finish, along with a salty kind of soy sauce astrigency.

Tap @ Front Door: Black, intimidating solar-radiation-absorption capacity. Frothy chunks of cream/mocha head, sticky lacing. Nose of licorice, bitter chocolate milkshake, alcohol, light roasted coffee, milk and molasses. The flavor is so balanced; bread, alcohol, sweet dry coffee and chocolate spread, bright alcohol and light whiskey note. Almost grape like sweetness. The finish is chewy and astringent. Full body, roast and a snappy but not overbearing alcohol and bitterness. Yum.

The night capper in DM 2/9/08 at J’s pad in carlsbad. Thanks for the goods on this one bro. ’06 Vintage. This will be a combined score for an ’07 sample on draft this very same day at Liar’s Club. This one put me into "la-la" land, zombie party. What a long day of boozin it had been - don’t forget the quazz too. Appearance was larger spotty bubbles and a loose knit carbonation. Aroma and flavor were similar - dark chocolate wrapped with smoke, charred and roasty marshmallow, and a hint of sweet creamy vanilla. Finishes long, slightly bitter, deadly drinkable. Leaves a delicate film all over the mouth and gums - just outstanding. Only knock is picking up a slight bit of a astrigent salt here and there - but it didn’t ruin or deter my fascination with its excellence. Just a great stout all-around. A fitting end to a tasting filled with brews that didn’t drop below a 4 - solid!

2006 Reserve 22oz bottle shared with jarspag for the final beer of the 2/9 Death Metal in Carlsbad. Pitch black pour with red edges and a deep beige head and big bubbly center and minimal lacing. Instantaneous aroma of robust dark chocolates and molasses with notes of burnt barley and wood. Faint hints of brewer’s licorice as well. Very smoky flavor with rich chocolate truffle and espresso, with a subtle oak barrel character. Hickory wood and a light soy sauce presence are detectable. I liked how a third of it was barrel-aged, so there is not an overwhelming bourbon presence, yet the smoothed oak presence is very nice. Thick and soft body with the palate transitioning from sweet to bitter very efficiently at each sip. Yum yum yum.

Very hot and green in that it’s too fresh. The alcohol remains on the surface instead of it underlying and having dominate characteristics of oat and chocolate. Very dark brown with massive lacing on bottom of a very thin head. Worthy as a top Imperial Stout, but will peak with as little as 3 to 6 more months of age, and that comes said with first-hand experience.