Deschutes The Abyss

2008 bottle... so over a year old. Pours a lovely glossy obsidian with a fine thick frothy wet sand colored head. Aroma is strong floral hops with a rich chocolate and coffee blend, quite gritty and full, nostril coating, touch of creaminess, oats maybe? I had an 08 about 6 months ago and the hops were way out of balance, seems to be doing better now. Deschutes always has distinctive flavors and this is no different, first taste is quite ashy, off-dry, some dark berry tartness adds some acidity, charcoal and hard roasted coffee, typical Deschutes floralness tends to integrate well with this beer and the age, maybe some oat creaminess, a bit oily with a hint of salt like an old ale, this is probably the peak time for this beer. Long coffee and chocolate shortbread cookie aftertaste, still a bit dry and ashy but with enough residual sweetness to compensate. I’m sure the licorice plays a large part in counterbalancing the tobacco flavors which are ever present. Body is great, fluffy, oily, large but playful carbonation, full bodied but not a chore, quite creamy with just enough viscosity to make you know this beer is huge. The best of the 3 I’ve had, with the others being the 6 month old 08 and a nearly 3 year old 06 courtesy of drewbeerme, wait corret that... holdenn says I provided the 08 and xnoxhatex provided the 06... but I’m sure panatap had a hand in there somewhere. Definitely one of the driest imperial stouts there is. Smokers need not apply....

Bottle at SBWF 2009. Well, that’s it. I finally reached a point where I had to say ’enough..’ This is a full on onslaught on my palate and leaves very little to be desired. At 11%, oak aged, with molasses and licorice - how much more could you want, how meaner can beer get? Surely, I think, some gasoline mixed with battery acid for that extra bite? Maybe gunpowder mixed with cocaine would take this beer to full marks? Nevertheless, I’ve come a full circle. My quest for imperial stouts perfection ends with this beer. I’m going for a lager, anybody with me?

2006. Poured think jet black with a brown head. Aroma of chocolate and coffee. Lots of coffee flavors with some chocolate. Very smooth. Shared by therealbastard before he left for cali.

On tap at San Diego Brewing. Pours a black body with a thin, dark brown head that leaves a light amount of soft and whispy lacing. Aroma of delicate chocolates, soft roasts, dark ripe fruits, oak, and a touch of coffee and citrus. Flavor is soft and delicate as well. Darker milk chocolate, soft coffee roasts, slightly sour dark fruits and citrus, and some licorice before a dry, mildly roasty finish with a semi-long, bitter chocolate linger. Palate is silky smooth, well balanced, and has a light to medium body. Overall, a very nice Imp Stout. Put together very well and loaded with soft, delicate tastes. Good stuff.

Shared with our beer group during our blind stout tasting. Black, creamy brown head that sticks to the glass and land lasts well into the glass. Espresso, and dark chocolate, hints of oak and anise. Full body, light carbonation, palate coating with a welcome richness. Loads of flavor with treacle sweetness, roasted malt, and dark roasted coffee and more chocolate. Teh flavors linger in the long, dry finish.

bottle at Ft Wayne tasting - Pours black with a tan head. Aroma is dark roast malt and chocolate. It tastes of dark roast malt, chocolate, coffee, and oak. There’s a big, full body and a bitter finish. Excellent brew.

Dark black with low carbonation. Thick creamy carbonation. Smells yeasty, wheaty and alcoholic. Bitter flavor, wood and licorice. slightly bready, sugar flavor and bourbon.

Thanks Drink4satan for sharing a glass with me for a tasting. The appearance is dark black with a thin golden rim and some gold streaks that are floating along the top of the brew and gives it a marble like finish. The nose is full of fruits, chocolate, mocha, coffee, and molasses there is also some hints of oak. As you take a sip the flavor is nice and rich full of chocolate and coffee with bitter hops and roasted malt. there is an after taste that is nice and roasted and burnt that tastes like oak and sweet bourbon. It has nice carbonation with that roasted flavor that sticks to the side walls of your palate. Cheers Mike for the glass of beer.