Deschutes The Abyss

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

95% Dark, some head. Huge coffee aroma but not as smooth as expected from the aging. Roasted rich bitterness, more coffee all over the finish. It became too much--I’m not even sure if "light sipping" wouldn’t be too much. I didn’t know this was a Top 50 beer when I tried it, so my rating is what it is, without favoritism.

Thanks to Odeed for sharing his pride and joy! Bomber, Heavenly nose of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, woddiness, and a small bourbon note; opaque black body with cherry highlights on the edges; flavor was coffee, chocolate, oak, and hop bitterness from the heavy body, the bitterness lasting and the alcohol not noticeable in the finish. Now in my top 12! 2007 Not near as good as 2006 with no oak, vanilla, coffee, or woodiness. 8/4/7/4/15! Second 2007 bomber from Bottle Barn; much better than the last one this ones flavor has choclate, coffee, hop bitterness, with oak and some light alcohol. 8/5/9/5/18 3/7/08

Pours totally opaque black-brown and thick. Not much head but leaves delightful lacing. Strong and rich, nuanced and alcoholic.

22oz. Bottle (thanks glkaiser): Strong, moderately sweet, malt aroma. Smells of roasting, smoke, chocolate, coffee, and cream. Poured pitch black in color with a small, rocky, brown head that mainly diminished. Opaque. Good lacing. Flavor is medium sweet and lightly bitter. Tastes of malts, chocolate, roasting, smoke, and a little oak and bourbon. Medium to full body. Creamy texture. Soft carbonation. Long, dryish, chocolate, malty finish. Overall, excellent. Hides the 11% ABV very well. Very malty, but well balanced.

65 cl bottle. Black colour with a nice light brown head. Nice aroma of coffee, dark chocolate and english licorice. Nice smooth taste of chocolate, licorice, sugar, malt and ends up quite sweet. A very tasty and complex imp. stout.

Since I didn’t go to the NYC imperial stout tasting, I decided to have one of my own - 2006 bottle acquired in trade with beerbill (thanks!) - viscous, inky black beer, with a minimal ring of tan foam and some creamy froth floating on top - an almost spicy aroma greets the nose at first, followed by some vinous touches, , some hints of cocoa, a light doughy character, and very light oak - slick, creamy mouthfeel, with very little carbonation - a warming spice character settles in, and is complimented by a very mild alcohol warmth - fairly dry, not super sweet like many impys (reminds me quite a bit of Southampton’s impy in this respect) - vinous notes and dark fruit flavors - oak is present, but not powerful - notes of cocoa, espresso, leather, and a charred earthiness - lots of warm, peppery flavors, which is unusual, but welcome - she’s a nice one.

(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 20 Sep 2008) Pitch black colour with creamy, brown head. Malty, roasted nose with notes of tar, espresso and asphalt. Rather closed. Malty, roasted taste with espresso, cocoa, dark bitter chocolate, tar and loads of liquorice. Full body with chewy mouthfeel. Fairly sweet. Lots of bitterness with cocoa and coffe, nicely balanced by the heavily roasted malt. Really powerful beer. Excellent!

RBSG 2007 Grand Tasting. 2006 Bottle. Dark black body with a small creamy light brown head. Coffee, caramel and chocolate aroma. Strong coffee, chocolate and molassas flavors.