Deschutes The Abyss

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

Black body with hints of brown at the edges. Thin covering of well-retained beige cream. Polished aromas of roasted malt, nutty oak, and coffee-infused fudge. Smidgeon of molasses. Fruity-hoppy with some sprucelike whispers to boot. Natural carbonation snugly embraces the palate. Pure oak immediately touts its luster amid an early surge of gritty roast, with an ever-tightening clasp and toasty firmness. Bittersweet chocolate and potent notes of tarry java comprise much of the core, before the earthy roast gathers steam and generates substantial nuttiness and dryness. Some thick yeast is perceptible, but the attenuation is virtually impeccable, and just enough residual sweetness remains which pillars the body with a supple coffee and fudgelike richness. Although the hops do generate some acidity, it comes off as being fairly sweet due to the utter lack of estery fruitiness. Vibrant conifer-laden hop bitterness hangs on through its entirety and enhances the minty/alcoholic dryness, but never detracts from the malt complexity. Finishes slightly chewy and semi-tacky with molasses and yeast, but the prominent roastiness masks a large portion of the burnt malts which try but largely fail to deepen the roast and negate some of the residuals. Not the most exciting aroma (slightly vegetal, and not nearly estery/fruity enough to withstand the prominent roastiness), but the body is voluptuous and virtually flawless. A few minor tweakings would really make this a standout.

More kudos to the STL crew for sharing this hard to find stout. Pours very dark brown with an orange / tan head. The aroma has rich fluffy mild chocolate, vanilla, oak and lots of dark malt ~ very sweet and rich. Medium / full rich creamy body with some wonderfully soft carbonation. The flavors starts with dark malt with a little roastiness, vanilla, oak and a mix of milk & dark chocolate. It is all very smooth tasting. The finish has some spice added to the malty character. Thumbs up for this tasty imperial stout.

Thanks to decaturstevo for sharing this one at his inaugural tasting. This starts with a black opaque pour that throws up a dark mocha head. Huge coffee and dark chocolate aroma. Smooth, great body. Very complex and satisfying flavor. Very well done.

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.

Bomber. Pours opaque black with a lacy brown head. Tons of chocolate on the nose, along with some coffee and oaky vanilla. Full, creamy viscous body with minimal carbonation. Sweet taste with huge coffee, molasses and oak. Hops, espresso and oak all seem to contribute to the lasting bitter finish. As good as it is now, this is going to be better in a couple of years. Thankfully, I have more. Thanks Geoff and Tom!

This beer is characteristic of its name: deep, dark, and bold. Luxuriously frothy brown-gray head with an exceptional nose-mouth-palate roundness that is unequaled. At 11% ABV, I would have never guessed. Complexities such as liquorish, chocolate, and vanilla play on the palate like a stroll through beervana. Mmmmmm!

Shared a friend’s ’06 alongside my ’07 and found the two to be very similar but I thought the flavors popped a bit more in the fresher version actually, although they were nearly indistinguishable.

Pours black as night with a short lived nice tan head. Smells like chocolate cake, graham crackers, fresh baked chocolate cookies, and unique for an imperial stout, also with a hint of molasses. Taste is drying cocoa, roastiness, light cigar like tobacco-y flavors and char. Simply fantastic. Body is creamy but slightly drying at the same time. Perfect light to medium carbonation and the 11% is completely hidden to me. This easily lives up to the hype and is an amazing beer. Wow...

Wow! This beer is just fine. The aroma is hints of a number of things, smoke, chocolate, coffee, borbon, vanilla. The flavor is just as satisfying as the aroma. The semi sweet chocolate comes out at me first followed by a nutty, roasty flavor that really dazzles the tongue. You could almost drink this beer with a spoon. Carbonation and mouthfeel just don’t get any better. All round excellent beer that someday I hope to drink one by myself. WOW!