Deschutes The Abyss

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

Bottle from Windy City Liquor. I was so very relieved after I got my hands on this bottle since I had been hearing about it for couple of months now. The aroma is a delighting smell of dark chocolate malts with a very tiny hint of cream or milk. The appearance is a pitch black stout rested in peace with a firm layer of head. The flavor is a strong and bold tasting of roasted malt but yet has a minor taste of chocolate still. The palate is rich and creamy which leaves behind an excellent finish along with a moderate dryness. This should have been distributed more than it was.

2008 Bottle from Southbay Drugs. Pours a deep black with a brown head. This is one where the nose alone is worth it in the complexity department- I could smell this beer for a while. Nose is chocolate, alcohol, coffee, cinnamon, spice, licorice, and bourbon. Flavor is similar with depth and complexity on top. Coffee and coconut join up in the flavor. Lots of yellow lace when swirled. Gets better as it warms. Finish is lingering bitter chocolate. Excellent beer.

Pours jet black with a rather large, thick frothy tan head. Head settled with good retention and an unbelievable amount of lacing. Fantastic looking beer. Initial smell is of dark chocolate and roasted malts with a hint of molasses. Smelled just the slightest bit of alcohol, though mild and pleasant. Wow is this a wonderfully complex beer. Slight initial bitterness gives way to a roasted chocolate malt taste with hints of nuts and coffee. Slight bitterness returns for a smooth aftertaste. Medium mouthfeel with a slight carbonation that tickles with tongue. Smooth mouthfeel and balanced taste make this an extremely drinkable stout.

2007 bottle. Nicely balanced, if not overly complex, imperial stout. Very drinkable. Opaque body with a deep tan head. It clings to the side of the glass like motor oil. The aroma is not as strong as I thought it would be, but there are notes of burnt malts, licorice, cherry, coffee and chocolate — and a hint of fresh-cut oak. The flavor is moderately sweet and moderately to heavily bitter in the finish. Full body with a velvety texture. Moderate carbonation. Not as complex as Dark Lord and not as intense as Expedition, but a solid and thoroughly enjoyable imperial stout. Thanks Randy.

Black pour with a minimal tan head. Toasted malt aroma with a dash of cocoa. Flavor is rich and malty with some bittersweet dark chocolate and sugared coffee. Very enjoyable.

22 oz bottle, 2007 Vintage. Possibly from several people. Pours a pitch black motor oil pour, thick and dark, with a big dark brown head, laces well, sticks around, brooding overall with a sense of something special in store. Aromas are a decent dose of bourbon, vanilla and alcohol, wet oak and a light spirit sweetness, licorice and caramel, roasted malts died back a bit, with coffee, chocolate, definitely less sweet than it’s counterpart (Black Butte XX). Sweet, deep, dark. Initial is full bodied, but not chewy, a thick roast grows on the palate with bourbon and a bit of heat on the front end. Backend displays more powerful growing roast, coffee, a touch of chocolate, and anise. Coats well, sweetness not as much as expected as lighter bitterness and bourbon, roast, and a good coating remain on the palate from the thickness. Powerful and brooding, just a bit thinned out by the barrels (likely because they only aged a portion). Bitterness grows surprisingly strong towards the back end, heat dances a little more, vanilla is lighter as roast and coffee take over strong, as a bit of ashy smoke, burnt malts take over as we get further into the glass. This beer is big, powerful, but not overly thick and the sweetness is really surprisingly less than anticipated. Overall, black licorice loses my favor.. but that is simply because of my opinion of that flavor. A very nice brew that surprised me overall. Good, very good! Although, I hear bad stories about the 2008. Glad I started with and still have some 2007. Cheers, All!

Dark as night with medium light brown head. First thought on the aroma is pure COFFEE. I’m amazed there is no coffee actually added to the brew;probably the best coffee aroma I’ve gotten from any beer. Lots of coffee and roasted/burnt malt in the taste. A bit of salty licorice and surprisingly hoppy to finish. Very nice sweetness to this bad boy...Sharp alcohol bite, but not even close to overpowering. A bit thin for such a big beer. Very little bourbon taste, if at all...was told this was aged 30% in bourbon barrells and 70% in Merlot Oak barrells then mixed. I get lots of oak...not much merlot and even less bourbon. Someone had compared this to Full Sail Black Gold, but they are completely different brews...both good in their own way. Very tasty, but can’t wait to try this after it has time to sit. For $4.99, this 22oz beast is one of the best value beers ever.

black with tan head. oak, bourbon coffee aroma. smooth palate and a dark dark taste. Lots of the licorice and dark sugar.