Deschutes The Abyss

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

Huge thanks to After4Ever- That "so close" to pitch black color, very dark brown head. Nose is charred oak, caramel and some spice to it. Not sure what. Drinking this I think its molasses or black jelly beans. Big, thick syrupy almost. Finish is just slightly astringent.

Tap @ Pizza Port Carlsbad. I was so excited when I saw this, and I can happily say that it lived up to all of my expectations. Midnight black pour with a thick, 1 cm tall brown head. Heavy aroma of burnt coffee, tobacco, chocolate, molasses, leather, wood, and just a little bourbon. Amazing taste. Lots of roasty malt, bitter coffee, baker’s chocolate up front and throughout. A deep, rich oak taste accompanies the sweeter molasses and licorice flavors. A bittersweet finish with just a little caramel malt and hop bite. I could drown in this beer its so good.

bottle from allaboutstout...pours black with minimal beige head..aroma picks up the nicely roasted malt profile, with hints of chocolate, coffee, and molasses... body is of heavy chocolate and molasses as well, with a brutally bitter finish...some grassy hops present as well...very good, but just a tad too harsh for my style

Bottle. Black with pretty dark tan head. smells like licorice, coco,and alittle bourban. The taste was incredible. Chocolate, molasses, some burt wood, licorice, bourbon, and some bitterness. Great beer. Full bodied with creamy mouthful. Thick. The flavors seemed alittle disconnected, but you can taste that with age this is only going to get better. The rawness will subside and you will have a powerhouse that can stand up to,dare I say, the mighty Dark Lord?!?

22oz bottle, 2007 reserve. Pours pitch black, with a big tan head. Big roasted malt aroma with oak, vanilla, chocolate and some molasses. Roasted espresso and chocolate are initial flavors, and are gradually joined by oak and finally some hop bitterness. Long, bittersweet chocolate finish. Silky smooth, but the body is a bit thinner than I expected.

Dark brown, Smooth, rich, sweet, dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, molasses, licorice.

2007 batch. (Accidentally frozen, oops, and then unaccidentally thawed. Seems no worse for wear! oily dark black brown with a medium tan thin head. Deep dark sweet roast. Very much round, mostly roast. A big piny hop note seems to pop into the roast and alcohol. Anise perhaps? Luxurious mouthfeel. Slick, viscous with lower carbonation. Some serious substance. Big brash bold impy stout. Huge roast, murky dark sweetness. Alcohol, piny hops. Licorice. If there is oak, it is very sublte and bourbon seems absent other than some hints of vanilla. Really a lovely beer. Subtle and bold where it ought to be!

Time to catch up before BCTC. Bottle at PilsnerPeter’s Spring Throwdown. Thank to everyone who brought great beer and ribs and pickles and everything! Black with dark brown ring and lace. Coffee wood chocolate aroma. RICH esspresso bitterness chocolate mild bitter fruit. RICH! Very bitter. Smooth creamy. Awesome!