Deschutes The Abyss

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

Dark brown with just a hint of brown showing on the edges as it is turned to the light. Tall lasting dark tan head. Sweet aromas, with dark chocolate, caramel, hints of heavy wort, treacle and a touch of soy. Flavors much more to my liking. Sweet malt and light raisins in the start. Roasted malts and dark chocolate work their way into the mix in the middle. Only hints of oak and bourbon in the bottle. A light nip of alcohol is detected late finish. Perhaps a touch sweet, but I like my stouts that way and this is not getting cloying. I read the description the other day and was worried about the licorice note, but I’m thankfully not catching much. The best tasting imperial stout I have had in some time. Thanks 5000!

Bottle@DTS. I think all has been said. A wonderful Imperial Stout. Main character is espresso, black chocolate and relatively very bitter in the finish.

Tap @ Front Door: Black, intimidating solar-radiation-absorption capacity. Frothy chunks of cream/mocha head, sticky lacing. Nose of licorice, bitter chocolate milkshake, alcohol, light roasted coffee, milk and molasses. The flavor is so balanced; bread, alcohol, sweet dry coffee and chocolate spread, bright alcohol and light whiskey note. Almost grape like sweetness. The finish is chewy and astringent. Full body, roast and a snappy but not overbearing alcohol and bitterness. Yum.

Bottle from trade with fiver29. Poured dark brown with a moderate creamy light brown head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Heavy toasted chocolate, licorice and coffee malt with a small alcohol aroma. Full body with a creamy texture. Heavy balanced toasted chocolate malt flavor with a heavy bittersweet finish of long duration. This is a standout beer.

Bottle @Toronado, SF. 2007 Vintage Pours a black color with a small dark tan head. Has a roasted malty licorice and molasses and chocolate aroma with some oaky hints. Roasted malty licorice and chocolate flavor with some hints of oaky vanilla. Has a warming roasted malty licorice and oaky vanilla finish. Lovely!

Bottle, Beers of the World Live, NEC. Black with a beige head. Aromas are roast malts. Very rich coffee with prickly notes and alcohol. Flavours are molasses and rich coffee with resinous, prickly notes. Bitter and dry on the finish with a long aftertaste. Evident, warming alcohol.

Big thanks to Old Mr. Crow for sending an ’06 and ’07. This rating is for the ’06 version. The pour is jet black with 2-fingers of dark brown head, a minor Guinness cascade, and sticky lacing. The nose is big; dark malt, chocoff, blackstrap moiasses, mild nuts, some earthy peaty bourbon notes. The palate is rich, hefty, with a flavor profile that reminds me of a slightly heftier and more complex Gonzo. The roasty dark malt taste is there, with a lot of molasses, dark choc, coffee, and a solid, noticeable hop bill. It gets a tiny bit hot as it warms, and the palate heft isn’t as massive as some Impy stouts I’ve had, but I have no problem with all the acclaim this beer has received. It is very good.

2007 bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy, brown, mostly lasting. Body is absolute opaque black (flashlight tested). Aroma is moderately to heavily malty (roasted grain, coffee, cocoa), lightly hoppy (grapefruit), with notes of chalk, alcohol, vanilla, and soy sauce, hint of plastic. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Full body, velvety/creamy texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. Not nearly as much hops in the nose this year (maybe due to the hop shortage). The same rough edges are still there in the nose though (chalk/dust, soy sauce). Still very pleasant to drink, though, as it was the first time around. More alcohol apparent, but still silky. Very good but, as with the first batch, short of excellent.