Deschutes The Abyss

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

Noogfest ’08. While very good,I was not blown away by this one. The body was black with an orangeish colored head. The aroma was pancakes and chocolate with some caramel notes. The taste taste was milk chocolate with some bread crust.

Aromas of licorice and darkly toasted malt. And it’s not that simple. Opaque black color with a dark tan head that’s enduring. Medium body with mild carbonation. Flavors are coffee, dark burnt sugar, wood, salt or soy. It’s not dry, but not all that sweet. The finish is a bit more dry, but it’s really about a soft landing. It’s incredibly distinct and very tasty.

Bottle #1 and served in my Stone RIS SNOFTER: A completely opaque blackened soul greets the drinker with a small but lovely small tan head that left a good lace upon the glass. The nose detects grassy, herbal and peaty hop essence. Lots of freshly ground coffee beans as well. Plenty of carmel and black malt character to go around as The Vapors turn...

A nice play of smoked and sweet malt come forward playing around with a sublime classic hop bitterness. The finish is pure espresso and bitter as all get out, I DIG IT! <P> The palate is greeted by a lush oily liquid and plenty of smokey dryness upon the closing.

Bottle at home with Tom ... Thanks to Dough77 for this ... Deep dark viscous black with short lived brown foam head ... mellow soft piney hop nose ... viscouse mouth feel ... lots of coffee roast with a resiny hop back ground ...

Poured a mostly clear dark brown color with a small beige head. Roasted aroma with notes of coffee grinds and hops running underneath. The flavor was mostly sweet roasted malt. The hops showed up for the finish. Tasty beer.

From a trade with kyzr, picked up a 22-oz bottle, also picked up last remaining bottle from Woodstock wines and deli in Portland, OR. Pours an opaque dark broan brew with a small light tan head that dissolves quickly to a fine film. Aroma is complex with scents of vanilla, bourbon, toasted chocolate malt, dark molasses, and a touch of smokey wood. Taste is smooth, creamy, full bodied, with some wood and bourbon flavors. Finish is smooth creamy and very warm in alcohol in the aftertaste. IN the aftertaste, detection of raisins, molasses and deep dark chocolate. Very impressive!

Bombers thanks to hopdog and arrogantb! Poured black as night into my snifter with a short chocolatey/tan head that receded to a dusting and loose ring.

My first impression of the aroma consisted of sweeter roasted chocolates and coffee.. sweeter than expected... as it warmed up, charred oak and vanilla integrate nicely along with smoky molasses.. burnt espresso too.

The flavor finds heavily-roasted dark malts (espresso, baker’s chocolate, licorice, and molasses) with a very complimentary barrel influence (charred oak and vanilla), sweet, but distant bourbon sugars, and alcohol warmth... the finish was long and coffee-based.. a tad grainy and warm.

Thick on the palate but flowed rather quickly across thanks to alcohol and coffee + woody bitterness... rich, warm, and satisfying! Excellent stuff!

Bottle shared with Dave at the Brick House Pub. Soapy head on dark chocolate. Yeast in aroma. Taste is coffee mostly. Drying mouthfeel.