Deschutes The Abyss

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

One of the most noticeable aspects of this one was the wonderful mouthfeel- like silk on the tongue. The color was darkest black. Alcohol was hidden at first, but raised it’s head late in the bottle. An almost chewy beer.

This is a very dark beer out of the bottle, with a short lived brown head that shrank to a lasting whisp. Viscous coating on the side of the snifter. Dark sweet aroma of charcoal, molasses, and coffee. This is an incredibly complex beer. Lots of coffee, chocolate covered cherries, vanilla, alcohol, and wood. You feel every bit of the 11% without it really interfering with the flavor. Thick mouthfeel. This is one of the beers that lives up to the hype. Big flavors in a big beer.

pretty dark but showing glimmers of an orangish brown in the light. thin dark tan head. remarkably vivid brownie aroma, chocolate galore. thick lucious chocolate flavors...signifantly sweet, but perfectly so. biscuity chocolate everywhere...hop bitterness is there but completely balanced by the sweetness ...slightly roasty but only enough to round out the chocolate flavors and bridge them with the subtely spiced hops. this is one of those imperial stouts that is really hard to find faults with....well done!

Bottled. Thx. to Ughsmash for this gem. Pitch black coloured. Dark brown dense head. Lasting. Sweetness, liqourice, vanilla, chocolate and coffee in the aroma. Flavour is quite bitter. Chocolate, liqourice, coffee and cocoa again. Vanilla spice and light sweetness. incredible smooth and balanced. Full bodied. Has a nice chocolate and cocoa end, with light roasty notes. Fantastic. Has light bourbon notes. Wow. Would want more.

Bottle. I jumped all over this when Liquid Solutions had this in stock. Jet black abyssic pour. Strong sturdy brown head. It seems everlasting even as I sip it. The aroma is strong. It filled the area around my desk as I poured it and consumed it. Upon closer inspection, dark chocolate, licorice, coffee, burnt wood, and roasted malts are very apparent in the nose. Wow! This is delicious! Lots of roasted malts, cold, bitter coffee, alcohol notes, licorice, oily, piney hops, burnt wood and dark chocolate. There’s almost some Jagermeister like flavors at times. Body is full but still creamy and slick. LOTS of lingering bitterness throughout this entire experience. Finishes with more piney hops, licorice, bitter coffee, light alcohol, roasted, burnt malts, softer woody notes and dark chocolate. I agree with some earlier statements on letting this age. Glad I’ve got a few more for that!

Bottle. Deep black in color with a nice brown head. Chocolatety coffee malty aroma. Caramel roasty notes. Chocolatety malty nutty flavor. Full bodied. Smooth and creamy. Well balanced. Rich. Finish is bittersweet chocolate. Very drinkable. Great.

[22oz Bottle - Belmont Station] A deep deep dark black color pouring thick like a good oil. This has aroma from the pop of the bottle. Coffee, chcolate and oak aromas with licorice and other aromas and flavors trying to get out This was the most complex brew I have had in a log time. This had a great malt build and the hops where also present. I save a few bottles for futher maturing in hoping it gets even better. Great beer great price. Thanks Descutes!!!

Bottle. Pours deep black in color, great brown head that lingers and fantastic lacing. Aroma is rich and full. Plenty of chocolate coffee notes. Full bodied, coating and smooth on the palate. Notes of bourbon and wood tannins are intertwined with a rich chocolate flavor. I don’t really find the molasses and licorice in flavor or aroma. Long dry bitter finish. Damn well done.