Deschutes The Abyss

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

Shared at CT V by black95tt. Aroma was of coffee, roasty, burnt, chocolate. Flavor was really roasty, and a little burnt also and maybe some of the oak. Also a little molasses and maybe some anise. The aroma on this was incredible. I never give out perfects in aroma, flavor, or overall and i almost did.

One of the most flavorfilled drinks I have ever poured. Heavily roasted with a strong, spiced licorice and root component. Many earthy flavors that all backup the spicy sweetness of the molasses with a silky smooth light bitter milk chocolate piece. Burnt caramel malt and vanilla with espresso bean and toasted breadiness as well. Pronounced alcohol in an medium-heavy body with richness that is present from first sip to well beyond the finish. Impressive drink.

(Bottle, thanks hopscotch!) Pours Black with a brown head. Roasted malt aroma with tones of cocoa, dark chocolate, espresso coffee, liquorice, roasted nuts, dark bread and brown sugar/molasses. Wood and bourbon tones in the background of vanilla up front but also tiny hints of coco nut. Some notes resiny and peppery hops. Hints of green pepper, chilly, gravel, chalk, parsley. Medium to heavy roasted malt flavour with tones of espresso/coffee beans, cocoa/dark chocolate, brown sugar/molasses and liquorice. Subtle dark berries in the undertones both in the nose and taste. Rather. Buttery and oily mouthfeel. A good medium bitter blend of hop resiny and light piny bitterness first but also some roast bitterness. Coffee and cocoa lingers. Medium to full bodied. Fantastic. Second try: (Bottle from 2006) Pours black with a dark brown head. The aroma is of vanilla-ish oak and mild tar and burned roast. Undertones of chocolate, cocoa, dark bread, burned liquorice, molasses, mild dry coffee, dark dried fruits/prunes and hints of blue grapes. Not overly massive on the nose but the maltiness is solid. Just a touch of hops. The flavour is of molasses, vanilla, woody oak, chocolate, coffee, dark bread, liquorice and some blackberry jelly. Bit vinous. Medium to heavily roasted and medium burned. The mouthfeel is oily and soft carbonated. The aftertaste is of molasses, dark/sweet berries and caramel/roasted malt. Medium to full bodied.

Needs to be considered one of top Imperial Stouts in existence. Inky black, with dark chocolate, coffee, and molasses tones. Perhaps the darkest beer I have seen. Flavor was complex with each individual taste hitting with equal intensity. I was extremely pleased with this brew!

22 oz bottle. Pours a pitch black with a slight mahogany head. The aroma is of roasted coffee, chocolate, molasses, etc. The flavor is VERY sweet and creamy of roasted coffee and chocolate. Smooth with slight carbonation and ends with a slight warming (alcohol). Very good.

Had this on tap at the Green Dragon in Portland, OR. This is a fantastic Imperial Stout! Pours black with a nice tan head. Amazing mouthfeel. It’s all there in both aroma and taste...oak, chocolate, chocolate, molasses, bourbon and more. I’ll likely have to rerate after I drink the 22oz. I picked up @ Belmont Station.

A massive and complex Imperial Stout, layered with thick chocolate, malt and licorice with hints of rose petal. Nearly as chewy as Dogfish Head’s World Wide Stout , with half the gravity (and alcohol).

Timfoolery scored this bottle on a trip to El Dorado county. Smelled of licorice and brown sugar. It poured a used engine oil black and so thick that I thought I may have to chew it on the way down. Complex flavor, with sweet malty goodness matched perfectly with the right amount of hops. I enjoyed the journey