Deschutes The Abyss

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

Fanstaic Beer!! My favorite!! smooth stout, Seems to taste better at room temp.. the molasses and licorice is great throughtout!! Dont pass it up!!

"appearance-pours as black as night. like motor oil with a brownish dark-burgundy head nose-smells of roasted chocolate malt, with a slight hint of bourbon, alcohol, & molasses mouthfeel-in a word...awesome. thick, smooth. Hannah had a tiny sip and literally chewed it (before asking for more, which we declined) flavor-near perfection. multi-layered. had some characteristics similar to other imperials such as Rasputin, but to the Nth degree. More everything, without being harsh or overpowering. Pretty stinking smooth and highly complex beer. We had it in a brandy snifter. Similar to the Black Butte XX, this was 33% barrel aged, and in both cases, I wished it was 50% at least. I think 100% is too much...it either mellows out the character of a beer too much or too much Bourbon flavor covers up the flavor of the beer. With 33%, the Black Butte XX (while still VERY good) was a little harsh, and the Abyss had just a touch of that. Now, I’m really nit-picking here. This beer was exceptional in every way. The "Lord Of The Rings" of imperial stouts. Among the best, but there is just a tiny bit of room for improvement. Easily my favorite imperial stout. But my favorite beer??? I may have to do a Celebrator, Old Guardian, Fuller’s, Abyss taste-off one day to settle that one. "

08/10/2009 with Steve and Hugo. A black hole of dark chocolate, liquorice and rich malt that is so good, so balanced, so integrated, and so unfairly drinkable that it almost sucked away my desire to brew or to even drink another beer in my lifetime. It’s also turned my writing into clumsy junk. Well done Deschutes, this is a classic. A velvet fog. A nobel laureate of beer. Note: I couldn’t find any non-terrestial intelligences (or cheese) at the bottom of this abyss.

22oz. Bomber/Black Waxed 2007 Vintage AGAIN, DAMN WHAT A FINE BREW! Pours a thick black color, nice carbonation, nice small creamy tan head which lasted a couple of minutes, some oil slicks, and some nice lacing afterwards. The nose is sweet roasted malts, licorice, slight vanilla, deep chocolate/toffee and a nice touch of caramel. The taste is absolutely delicious of sweet roasted malts, chocolate/toffee, licorice. This puppy goes down very smooth, with a slight dry finish. The alcohol is hidden very well. Medium body, a very nice well balanced brew. Very drinkable, definitely the best brew for me from Deschutes. Thanks msubulldog25 22oz. Bomber/Waxed 2006 Vintage DAMN WHAT A FINE BREW! Poured into a chalice a black color, nice carbonation, nice small creamy tan head which lasted a couple of minutes, some oil slicks, and some nice lacing afterwards. The nose is sweet roasted malts, licorice, slight vanilla, deep chocolate/toffee and a nice touch of caramel. The taste is absolutely delicious of sweet roasted malts, chocolate/toffee, licorice. This puppy goes down very smooth, with a slight dry finish. Medium body. Very drinkable, definitely the best brew for me from Deschutes.

Damn DUDE! Pours a thick, disgustingly delicious blackness that can only be compared to a black hole. Nice 1.5" mocha colored head that fades slowly with a lot of sticking left behind :) Molasses but not DL molasses. I don’t know much about the stuff but this is different than that. Fudgey with a nice whiskey nose [from the barrel]. Prunes or some other dark fruit is present and bringing in the rear of aromas. Thick, rich and nasty (in a good way). This is one bad Larry! The thickness has an eruption of chocolate, molasses and whiskey oak. A very good and slightly bitter combo! Feels nice and heavy but goes down so smooth you can’t tell your about to be attacked by some serious flavors. A must pick up and try! Have one, have two. This is one damn damn great beer. It’s up there with the DL and Kate IMHO.

Bottle at SBWF 2009. Well, that’s it. I finally reached a point where I had to say ’enough..’ This is a full on onslaught on my palate and leaves very little to be desired. At 11%, oak aged, with molasses and licorice - how much more could you want, how meaner can beer get? Surely, I think, some gasoline mixed with battery acid for that extra bite? Maybe gunpowder mixed with cocaine would take this beer to full marks? Nevertheless, I’ve come a full circle. My quest for imperial stouts perfection ends with this beer. I’m going for a lager, anybody with me?

[1921-20081222] 1pt6floz bottle. Dark roasted molasses dipped in bread chunks aroma with coffee hints. Black body with a long-lasting creamy dark brown head. Dark roasted malt flavour with sweet molasses and coffee beans and slightly smoky wood. Full body is smooth with hidden alcohol. Surprisingly simple and very, very good, any girl might steal a glass of this...
(Vintage 2007; w/ GregClow, jerc)