Deschutes The Abyss

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

courtesy of fiulijn - dark black colour with a little persistent dark beige foam; very roasted malty aroma with notes of smoked salami and molasses; very sticky and oily, full-bodied and salty; an explosive deep bitterness, dry and very bitter and salty aftertaste of roasted coffee, licorice and molasses; robust notes of burning alcohol and cold ashes - very complex; not a beer to sip in front of your football game!

Bottled. Dark color. Aroma of espresso with a bit of chocolat. Nice bitter taste, espresso. Good.

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.

22 oz bottle from BevMo: The darkest of browns with a generous dark mocha head: Aroma is roasty coffee, dark chocolate and a hint of smoke. Flavor starts rich dark chocolate followed by some strong coffee bitterness and a chocolaty, lightly dry bitter finish. Full body is creamy with moderate carbonation.

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!

On draught at Freakin’ Frog in Las Vegas. Pours black as night with a medium and foamy light brown head that has good retention. Rings of lacing on the glass. Big aroma of cocoa, roasted malt and bourbon. Rich body with bittersweet chocolate, roasted malt, coffee and a bit of spice. Light smoke and bourbon in the background throughout. The finish is full and moderately bitter coffee and hops with a sharp alcohol aftertaste. Would probably benefit from aging a bit. Overall this is a very good Imperial Stout.

Pours a oil dark-black body with a small large bubbled beige head. Aroma is moderately sweet,coffee, roast, a bit earthy, smoke and some bourbon. Flavor is roasted coffee, some earthy, smoke, caramel and bourbon. Medium bitter chocolate finish. Smooth full body, alcohol is very well hidden.

22oz. Bottle (thanks glkaiser): Strong, moderately sweet, malt aroma. Smells of roasting, smoke, chocolate, coffee, and cream. Poured pitch black in color with a small, rocky, brown head that mainly diminished. Opaque. Good lacing. Flavor is medium sweet and lightly bitter. Tastes of malts, chocolate, roasting, smoke, and a little oak and bourbon. Medium to full body. Creamy texture. Soft carbonation. Long, dryish, chocolate, malty finish. Overall, excellent. Hides the 11% ABV very well. Very malty, but well balanced.