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Deschutes The Abyss 4.17 697

Deschutes The Abyss

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
6974.19/5.04.17/5.0Winter11%96.7Snifter
Commercial Description:
This special Reserve Series brew will only be offered December – February (limited distribution)
The Abyss: Stout brewed with licorice and molasses with 33% aged in oak and oak bourbon barrels. It’s dark. It’s deep. It’s mysterious. Aged in French Oak and Bourbon barrels, this special brew has immeasureable depth inviting you to explore and discover its rich, complex profile. The flavor of molasses and licorice draw you in further and further with each sip. The Abyss beckons. Enjoy the journey.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
BJP2006 (35), Washington, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/54/103/513/20

Dec 8, 2008  
Tasted next to the Dogfather from LDB 2008 bottle first Impression was how much Molasses is in this looked at the bottle and sure enough there it is listed I think this detracts from the beer I don’t get any bourbon from it, all I get is syrupy sweet Molasses No depth no character I think that the first year was the best now its just all hype and way overrated

 mesperon (151), Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/519/20
Dec 26, 2009  
I was told this beer is better after a few months. As good as this beer was fresh, I can’t even imagine it getting any better. Deep dark and opaque, as black as the name implies. Slight tan head. Thich velvety mouthfeel. An explosion of flavor, dark roast, lots of notes from the wood, deep chocolate, a little coffee, ripe sweet fruit with just a little hint of tartness which is well balanced by the bitterness of the hops and roast. An amazing stout, best I’ve ever had. Too bad it’s so hard to find.


 blutt59 (2172), Dallas, Texas, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Dec 24, 2009  
2007 bottle, thanks to Cavie, inky black with iodine swirl, aroma of dry cocoa, coffee, flavors of dark chocolate, burnt coffee, roasty finish as well


 baraciisch (156), USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Dec 23, 2009  
Wow, what a beer... Aroma is sweet like brown sugar or candied dates... Dark black with a reddish tan head... Flavor is black licorice initially, then comes dark chocolate... Finish is coffee grounds on the palate... Delicious beer.


 Cavie (1503), Fort Worth, Texas, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Dec 21, 2009  
Bottle courtesy of BückDich. 2007 Reserve. Dark black pour with a foamy tan head. Lovely chocolate aroma. Gentle perfumy scent as well. Taste is deep rich chocolate with bitter coffee. Very nice finish. Lovely.


 cathcacr (592), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/105/520/20
Dec 19, 2009  
2009 Reserve. Outstanding Imperial Stout, maybe the best I’ve had. Aroma is of alcoholic cherry chocolate, a holiday-time delight. Hints of toffee. Flavor follows suit in even more robust and actualized form. Goes down like silk coating the throat.


 Padron4KM (405), Chandler, Arizona, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Dec 17, 2009  
22 oz bottle 2008 reserve.
The wax top was cool but a real pain to open.
Deep black, no light penetrates at all.
Head is thin, but lasting, leaving spotty lace in it’s wake. A layer of alcohol floats on top like a nice port.
Aroma is pure black strap molasses, vanilla, creamy chocolate, and a faint wisp of alcohol.
Flavor is definitlely molasses, vanilla, toast, with some milk chocolate and toasty wood. Finsh is long and has a hint of anise.
Creamy smooth mouthfeel, and no alcohol burn.
Exceptional.


 savnac (453), Palmer, Alaska, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/104/517/20
Dec 15, 2009  
22 oz wax dipped bottle of the 2007 reserve. Pours a thick pitch black with a tan cappuccino like head that leaves some sticky lacing. Aroma of dark chocolate, molasses, wood, vanilla and alcohol. The flavor is bittersweet chocolate with lots of roasted malt and hop bitterness, very light alcohol taste. Very full body with average Imp Stout carbonation and a frothy thick mouth feel. This is a very rich desert sipping beer, drinking it at cellar temperature really brings out all the flavors. My only complaint is that it’s a bit sweet.


 SpencerDB (109), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/517/20
Dec 15, 2009  
Brought this to the ORF tasting. My bottle was an ’07 and someone else there had an ’08. Wow this was absolutely delicious. I wish I could make two different ratings here though. The ’07 was significantly better than the ’08. You could definitely tell the benefit of aging this beer. The ’07 was black with dark caramel head and a pungent bourbon aroma. There were tastes of bourbon, caramel, molasses, toffee, and a few dark currants or other dark fruit. Smooth, complex, and delicious. Loved it. Thanks Brad for such a great beer! *The ’08 had a high hop or carbonation content that made it not as smooth. I would highly recommend aging this beer for 2 years.



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