The Abyss
(has 16 batches)
Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, United States 🇺🇸
Stout - Imperial Regular|
Score
8.22
|
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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.
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.
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7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Re-rate: Poured from 650 mL bottle [2015 reserve, 12.2% abv; thanks Hartley]. Black with tan head. Same issue I had with the 2014 variant I tried a few months ago, but didn't bother to rate (only on Untapped). Soured chocolate, but good carbonation. Won't change my rating because this is quite old and I don't imagine more recent versions have this sour note. 2015 reserve rated in 2023: 7/4/7/3/15=3.6. Dec 31, 2016 (8/4/8/3/16=3.9): Poured from 650mL bottle [2014 reserve]. Jet black with dark tan head. Chocolate, wood, mild coffee and licorice. Balanced, well done, fairly simple.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jan 2017
at 03:05
8.1/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
2016-11-20. Tasting with Alex and George. 650ml bottle from Bottle Jockey. Vintage 2015. Pours an opaque very dark brown with a dark beige head. Aroma is bourbon barrel, wine barrels, licorice, dark fruits, roasted malt and seeds. Taste is the same with medium level sweetness. Excellent.
9-5-9-5-18=46
A glass at St. Augustine's next day after its 10th Anniversary. Vintage 2017. Pours an almost black with a brown head. Aroma is roasted malt, some American oak. Similar taste with noticeable roasted malt and hoppy bitterness as well as some fruity and black chocolate notes. Very silky. It is good, but not sure why I liked 2015 much better. In any case it is good imperial stout.
8-5-8-5-16=42 2018-10-27. Glass at Darby's Gastown on Halloween party with Christina and her friends. Probably 2017 vintage. Fruity, roasted malt. Quite good, but a bit too roasty. 8-5-8-4-15=40
9-5-9-5-18=46
A glass at St. Augustine's next day after its 10th Anniversary. Vintage 2017. Pours an almost black with a brown head. Aroma is roasted malt, some American oak. Similar taste with noticeable roasted malt and hoppy bitterness as well as some fruity and black chocolate notes. Very silky. It is good, but not sure why I liked 2015 much better. In any case it is good imperial stout.
8-5-8-5-16=42 2018-10-27. Glass at Darby's Gastown on Halloween party with Christina and her friends. Probably 2017 vintage. Fruity, roasted malt. Quite good, but a bit too roasty. 8-5-8-4-15=40
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Nov 2016
at 23:40
7.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
2015 reserve poured into a wineglass showing pitch black and no head. The nose shows a big mix of all the elements - the oak, the wine, roasted malts, and chocolate. The palate is surprisingly light bodied and moderately carbonated. Flavors of light cherries, roasted malts, molasses, and subtle vanilla. Big dark burnt espresso bitterness on the end. Complex but slightly unharmonious; needs more time to age and settle.
Tried
on 24 Sep 2016
at 20:08
8/10
Tried
on 15 Sep 2016
at 20:11
8.8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle 2014 shared. Black with big brown head. Blackberries, coffee, lots of roasted malts, cocoa, red wine, light vanilla, licorice, rye, a touch of smoke. Over medium sweet and medium bitter. Full bodied but not crazy so like the Surly Darkness we’ve had before. Very good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Jul 2016
at 15:21
9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
This is the 2008 version. Very boozy. Extremely rich and complex.Surprised the whisk is still so strong.
Tried
on 15 Jun 2016
at 22:09
8.9/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Shared 22 oz. bottle. 2015 edition. Bottle states ’Best after 12/08/2016’. Couldn’t wait that long; wanted to try this. Pours like oil and is almost black with a thick, creamy brown head. Aroma of bourbon, roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, and molasses. Tons of flavor. Taste is bourbon, oak, molasses, chocolate, coffee, and has hints of licorice and vanilla. Maybe faint vinous notes as well. Thick, full-bodied and extremely rich. This is made for slow sipping. My only complaint is that there might be a little too much bourbon flavor, but it’s not nearly as strong as some of the other barrel-aged stuff out there. Looking forward to aging this. Fantastic!
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Mar 2016
at 23:49
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle from Green Dragon in Portland. Black with a minimal tan head. Nicely balanced with roasted malt, bourbon, oak and some vanilla. Also notes of chocolate. A nice one.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Mar 2016
at 20:09
10/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 10
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 10
Aroma: bourbon, woody, vanilla, vinous, licorice, molasses, Appearance: black with a brown head Taste: medium sweetness, medium bitterness, Palate: full body, creamy, soft carbonation, long finish, Excellent
Tried
on 06 Feb 2016
at 19:45
8/10
So brash when it is fresh. I think I prefer it that way.
Tried
on 15 Jan 2016
at 16:16