The Abyss
(has 17 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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9.2/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Bottle from my Secret Santa, many thanks. 2011 vintage. Very dark brown color with huge long lasting beige head. Aroma of roasted malt, dark chocolate, bourbon, licorice, wood, ash. Taste, dark roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, molasses, cocoa, licorice, bourbon, ash. Long coffee bitter finish. Excellent.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Feb 2013
at 14:29
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
21st November 2011 Opaque black beer, big tan head. Palate is surprisingly light. Nice dark malt - smooth with a trace of coffee. Mild lactose cream. Just a trace of oak and even less of bourbon. A whisper of fruit. Semi dry smooth finish that is almost minty fresh. Pinch of spice. Not a shouty RIS but pretty elegant and balanced. Very drinkable.
12th December 2023
2008 bottle. Opaque dark brown beer, small and short lived darkish head. Smooth palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Smooth dark malts. Modest and mildly dry dark chocolate offset by an equally modest dark malt cream. Rich but well rounded coffee. Finishes smooth and semi dry with soft and very ripe fruitiness coming forward. Some alcohol spice on the very end. I can taste very little age on this whatsoever. It also harkens back to a day when these type of beers were delivered with restraint and finesse. But that ain't a complaint, I like the modern everything but the kitchen sink approach, just this feels like a beer from a different time.
12th December 2023
2008 bottle. Opaque dark brown beer, small and short lived darkish head. Smooth palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Smooth dark malts. Modest and mildly dry dark chocolate offset by an equally modest dark malt cream. Rich but well rounded coffee. Finishes smooth and semi dry with soft and very ripe fruitiness coming forward. Some alcohol spice on the very end. I can taste very little age on this whatsoever. It also harkens back to a day when these type of beers were delivered with restraint and finesse. But that ain't a complaint, I like the modern everything but the kitchen sink approach, just this feels like a beer from a different time.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Feb 2013
at 03:59
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Refrigerated bomber with black wax 2010 obtained through trade poured into snifter. Pours black with small light brown head that dissapates quickly. Little ring of lacing, medium body, low carbonation, and coffee aroma. Taste is bourbon, black coffee, dry oak, some molasses, some salt, and some anise. The flavor don’t meld for me.
Tried
on 26 Jan 2013
at 18:14
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
2012 Vintage. Aroma is dark fruit, molasses and licorice balanced by with some roast and chocolate. A light hop aroma is present as well as a bit of an oak aroma. Pours a dark black with a thin mocha head that recedes fairly quickly to the edges. Moderate lacing and small legs. Flavor has some nice sweet chocolate and roast character. Some sweet cherry notes and light licorice character. Moderate bitterness, light oak and low hop flavor. A touch of molasses and alcohol in the finish. Medium full bodied with medium carbonation. Low to medium low astringency and medium alcohol warmth. Overall this is a nice imperial stout but I think I like it more with a bit of age. This one is a bit hot and should age nicely. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
Tried
on 26 Jan 2013
at 17:26
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Location: Bottle at Paul's Blind Impy Stout Tasting, 1/5/13
Aroma: The nose has roasted coffee, some caramel, dusty notes, and booze
Appearance: Pours a dark brown color with pretty much no head
Flavor: The flavor was a little better then the nose, but it just tasted a touch old and dusty
Palate: The feel is thick and oily, fairly full bodied, with a bit of a burn on the finish
Overall Impression: I was honestly shocked that I didn't like this more. I've been wanting to try this beer for a while, and expected a world class beer. Maybe it was just a bad bottle or something, I don't know, but I think this one will require a re-visit for sure...
Aroma: The nose has roasted coffee, some caramel, dusty notes, and booze
Appearance: Pours a dark brown color with pretty much no head
Flavor: The flavor was a little better then the nose, but it just tasted a touch old and dusty
Palate: The feel is thick and oily, fairly full bodied, with a bit of a burn on the finish
Overall Impression: I was honestly shocked that I didn't like this more. I've been wanting to try this beer for a while, and expected a world class beer. Maybe it was just a bad bottle or something, I don't know, but I think this one will require a re-visit for sure...
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Jan 2013
at 12:51
8.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8
Tap. Pours opaque black with a medium brown head that dissipates with nice lacing. Aroma is coffee, dark roasted malt, liquorice, light tobacco, and some whiskey/bourbon notes. Flavor is the same plus notes of molasses , citrus (lemon), and dried fruits. Medium sweet, light to medium bitter. Medium plus body with a creamy mouthfeel. Warming finish due to ABV, which is otherwise well masked.
Tried
from Draft
on 31 Dec 2012
at 14:27
9.2/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 9
Bottle @ home thx to benzai. We?ve decided to end 2012 with a bang and this beer should do the trick. The pouring looks promissing: pitch black motoroil goodness with a brown head. Brown head, I kid you not. Let?s smell this bad boy. The smell is iron, roasty, ash, earthy, tar. It tastes like liquorice, dark chocolate, roasty, ash, tar, some vanilla, coffee, some red fruits, bourbon and wood. The aftertaste is amazing. It keeps on going and going with a lots of tastes queing up to surprise your mouth. The body is full with a carbo that just fits perfectly.. There is some carbo, but it?s barely noticable. It doesn?t wreck the taste, it helps the taste. It?s just slightly tingly on the tongue and throat. This is an amazing beer and a great way to end my tasting sessions with Benzai for 2012. It might not be the best beer, because the smell could be even better (the smell is great, but the taste is even better), but other than that it?s a great brew! Definitely a highlight of my year.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Dec 2012
at 08:13
8.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
650ml bottle [from trade with Boltz7555] shared with Dutchdrebus. Huge thick dense brown head on top of an opaque black colored beer. Head is long lasting and leaves great lacing. Aroma has malts, lightly roastyness, lightly alcohol and some liquors. Taste malts, roasted malts, liquorice, a hint of wood, lightly liquor, lightly alcohol, superb fitting long lingering roasted bitterness that reminds me of pure dark chocolate. Full body, medium perfectly suited carbonation. Very nice beer, too bad the aroma is a bit flat compared to the beers taste. Still love it though.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Dec 2012
at 08:13
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottle at home (thanks to Frank/Ramnuts) 26/12/12 2008 Vintage. Light black/very dark mahogony brown with a thin tan head that clears to the edge and leaves a thin swirl atop the centre. Nose is dark malts, dark fruits, chocolate, wood, bourbon, molasses, dark toffee, aniseed, liqourice. Taste comprises roast malts, dark bitter chocolate, bourbon, wood, boozed up chocolate maltesers, mineral tones. Full bodied with fine carbonation, smooth on the palate, boozey finish. Excellent imperial stout, the alcohol is well integrated, top stuff!
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Dec 2012
at 15:00
8.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bomber received in trade. Thank you Adnielsen! Pours oily pitch black with a small creamy dark chocolate brown head that leaves some thick lacing on the glass while dissipating. Smell is sweet, malty and surprisingly subtle with roasted malts, sweetened dark roast coffee, vanilla fudge, coconut, fresh oak, raisins, sweet liquorice candy, bourbon, bitter chocolate, alcohol, caramel and hints of citrus zest. Taste is sweet, bitter and tiny sour with roasted malts, dark roast coffee, bitter chocolate, moist mineral-rich soil, pumpernickel bread, orange zest, pine, resinous wood, vanilla fudge, burnt cookies, coconut, charred wood and toffee. Mouthfeel is round, tiny boozy, tiny astringent and full bodied. Finish is tiny sweet and bitter with roasted malts, dark roast coffee, resinous wood, vanilla fudge, burnt cookies, bitter chocolate, raisins, pine and toffee. A bit rough around the edges but still very tasty.
Tried
from Can
on 22 Dec 2012
at 13:17