Deschutes Brewery The Abyss

The Abyss

 

Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, United States 🇺🇸

  Stout - Imperial Regular
Score
8.22
ABV: 11.0% IBU: 68 Ticks: 284
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.
 

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8.8/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 9
0.65l bottle thanks to Cristobal37. Black body with a brown head. Aroma and taste of chocolate, coffee, oak, maple syrup and some tannins. Smooth and rounded beer. Great one.
Tried from Bottle on 17 May 2019 at 18:10

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 8.5
(650ml 2014 bottle shared @ Nische's tasting, thanks Niko!) Pours pitch black with a decent dark tan head. Notes of very roasty malt with some acidity and ashy component, rather heavy notes of licorice and soy sauce, burnt coffee, touches of molasses, soft bourbon and vanilla, a bit of stewed fruit, a scotch-like iodine bite, lightly to moderately sweet up front but finishing dry and quite bitter with loads of roast, ash and lingering licorice and spirits. Medium-bodied with fairly soft carbonation. Tough to tell what's age when not having had the beer fresh, but the acidic burnt roast and licorice disrupt the balance a little. Neat to try even if maybe better younger.
Tried from Bottle on 30 Apr 2019 at 22:05

7/10
Super harsh, mad dry and bitter, kinda like a dry syrah
Tried from Bottle on 21 Feb 2019 at 22:07

6.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
Flaska från trade, vintage 2017. Svart med högt, fluffigt brunbeiget skum som ligger kvar länge. Tjärpastill, lakritsrot, väldigt torra och rostade toner - nästan lite brända inslag av aska, körsbär, körsbärsträ, färskt trä. Ganska liten kropp och låg sötma. Kärvheten tillsammans med de färska trä-tonerna från fatlagringen gör den lite svårdrucken. Kan gilla kärvhet i imp stouts, men tar då gärna lite fyllighet som kan balansera upp det. Här blir det nästan torrt askfat rakt igenom. Inte helt min kopp te.
Tried on 03 Feb 2019 at 18:14

8.9/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
1 pint 6 fl oz bottle, 2016 version. Pours pitch black with a dark tan head. Liquorice, toast, star anise, bubblegum, vanilla, cinnamon, cherry, plum, fig, roast coffee, deep red wine and oak barrel stuff. Big body. Incredible.
Tried from Bottle on 30 Jan 2019 at 08:34

Tried on 26 Jan 2019 at 13:12

8/10
Tried from Bottle on 24 Jan 2019 at 03:06

8.5/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 9
F: huge, dark tanned, good retention. C: black, opaque. A: roasted malts, coffee, vanilla, cocoa, bit woody, vinous, dark dried fruits, liquorice. T: rich dark malty, roasted and smoked tones, chocolate, vinous, cocoa, vanilla, bourbon, bit woody tannins, coffee, caramel, oily mouthfeel, quite complex and very good balanced, great for the style, full body and soft carbonation, 650ml bottle (bottled 12/08/16, 11,1% and 2016 reserve) from trade with Werckmeister, many thanks man.
Tried from Bottle on 12 Jan 2019 at 19:17

7.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
2016 Reserva bottle, rated Dec 2018. Darkest brown color with beige head. Aroma is very ashy, chocolate, liquorice, coffee. Taste is ashes, coffee, bready, liquorice, very bitter in the back. Silky mouthfeel with fine-bubbled carbonation. Very old school. 7-4-8-3-152014 bottle, many thanks Nische, rated Apr 2019. Lots of wood and ash again, liquorice, roast, also deep, but superbly balanced and drinkable. Better than I remember '16 being. 7-4-8-4-16
Tried from Bottle on 29 Dec 2018 at 21:44

8/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
2016 bottle courtesy of Sinh4, thanks! One of the last big classical impy stouts I haven't had, happy to try it. Pours superbly beautiful. Aroma is molasses, vanilla, barrel, booze. Body is heavy, bitter and abrasive. Quite aggressive in ash, tar, and burnt malts. Ugh, a bit too much for me.
Tried from Bottle on 29 Dec 2018 at 21:41