Black Butte XXI
Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, United States 🇺🇸
Porter - Imperial Series Out of Production|
Score
7.94
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What does years of hardcore experimentation look like? Witness this imperial version of our Black Butte Porter. Three types of chocolate malt. Three varieties of northwest hops. Cocoa nibs from the Dominican Republic. Locally roasted Ethiopian coffee. Painstakingly aged in bourbon barrels. Joyous abandon in a bottle. After 21 years we recognize the safe path, we just refuse to take it.
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7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
bottle - sampled at dart night with friends. very good imperial stout - friend has had cellared for a few years. Lovely
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Dec 2025
at 18:59
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle @ LCRBM 2008. Licorice, salt, butter and coffee in the aroma. Roast, coffee, plums in the sugary sweet flavor. Very nice, surprisingly drinkable beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2019
at 12:07
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle via an impromptu trade with the Mitch that is mad cheers Ken; was going to save this for a special occasion with the KFC drought of 2018 and the beast from the east have fucked up my plans so I’ve decided to drink it alone, firstly it’s a shame this review will disappear along with Ratebeer I’ve gained about 2 stone because of this site which I don’t mind about because I was destined to be obese, but JoeT when we spoke you said you didn’t want to commit website suicide but you’re on that path but seriously I don’t care as long as I get to 10k, ok back to the beer it pours opaque dark brown with a thin creamy tan head, aroma has big chocolate and rich malt, taste has sweet chocolate, light bourbon, vanilla hints, very sweet, got some coconut, I like this beer,
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Mar 2018
at 20:37
9/10
Tried
on 09 Sep 2015
at 10:51
8.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 9
Bottle thanks to Rick, pours a very dark brown with small tan head. The aroma is strong roast, coffee, wood. Medium mouthfeel with strong roast, dark chocolate, wood, vanilla, held up very well.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Feb 2015
at 12:59
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
22 oz. bottle thanks to BOLTZ7555 on this cellared birthday porter. Label reads best after 10/17/10. No visible signs of oxidation on the cap. Totally opaque brown with thin off white head. Aroma is rich bourbon on top of dark fruits, and cocoa.
The flavor is earth chocolate malt, oak barrel, mild sticky molasses on the tongue. Unfortunately it does should mild cardboard oxidation notes. Good news is the bourbon helps cover it up some. Still a lasting bourbon lingers in the finish without any alcohol burn. Really great flavor but about 14- 15 months past it’s prime. I still was really pleased to try it.
The flavor is earth chocolate malt, oak barrel, mild sticky molasses on the tongue. Unfortunately it does should mild cardboard oxidation notes. Good news is the bourbon helps cover it up some. Still a lasting bourbon lingers in the finish without any alcohol burn. Really great flavor but about 14- 15 months past it’s prime. I still was really pleased to try it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Sep 2014
at 11:46
10/10
OMG! I knew things were fine when I popped the waxed cap and heard a profound hiss. Great head of foam, caramel malt and chocolate doing the
Tried
on 09 May 2014
at 14:25
7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle shared at Levi’s. Brown-black body. Patchy, beige head. Rich bourbon coffee chocolate aroma. Very thick and sweet. Big luscious vanilla, cocoa tones. Super sugary, rich. Quite nice, but also quite heavy and cloying.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Nov 2013
at 19:52
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle shared at Bruce’s 30th Birthday Bash - CBC Clerkenwell, London. Thanks to the big bad birthday boy. Pours black-brown with a fine, tan cream head. Dark malt nose, lots of charred bread, good roast, some dark chocolate. Medium sweet flavor with further dark chocolate, toasty sugars, dirt, raisins. Full bodied with fine carbonation. Warming finish with lots more dark chocolate still, bitter charred wood, roasted malts. Great stuff. Good balance.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Apr 2013
at 15:23
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle at Bruce’s 30th celebrations, 08/02/13, big thanks to the birthday boy for sharing this one ! Mid black with a thin tan head that clears to the edge. Nose is dark roast malt, chocolate, molasses. Taste comprises dark roast malts, dark fruits, peppery, chocolate. Full bodied, moderate carbonation, dry in the finish. Great stuff.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Feb 2013
at 11:43