Obsidian Stout - Deschutes Brewery

velosuds

Oregon

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Update 12-22-2010: 5.0/5.0/5.0/5.0/5.0

I have had this dozens of times since first reviewing it over 16 months ago. My admiration for this beer has increased significantly. It is now my favorite stout, other than imperials, and my favorite in Deschutes' year round line up. I am amazed by the consistency this fine brewery produces, and of this beer in particular. I never pay more than $8.99 a six pack at full retail and usually pay $6.99 to $7.49. Occasionally, I buy it on sale for $5.99. Awesome beer. Hard to imagine a better representation of the American stout style.

8/16/2009: 4.5/4.5/5.0/4.5/4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a clear pint glass. Best by date 9/25/09. Single purchased from local health foods store for $1.29.

A-Black and tan. Pours a deep, dark brown almost black hue with a two finger, creamy tan head with great retention and artsy lacing. A gorgeous craft beer. Briefly thought about getting my camera to take a picture. Absolutely beautiful.

S-Deep, dark chocolate and toasted malts with a lovely hop balance.

T-One word: delicious. Other words include wow, amazing, wonderful, etc. The superlatives are unending. Very well balanced. Rich malt and dark chocolate. Hoppy, clean, and complex. Very nice. My favorite American Stout.

M-Exceedingly smooth and nicely carbonated.

D-This is about as drinkable a stout as I can imagine. I like imperial stouts better, but this is extraordinary. I could drink this all night long. Expect I will in the fall and winter months ahead.

Maybe my favorite ale in Deschutes' very fine year round lineup. A great beer and very affordable in Salem, OR. Often available for $6.99 a sixer on sale. Great value.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 03:45:04 | More by velosuds

Armand

California

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Stored slightly chilled. Perfect temp. Poured into a tulip glass. Dark chocolate color with a nice brown head that slowly dissolved. Smells of malt. Smokey with hints of chocolate and coffee. Rich taste that went down smooth. Great pairing with chocolate cheesecake.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2010 07:17:02 | More by Armand

yuriruley

Oregon

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Realized I have yet to review this out of the bottle.

Appearance - black as night, nice mocha head that doesn't dissipate quickly, and good amounts of lacing.

Smell - Roasted malt, juniper, and sweet notes.

Taste - Roasted malt, balanced out my caramel flavors and sweetness, bitterness is very mild. Great balance.

Mouthfeel - thick, but not too thick, carbonation is just right, and a nice touch of creaminess.

Drink - this stuff is great, I have destroyed sixers of it before fairly easy. Despite it having a higher ABV then most beers you'd want to be drinking a sixer of.

I've never given a beer a 5 before, but I feel this beer deserves it. I buy it frequently and I believe it is one of the most balanced beers out there. I've yet to have another American Stout I'd rather drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 06:00:28 | More by yuriruley

scottyg354

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

No need to get into details, this is by far one of the best looking, best smelling, tastiest, smoothest Stouts I've had. Wish I was back out in San Francisco were this would be a staple in my fridge. Unfortunately, it's not available in PA or at least in my area.

This is one awesome brew.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-01-2011 17:28:03 | More by scottyg354

FARGO619

California

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Stored slightly chilled. Perfect temp. Poured into a tulip glass.
A: Dark chocolate color with a nice brown head that slowly dissolved.

Smells of malt. Smokey with hints of chocolate and coffee.

Rich taste that went down smooth.

Great pairing with chocolate cheesecake.

Serving type: bottle. This is one gem that I fell lucky to find in most stores. Great little 6 pack at a good price.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 16:25:17 | More by FARGO619

dcook11

California

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- pitch black. Two finger mocha head, Seafoam lacing.

S- charcoal, roasted malt, hops, coffee, massive chocolate.

T- hops, heavy, roasted character.

M- medium bodied. One of the best all time stouts. A must try. Completely embodies what a stout should be.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 00:13:28 | More by dcook11

TheFlern

Idaho

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Black with a voluminous tan head that laces very nicely and has good retention.

Smell: Chocolate with a perfect amount of complimenting bitterness from the hops Also, some roasted/smokey malts in the background. As the beer warms more coffee notes come out in the aroma.

Taste: Follows the nose with chocolate up front. The bitterness from the hops really brings out the flavor of the malts and makes it taste like real chocolate. As the beer warms it the malts take on a more coffee like flavor which is, like the chocolate flavor from being cold, accented by the bitterness from the hops. Ahmazing!!!

Mouthfeel: Not overly thick like many stouts seem to be these days. There is a good amount of carbonation and this viscosity is where a drinkable and tasty stout should be.

All in all this is probably the best good old fashioned American Stout on the market. Give it a try ASAP.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 01:50:46 | More by TheFlern

guityler83

Wisconsin

4.95/5  rDev +17%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Motoroil black apperance with a mocha colored head. The lacing is visible with each sip (awesome!) and the small

S: Dark chocolate, cocoa and roastyness right off the bat. Caramel lays hidden in the back with a touch of sweetness. Gram cracker and bread crust. touch of alcohol.

T: Cocoa, gram cracker and toffee notes. very complex yet each flavor distinct. hops bitterness is evenly ballanced with the roast to make it extremely drinkable

M: medium to high body with moderate carbonation. no hotness from the alcohol, but a slight astringancy from the roasted malts as expected.

O: After going to GABF I had to bring back some beers that aren't found round these here parts.. This was one and boy howdy did I pick a winner. Of the endless amount of stouts around these days its hard to stand out, but this one did it for me. My top pick so far.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 03:02:07 | More by guityler83

millsn1

Massachusetts

4.94/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

When looking for a beer that is heavy and will keep you warm, this is one of the best. Dark with sweet hints, but not sickly. The carbonation is well used to make the beer go down a little easier than with an extremely heavy stout. Tasting notes are pretty typical of a stout, but it seems to pour well, and drink better than most.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 17:56:14 | More by millsn1

Noxious26

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.93/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle served in a pint glass.

Ebony black just like it's namesake obsidian. Head is dark brown, dense and about 1/4 inch high. It's a shame that the head settles down to a thin layer, then reduces to a thin ring at mid-glass, then disappears completely.

Roasted malts and coffee are in the forefront of the aroma. Sweetness (perhaps dried fruit?) lingers in the background.

Mouthfeel is full and creamy. Roasted malts up front. Slightly sweet and slightly bitter. Excellent balance. Mild burnt tones appear at the finish. The acidic aftertaste lingers for quite awhile, but isn't overly bitter. This is an exceptionally smooth stout. As this warms, the aftertaste becomes drier.

This is a very well rounded stout. Somewhat sweet, somewhat bitter... aftertaste sticks around and has some bite to it without being overly bitter. Just about everything you could ask for in a stout except the disappearance of the head. Another excellent brew from Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2005 02:06:18 | More by Noxious26

Chuggnutt

Oregon

4.93/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Inky coffee black, with a nice thick brown head, frothy and rocky.

Smell: Roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate. Creamy and smoky.

Taste: Smooth and dark—slightly burnt astringency. Roasted grains, dark roast/espresso coffee, bittersweet chocolate, creamy sweetness, burnt biscuit (good), clean hops.

Mouthfeel: Velvety smooth, nice full body without being overwhelming in strength. An oily chocolate afterfeel, but very clean-feeling.

Overall: An amazing, smooth, drinkable stout, an excellent example of the style. Truly one of the best stouts I've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2007 16:15:27 | More by Chuggnutt

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

4.93/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Deep dark black. 1 finger inch brown head. Excellent lacing.

Smell: Coffee, dark chocolate malts. Licorice, bourbon barrel.

Taste: Milk chocolate. Raisins. Charcoal. Cocoa malts. Strong northwestern bittering hops. Vanilla finish.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied heavy malt stout with good slow bitterness and drying finish.

Overall: The prototype for the Abyss. An absolutely phenomenal American stout. Probably the best in it's style. You can't beat it for $7.99 a sixer.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 06:12:28 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

ScorpyX

Colorado

4.93/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Thick and dark, very dark brown, nearly black. Two finger-width dark tan head. A little bit of lacing left behind.

S: Sweet coffee smell, chocolaty notes. A bit of brown sugar there, too. Very pleasant.

T: Nice coffee dominates. That thick sweetness is there, too. Presence of roasted malt as well. Very nice combination and a great example of a stout. One of my favorite beers out there.

M: A little heavy, but not overwhelming. Certainly not a session, but it's surprisingly smooth.

A great beer from start to finish. One of my favorites out there.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 17:24:03 | More by ScorpyX

unclepedro

California

4.9/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ok, I know that I'm rating this pretty highly, but this is definitely my favorite stout, and probably my favorite beer at the moment. I had it on nitro at Westwood Brewco on several occasions in the fall of 2011 and it's just really phenomonal.

A: One of the best looking stouts I have ever seen. Thick, smooth, coffee-colored head with a mesmerizing cascade as it settles. Dark, dark beer.

S: Malty, sweet, bitter. Like smelling tiramisu or a cold mocha.

T: Out of this world. It sweet, malty, but with a slight bitterness that makes your mouth water. I'm not sure if there's coffee in it, but there's something about it that has a delicious coffee-like effect on the flavor.

M: Smooth. So smooth. Almost desserty, but not quite. Which is good because it's not overwhelming.

O: Probably my favorite beer at the moment. I don't think I could pass this up if it was on the menu.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-09-2012 18:05:55 | More by unclepedro

stealth

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Fresh bottle poured in a tulip glass.

My first impression of Obsidian was 'baby Abyss'. What a nice looking beer. Great lacing, great head, dark as hell, and tastes amazing. Molasses, some licorice on the finish, and coffee somehow/somewhere. Does this have coffee in it? I don't know but I really get that impression, and I love it.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 08:51:22 | More by stealth

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.89/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I poured this beer from the bottle at about 60 degrees F and it is clear and black just like obsidian but with some brown showing through and the head is a full finger thick and creamy brown and leaves another cool outline of a mountain peak on my glass as lacing! I totally should take a picture of that, but I am too lazy.

The aroma is definitely of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, some yeast and very little earthy hops. Both sweet and bitter. A nice combo.

It tastes even better than it smells with sweet roasted malt taking the lead then the creamy chocolate malts come into play with some hints of vanilla cream and then followed by the bitterness of the roasted malts and the earthy hops. Finally it finishes dry with hint of black pepper and mild alcohol. This beer is so well balanced and the dry finish lures you to the next sip!

The mouthfeel is creamy full and dry with light to moderate carbonation to play on your tongue. The finish is dry and bitter but pleasingly so.

Overall, this has to be one of the best stouts EVER! It's definitely NOT a crossover beer and if you don't like dry and bitter beers you may not like this one, but keep in mind that this is an excellent beer all around and you might be missing out if you think that it may be too bitter for you. You may actually like it! I love it! 5 out of 5!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 02:47:27 | More by WissBrauSean

MobBarley

Oregon

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

One of my favorites that I finally tracked down in Reno. Pours velvety black with a glint of reddish-amber light at the bottom of the glass. A handsome, two-finger cocao brown head that leaves smudges of lace graces the top. The aroma features big toasted barley notes with the underlying Deschutes-level dose of Cascade hops. Chocolate, chicory and toasted rye also come to mind. The taste is something to behold and it makes this one of the finest tasting stouts around. Big chocolate flavors lay the foundation, with a sweet, almost fruity middle before a pretty dry, bitter and toasty finish. Mouthfeel is thick and chewy, but not so much so that it precludes warm-weather drinking. Drinkability is fantastic. They don't come much better than this.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2004 01:43:58 | More by MobBarley

orfeu

New Mexico

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

One of the highlights of a truly generous BA Secret Santa 2006 package, this bottle came to me courtesy of b0ldfacelies -- many thanks for the opportunity. Beautiful raised hop vine design between the neck and the body of a very tastefully designed and informative label. Best by date of August 19 2006, so it's a bit old, but at 6.4% abv, I'm sure this has held up well. Poured into a nonic this stout sports an impenetrable brown-black, burnished and burnt chocolate body with deep russet and burgundy highlights and a sizeable and luxuriously dense, crater-pocked beige head. The nose is dark fruits at first, with dried cherry essence, Black Mission Fig juice, and stewed prunes coming through most strongly. Subsequent sniffs yield aromas of dark-roasted grain and caramel toffee. Then a mocha-coffee scent emerges as it warms. Interesting smell for a non-Imperialized stout! The first sip of this stout screams perfection. Without a doubt. Chewy, surprisingly viscous body with an amazing nearly-burnt roasted quality to the grain flavors that never becomes too bitter because of a lucious black cherry nectar and toffee-chocolate truffle taste that emerges at the finish, which ends in a powerfully bittersweet medicinal flourish. Much heavier on the palate than most representatives of the style. I'd usually find this distracting, but with the utterly fascinating flavor profile of this beer, I can't help but consider the heavier-than-usual weight to be a simple reassertion of the overall force of this masterful stout. I want more.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2007 04:33:45 | More by orfeu

udubdawg

Kansas

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 oz bottle, obtained on my last road trip out west. Haven't had this for ages, and can hardly wait.

once at about 50 degrees, pours black with a thick and fluffy dark tan head, sticky and slowly subsiding.
Nose is primarily of darkly roasted malts, a nice chocolatey-ness, some sweet fruity notes and a bit of alcohol. Wonderful.

Taste...oh, the taste! Just the right amount of residual sweetness - a hint of sweet that lets the grains express themselves without being under-attenuated. Smooth as hell, roasty and a slightly bitter finishing chocolate and coffee flavor...the beer is superbly balanced all around.
Mouthfeel is smooth creaminess...not too thick, not too thin...a bit sticky on my tongue.

Simply put, my favorite beer. Period. I seriously erred in only bringing back a case. I can't wait until it is available in Kansas - according to the local liquor store web site, they expect shipment in 2008! That will be a great day.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2007 23:42:46 | More by udubdawg

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Deschutes- Obsidian Stout

Huge thanks to Pimpp for this 1!

A- Deep reddish brown with a thick frothy head. Good lacing down the glass.
S- Thick cocoa and coffee bean. Light touch of pine hops.
T- Big thick sweet chocolate with cream and coffee. Buttery toffee and caramel appear with a touch of earthy green hops.
M- Sweet and rich with a huge flavor throughout. Creamy and buttery near the end with a bite of hops.

Overall- This stuff is good!! 1 of the best stouts I can recall!!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2008 21:08:37 | More by NJpadreFan

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer pours a black color with brown hues. The head is one inch in height, and recedes slowly leaving sticky lacing. the aroma is of milk chocolate, with roasted malt and dark toffee. The taste is perhaps the chocolatiest I have ever encountered in a beer. There are some nice secondary roasted malt and toffee notes adding nice complexity. Great flavor. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a silky texture and light, fine carbonation. Overall, this is a great stout that I can see quickly becoming a regular in my rotation.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 02:53:57 | More by KarlHungus

KoG

Nevada

4.85/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Diffent color label, and only 6.4% ABV was the first thing I noticed.

A nice black-as-tar color with a light brown head that sticks to the side of the glass in chunks rather than lace and slowly crawl down after each sip.

Smell was well balenced, not too overpowering but still very powerfull. Full of roasted barley and malt with a bit of alcohol and possibly chocolate.

Taste... mmm, definately toasty. Not too bitter with just the right amount of bite and no alcohol flavor at all.

A little thin in the body but leaves a nice stickyness that makes up for it, very interesting. Keeps the tongue coated foar a bit and makes the taste linger lightly.

Drinkability is top notch, 'nuff said.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2004 02:56:42 | More by KoG

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Another highly anticipated brew from Geoff aka SurlyDuff, thanks man. Appearance, this one absolutely absorbs all light it fades to black as soon as the stream of carbonation bubbles rise to the top to form a huge moccha tan textured head like whipped cream it rises a good inch above the rim of my glass, awesome appearance. As the head dwindles even fine lacing is left evenly behind in an annular ring like pattern. Aroma is full of dark creamy yet mildly acidic coffee roasts, dark chocolate strong herbal hop leaf approach as well. Awesome creamy robust roasted malt layers with a fine herbal hop aroma. Flavors blend poetically, a beautiful clash of cream caramel and mild toffee liqueur with brash dark roasted malts bringing burnt toast, chocolate, and robust espresso to the mix. Mouthfeel is medium bodied doesn't way you down at all drinks like a light beer easy moderate carbonation yet a bitter dry roasty finish makes it all so good velvety smooth on the palate. Drinkability is amazing the most flavorful session beer I've come across this one brings out Imperial stout like flavors with out crushing your skull beautiful beer I plan to get some more. Whether friends or liquid solutions.com thanks Matt Maples.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2008 18:43:51 | More by WVbeergeek

PantsOptional

Nevada

4.85/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hands down one of the best stouts on the face of the planet. Pours a deep, dark brown to black coloration with a subtle golden mocha head that leaves little remnant of its presence on the glass. Aroma profile is a rich blend of coffee, dark chocolate, and slight licorice. Taste is beyond comparison. Plenty of dark roasted malt flavor with a definitive hoppy finish to drown the palate in beery ecstasy making the lucky imbiber want to take in more of this delicious nectar. Mouthfeel is one of the best around, not thin but chunky and chewy with lots of texture. Drinkability is surprisingly high. It's not uncommon for me to drink a few of these in a single sitting while enjoying the world go by. Believe it or not, it makes the movie "Bound" even better. And in a way, it is the Jennifer Tilly of the beer world. A sumptuous vixen with legs that don't stop and a mind that keeps you questioning the existence of your very being.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2010 20:47:25 | More by PantsOptional

yemenmocha

Arizona

4.83/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Like everyone else I must say it is "obsidian black". Really really black, with a light tan head that is very frothy.

Aroma is of candied whopper malt balls with espresso bean candle notes. (those coffee armoa candles, coffee with vanilla waxy smells).

Simply huge roasted malt flavors. Warm, roasty, and the finish goes on and on. Some hops thrown in the mix but you're fixated on the roasted malt, of course.

Surprisingly drinkable for a richly flavoured beer - a characteristic among other beers from the fine brewers at Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2004 04:42:04 | More by yemenmocha