Obsidian Stout - Deschutes Brewery

MsRif

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at Deschutes in Portland, OR. Poured a deep, dark brown (almost black) with mahogany on the peripheral. Very nice creamy tan head that retained well, leaving beautiful lacing throughout the glass. Had an aroma of dark chocolate, roasty malts, molasses...dry, roasty but there is a touch of sweetness as well. Taste was pretty big cocoa, roasty/smoky malts and sweet malts/molasses.

Heavy mouthfeel...chewy. Definitely best saved for the end of a session. Overall a good representation of the style, and quite enjoyable. Recommended.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-29-2011 16:00:42 | More by MsRif

dbmernin83

California

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with an off-white nitro head.
Aroma dampened but there's a faint roasted coffee and chocolate on the nose.
Holy shit! An unexpected whallop of chocolate, roasted coffee followed by a nice hop bitterness. This is one of the most flavorful regular American stouts I've ever had, especially on nitro.
It's on nitrogen, what do you think?
This is a fantastic stout that I will seek out again.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-14-2011 03:24:53 | More by dbmernin83

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2011-11-16 in Maple Grove, MN at the 3 Squares restaurant.

A - Black with a 1-finger, long-lasting, light brown head into a standard pint glass. Very good lacing.

S - Milk chocolate, dried fruit, some coffee. Not real strong but there are food odors present.

T - Really good. Coffee and chocolate, enhanced by the dark-roasted, caramel malt with just a hint of sourness. The aftertaste is rich in roasty-bitter flavors, which last a long time.

M - Medium body and light carbonation yield a milkshake creamy feel. More so than from the bottle. Almost seemed like it was on nitrogen.

O - A fine beer. Good in bottles or on-tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2011 18:15:21 | More by Tucquan

Mora2000

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

On nitro-tap at the Holy Grail Pub in Plano.

The beer pours a deep, black color with a large nitro-induced tan head. The aroma is full of roasted malt and chocolate, just as I expected. The flavor is where the nitro really takes away from the beer. I get quite a bit of chocolate and roasted malt, but the nitro thins out the mouthfeel and makes the beer taste watery. There is also a little bit of coffee in the flavor. Thin to medium, watery mouthfeel.

Hopefully I will be able to try this beer in the bottle or on regular tap so I can re-review it, since I am sure it is a better beer when not on nitro.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-17-2011 18:57:22 | More by Mora2000

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On nitro-tap @ the Deschutes Brewery & Public House (Portland, OR) on 9/5/11. Served in a pint glass.

Pours black in the glass, with a finger of thick and creamy looking mocha colored head. This sticks around with a ½ finger of richness, which just drenches the sides of the glass with thick and sticky lacing. The aroma just smells delicious, with smoky burnt grains, bittersweet chocolate, and then a dash of tangier caramel. Some green citric character mixes in to, with maybe a touch of light floral tones hanging on the edges as well. The chocolate and roast are the main components of this though and they do their job well here in the nose.

The taste is heavy with chocolate, which mingles with green citrus flavors and roasted malt to really give off a deep roasted twang on the palate. Like the nose, this put a lot of emphasis on that dark chocolate here character here, with those hops and roast lingering in the finish with burnt tones and some leftover notes of bitter rind. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and just unbelievably smooth and creamy feeling here on nitro, which gives this lightness on the palate that the depth and robustness of the flavors here would suggest otherwise. I mean this just drinks effortlessly for a 6% beer. Just a tremendous overall nitro feel to this.

This was already an extremely well done American Stout in my eyes to begin with but here on nitro @ the Portland Brewpub, it was just heavenly. The smoothness and richness of the flavors in this glass just did it for me and I wouldn’t hesitate for an instant to try it again this way. What a treat!

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-03-2011 17:12:40 | More by Kegatron

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this at the blue dog.
Appears quite black with a rocky tall head that dense and lingers for a long while. Looks to be about average carbonation. Lots of sticky lacing to the bottom of the glass.

Aroma is rich and robust with roasted malts and esspresso hints of molasses comes through too.

Taste is of rich roasted malts and black coffee.
Some hop bitterness comes through to balance out the sweetness.

Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Slides down nicely.

This was a good stout with lots of flavor.
My second from the folks at Deschutes, and there proving to be a worthy brewery in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 12:22:16 | More by micromaniac129

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving type: 16 oz nitro into a pint glass

Haven't had this since Philly Beer Week. Just as good as I remembered it being. Starts off with a fingers width crown that quickly dissipates while leaving more than enough evidence of it's former presence. Chocolat, toffee nose. Nice smoothe mouthfeel with the usual suspects regarding flavors you'd expect from this type of stout. A fine example of what makes Deschutes a premier stout brewer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-02-2011 18:29:48 | More by Retail1LO

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Fathers Office in Santa Monica, CA on 7/10/11

A - Poured dark black with a small amount of light brown head.

S - Chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and a mild bitterness present as well. A nice nose.

T - Bitter espresso, dark chocolate, roasted malts and a subtle overall sweetness to balance it out. This is an exceptional stout.

M - Almost feels like this is nitro (perhaps it is?). Medium body, smooth and somewhat creamy texture. Light carbonation.

O - Another great offering from Deschutes.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2011 17:33:39 | More by TheSevenDuffs

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Deep brown to black in color. Poured with a frothy, steady, longlasting beige head that leaves huge, thick sheets of lacings on the glass. Mellow chocolate and roasted malt aromas. Velvety smooth, with a delicate feel, but at the same time a bit thick. Sweet chocolate and roasted malt flavors up front and into the middle. Bitter hops begin to show thru in the middle as the raosted malt flavor deepens to a nearly burnt flavor, but never actully gets there. Dark roasted malt flavors, with a hint of coffee through to the finish. Finished semi-dry with roasty, bitter hop aftertaste.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 17:54:44 | More by IronLover

haazer

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Capones.

A- Appears just like a, dare I say it? Guiness. The familiar tan head, black/dark brown liquid and the quicksand-like brown bubbles cascading down the glass.

S- Smell is fairly bland. Little bit of roasted malts, kind of smells like a Guiness. Oddly enough this kind of smells like a lager. Just very faint.

T- Ok so it definitely delivers where it matters. The taste is much better then the aroma. Reminds me of the "whoppers" candy balls somewhat. Good roasted malts, with a little coffee and creamer. Tempted by a 4.5 score but not quite.

M- A bit on the lighter side for a stout, but it is sooo drinkable. I'm bumping the score some. It feels and drinks as easy as a porter.

O- Despite the lack of aroma in this thing it is definitely better to drink. I'd certainly have this again and perhaps like to try from the bottle to see if the nose is any better.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2011 20:41:25 | More by haazer

Franch

New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

i don't get to try stouts that are not imperial very often. this is a pretty good everyday stout. i really liked it, and at 6.4% ABV, it's certainly more feasible to drink a lot of it than say.. bell's expedition stout. the espresso taste went to the core.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2011 04:41:25 | More by Franch

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on nitro-tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Poured into a pint glass jet black with a small, dense, tan nitro head. Very clean aroma, infused with espresso and roasty malts. Roasty, roasty taste, coffee, dark chocoate, more roastiness, almost burnt, but not quite. Silky and uh, roasty, with a coffee-bitter dry finish. Full body and quite drinkable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-10-2011 13:19:34 | More by Rifugium

UpToMeBeer

Colorado

4.47/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Wow. This is the creamiest, thickest, chewiest nitro-stout I've had. It is a sheer joy to savor in the mouth after admiring a one-inch thick head and decent lacing. Don't let the full-bodied character intimidate you if that's a danger... This is a very drinkable, pleasant beer.

Smell-wise, it's rather standard with hints of chocolate and coffee. It tastes like stouts of similar quality; the thing that sets it apart are the body and creaminess. A definite advantage I had, even here in Colorado, was getting served on nitro (thank you Taps, in Fort Collins).

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-07-2011 02:00:52 | More by UpToMeBeer

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

megahurts4

Louisiana

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deschutes Obsidian Stout
On tap at Tap House Grill Seattle, WA

Appearance: dark brown, small head, and good lacing.

Smell: roasted malt, coffee, and dark chocolate.

Taste: good roasted malt, coffee, and cocoa.

Mouthfeel: medium and smooth.

Overall:
This has good flavor. It is very smooth without being watery.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2011 04:38:35 | More by megahurts4

beagle75

Iowa

4.22/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft nitrogen service into a 0.5-liter mug at Hollingshead's deli.

A: Opaque black color with two fingers of super-fine and persistent light beige foam head. Within the lofty head, cascading veins cut a dark network through the more pale substrate. Thick, localized lacing forms low on the glass.

S: Mild and roasted, with notes of earthy tree bark--chicory perhaps.

T: Begins off-dry, with refined roasted malt that features a quality of bitter-sweet chocolate syrup and no detectable acidity. Bitter chocolate carries into the middle where flavors generally become more mild. A whiff of fennel seed develops in the finish where bitterness is agreeably restrained.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, very smooth on the palate yet substantial, with very low carbonation.

D/O: Deschutes Obsidian stout is among the finest of American-brewed export stouts that get to see the inside of a small-format bottle. It is full-flavored yet not too strong, allowing the drinker to enjoy ther best of both of those worlds. The use of nitrogen propellant removes any suggestion of acidity on the palate, allowing the subtle flavors and eminent smoothness of the style to be showcased without battling the often-distracting acidic taste or texture.

Over the years I have waffled over what I considered Deschutes's greatest strength as a brewer: they make a lot of good pale ales, yet their Black Butte porter is the very archetype of its style, for those that have access to it. The fact that such a brewery can also brew an export stout that is so similar in some ways to the porter, yet make each product stand apart from the other when it counts, is testament to the exceeding mastery possessed over the porter-styles in general (and perhaps an even greater harbinger than is the appeal and popularity of their more limited imperials, such as The Abyss.) In the end, I refuse to be swayed in my opinion one way or the other.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-18-2011 02:16:35 | More by beagle75

BlastBeats

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours pitch black with a sizable, lingering tan head.

Smell: roasted barley and malts were easily detectable. Mild coffee scents were present as well.

Taste: the full-bodied malty construction of this beer is built in to compliment the roasted complexity throughout the finish. Chocolate and subdued hops are evident.

Mouthfeel: I percieved the mouthfeel to be somewhat similar to an Irish stout. Creamy and frothy, but with more weight and viscosity.

Overall: A brilliant beer. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2011 07:13:42 | More by BlastBeats

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on nitro-tap at the Deschutes brewpub in Portland. Thick tan head on top of an opaque almost black beer. Nice rings of lacing after each sip. Big roasted malt smell, both chocolate and coffee. Incredibly well balanced stout, some roast bitterness and sweetness in the flavour. Creamy mouthfeel, likely from the nitro. Really nice stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-22-2010 21:05:43 | More by kwjd

tewaris

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On nitro tap at Pracna on the Main during their Deschutes December event.

Pours usual dark colored but with poor head, poor head retention and some lacing. The aroma and taste were roast, malts, chocolate, coffee and had some coconut notes, something that I never got from this beer. In my opinion "nitro" hurt this beer's mouthfeel; can't say how or why but seemed thinner than usual and there was no creaminess that I was expecting. Drinkability is ok.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-21-2010 02:11:21 | More by tewaris

MasterSki

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On nitro at 515 Kitchen & Cocktails. Served in a giant snifter.

A - Beautiful looking pour of a beautiful looking beer. A few fingers of persistent tan foam that settles to a thick cap and leaves behind glass-coating lace. Pitch black body. Not sure what else you could expect here.

S - Lots of cocoa, light coffee, a bit of smoke, roasted and charred malts. I think the nitro has muted the smell a touch. This is on the dryer side of things, and isn't overly sweet.

T - Taste contains the same collection of flavors, but with different proportions - light smoke, roasted barley malt, touches of milk chocolate and coffee. Finishes with a combination of roasty and hop bitterness.

M - Soft body, low carbonation. Perhaps a bit thin for 6.4% but otherwise pretty much what you'd expect from a nitro pour of an American Stout.

D - With the low carbonation, smooth body, and well-hidden alcohol, this is one stout you could drink all night long. I wish the flavor and nose popped a little more, but otherwise it's very delicious.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-11-2010 15:57:15 | More by MasterSki

Zekezilla

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up on a recent trip to Portland. Not being overly familiar with West Coast breweries, I honestly didn't know that I was in so many tasty samples while there. This one was probably my favorite. Pitch black in appearance. Very smoky, taste. In fact, I really hadn't experienced "smoke" in taste/smell until I tried some porters and stouts in Portland. Exceptionally drinkable. Makes me wish I lived in Portland!

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2010 16:46:56 | More by Zekezilla

nickd717

California

4.08/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nitro tap at Rose & Crown.

This beer pours black, like the volcanic rock (sorry, I stole that from the description) with a two-finger tan head and great lacing.

Aroma is a little muted by the nitro foam, but a little straining of the nostrils reveals a pleasant smell of rich chocolate and roasted malts, with maybe a little coffee as well.

This is a solid, satisfying beer with a rich roasted malt flavor (sorry, stole that from the description again). Damn, this one is chocolatey. The dark chocolate Ghirardelli chips I am eating for breakfast this morning as I write this (breakfast of champions I know) remind me of this beer. It is roasty as well, with notes of coffee and charred volcanic ash, which is fitting given the name.

Extremely smooth on the mouthfeel, which I know is helped by the nitro, with medium-full body. Some slight drying from the roastiness.

This beer reminds me of the world's largest obsidian flows at Newberry Volcano--just a few miles south of the brewery. "The Big Obsidian Flow," as they call it, covers more than 700 acres with shiny black obsidian. (Yep, stole that too.) Ok, here's something original: This beer was good. I liked it.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-08-2010 18:04:26 | More by nickd717

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap during my wife and I's lovely trip to Bend, OR in August 2009.

A: Pours jet black with a nice deep tan head.

S: Loads of chocolate atop a slightly sweet roasted malt base.

T: Good amount of chocolate alongside coffee and roasted malt. Nice balance between everything.

M: Medium body with lighter carbonation and a bit of a chewy nature.

D: Very nice all around. Nothing too outstanding, but a quaffable, fairly low abv dark brew, which I'm always happy to find.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2010 20:51:49 | More by Thorpe429

SShelly

California

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours deep black with offwhite poofy head, great looking stout.

Aroma is smoky, chocolaty, tobacco, lots of smoke.

Milk chocolate, dark malt, smoke and tobacco, leaves a light sweetness in the mouth.

Tasty and drinkable, great beer, the smoke and tobacco flavors would probably keep me from ordering more than one.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2010 02:58:15 | More by SShelly

pants678

California

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap at Father's Office in Culver City.

Comes out the deepest opaque chocolate brown with a creamy beige head.

Roasted chocolate and coffee malts.

This is about the closest I've come to pure milk chocolate in a beer. Though there's a touch of cinnamon and marshmellows (s'mores!) I would not call this complex, but it's not rich either. There's a nice balance of chewy flavors that's easy to sort through with the slightest hop finish.

The Obsidian is thick for sure, but it's a stout with just the right carbonation so I wouldn't have to struggle through the middle or end. Filling, without ending my night or obliterating my palate.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2010 12:11:12 | More by pants678