The Abyss - Deschutes Brewery

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100
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3,137 Ratings

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rAvg: 4.56
pDev: 9.65%
Reviews: 1507
Hads: 1630

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Brewed by:
Deschutes Brewery

Oregon, United States

Style | ABV
American Double / Imperial Stout | 11.00% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (1340), on-tap (150), nitro-tap (12), growler (4), can (1).

Notes:
65 IBU

Vintages (production numbers from Deschutes):
2006 - Released December 2006 (approx 90 BBL)
2007 - Released January 2008 (approx 350 BBL)
2008 - Released November 2008 (approx 350 BBL)
2009 - Released November 2009 (approx 600 BBL)
2010 - Released December 2010 (approx 600 BBL)
2011 - Released November 2011 (approx 600 BBL)

View: Beers (94) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by GabrielM:

GabrielM

New Mexico

4.03/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter.

A - as dark as you'd expect a beer named The Abyss to be, but with a surprising inch of toffee-colored head on top.

S - coffee and oak right away, then perhaps some chocolate truffle and caramel. Licorice is faint, but there.

T - somewhat bitter espresso, oak, vanilla, and truffle on the front. Smoother on the back, but with some hop dryness that's followed by a bit of bourbon/alcohol burn.

M - very thick presence, good carbonation, but still a little hot.

D - this is a great brew, but it still needs more time. The alcohol is definitely there as well as some hop bitterness, but another year should give it exactly what it needs.

On a side note, there were a lot of infections reported for the '09 batch. This is the fourth I've had from my case and I'm very happy to say that none have been infected, so the rest will be put down for enjoyment over the next few years.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 22:31:02 | More by GabrielM

More User Reviews:

Gargamel92886

California

5/5 rDev +9.6%

05-25-2013 19:04:36 | More by Gargamel92886

RayUF07

Florida

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-25-2013 05:48:00 | More by RayUF07

GimmeGumballHead

Illinois

4.25/5 rDev -6.8%

05-25-2013 03:36:49 | More by GimmeGumballHead

SDStoneEnthusiast

California

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-24-2013 21:10:53 | More by SDStoneEnthusiast

PHBoiler

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-24-2013 19:19:44 | More by PHBoiler

visionaries

California

4/5 rDev -12.3%

05-23-2013 15:15:14 | More by visionaries

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5 rDev -6.8%

05-22-2013 01:02:46 | More by mikeincharleston

aleman39

California

4.25/5 rDev -6.8%

05-21-2013 21:17:55 | More by aleman39

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-21-2013 04:01:59 | More by CosmoHopHead

Ahappyhiker2

New Jersey

3.55/5 rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

2011 vintage.

A- Pours black, has a decent head on it, tan lacing.

S- Aroma is very sweet. Coffee, molasses, chocolate, and malt are the main flavors I get. A little bit of caramel as well.

T- Initial sip I get a lot of bitter dark chocolate. The flavor is very sweet, like the aroma. It has a good amount of barrel character, nice amount of oak. Coffee, caramel, lots of burnt notes. Again, very sweet, not too sweet though.

M- Medium body, as expected with The Abyss. I traditionally prefer stouts thicker, but for what it is it drinks very well. Could use some more carbonation, its fallen off a bit.

O- The Abyss is always a solid stout, though for the life of me I don't understand why it's one of the highest rated beers on this entire site. I've had it fresh and aged, several times. It always drinks well and has a good amount of flavors but I always feel like it lacks something. As I said it's solid, but it never blows me away.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 13:43:29 | More by Ahappyhiker2

bumchilly25

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5 rDev -6.8%

05-20-2013 02:53:47 | More by bumchilly25

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.75/5 rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 01:27:16 | More by Ctrauty

illy0sis

Texas

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-20-2013 00:23:09 | More by illy0sis

moonknight31

California

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-19-2013 17:00:19 | More by moonknight31

ShawnMH

Indiana

4/5 rDev -12.3%

05-19-2013 14:56:19 | More by ShawnMH

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-19-2013 04:23:45 | More by LambicPentameter

haknort

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

05-19-2013 03:28:14 | More by haknort

douginromeo

Michigan

4.95/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured aggressively into a snifter. Bottle says best after 11/1/13 but I couldn't wait!

Appearance - Black, thick, and impenetrable by light with a 1 inch beige head that hangs around for a good 10 minutes.

Smell - Chocolate, licorice, and coffee with a hint of bourbon. The smell of this beer is beyond complex - lovely sweetness and maltiness underneath everything.

Taste - Oh the taste - I swear I heard angel wings flapping as I savored it. So complex and balanced without a hint of booziness. Sweet on the tongue with everything you want in a barrel aged stout - chocolate, coffee, bourbon, and a nice bitter finish

Mouthfeel - So silky with just the right amount of carbonation. Oily and thick - this is what I expect from a huge stout.

Overall: my favorite stout that I have ever drank, replacing KBS. It's so well done and complex! I can't wait to taste my other one after it ages!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:48:40 | More by douginromeo