The Abyss - Deschutes Brewery

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BA SCORE
100
world-class
-
3,129 Ratings

THE BROS
96
world-class
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rAvg: 4.56
pDev: 9.65%
Reviews: 1507
Hads: 1622

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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 MadeInOregon:

MadeInOregon

California

4.43/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

wow, yall are crazy for this beer! haha! never had barrel aged beer before? ;)

unlike what a lot of peeps here probably did, i tried to be patient and age mine and wait for a special occassion rather than cracking it open the night i bought it. so, after letting it sit for 10 months i opened it and was not disappointed.

poured into a wide mouthed wine glass the abyss is fairly thick and black as tar. it has a surprisingly large head for such a thick beer. overall, it looks like most all the strong stouts and porters i've had. nothing too spectacular.

what i like the most about barrel aged beers is their smell. this one smells awesome! bananas and toffee are the most dominant. the bourbon barrels are well represented. one whif and i'm salivating.

the taste went something like this:
vanilla/bourbon --> licorice --> chocolate --> stout

each sip provided a complex experience which ended prominently with the same flavor as deschutes' obisdian stout...as well it should since that is the building block of the abyss. however, what's so surprising about the abyss was how much it really DID taste like their obsidian stout. once all the tremendous sweetness and strength faded what remained on the palate was dang near identical to the stout. the aftertaste was the same as well. this was kinda disappointing, especially considering i let it age for an additional 10 months--i was hoping for something a little more unusual. i like the obsidian stout, but it's not my favorite stout. it's not bad though, so having it be at the tail end of the abyss isn't a let down. it will be if you don't like it.

i think the reason people like this beer so much is because they first like the obsidian stout so much. the complexities and flavors of the abyss are to be expected from a bourbon barrel-aged brew, and they are pulled off well here. but if a different, nasty stout was used from the get go i doubt peeps would be fiending over this one. oh yeah, and the cult-following the brewery has along with the nice bottle sure don't hurt the rating either!

peace.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2009 18:38:21 | More by MadeInOregon

More User Reviews:

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