The Abyss - Deschutes Brewery

Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.

BA SCORE
100
world-class
-
3,131 Ratings

THE BROS
96
world-class
-
read more »

rAvg: 4.56
pDev: 9.65%
Reviews: 1507
Hads: 1624

Ratings Help

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

Sort by: Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers |

Alström Bros | Show Hads:

« first ‹ prev | 1-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | next › last »

Reviews by beerdrifter:

beerdrifter

Germany

4.18/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Picked this up in a great trade with Mar02x! Pitch black pour with a beautiful two finger caramel colored head with decent retention and nice lacing. The nose is dark and roasty mocha initially and opens up nicely with big vinous notes and hints of licorice, black cherries, booze, vanilla and coffee. The taste is just as bold and complex with lots of wood and roasty dark chocolate along with hints of burnt coffee, molasses, licorice, oak, leather, black cherries, and vanilla. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a ton of vinous character and a great bitter warming booze burn on the finish. Overall, I really like how the wine barrel aging emerged and really gave it a unique character that makes it stand out from many of the other big barrel aged stouts. Thanks Mark!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 20:12:34 | More by beerdrifter

More User Reviews:

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