The Abyss - Deschutes Brewery

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BA SCORE
100
world-class
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3,122 Ratings

THE BROS
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world-class
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rAvg: 4.56
pDev: 9.65%
Reviews: 1506
Hads: 1616

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Brewed by:
Deschutes Brewery

Oregon, United States

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

Availability: Winter. bottle (1339), 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 the Alström Bros:

Jason

Massachusetts

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%

01-08-2013 17:49:11 | More by Jason

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.15/5 rDev -9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine March 2007

Barrel aging is still the rage right now, though most brewers stick with very limited releases. This is what Deschutes Brewery has done with The Abyss, an Imperial Stout aged in French oak and bourbon barrels.

No light will ever penetrate this beer--it redefines pitch black. An absolutely stunning brown head rises slowly and clings to the glass for a long time. Dark bak- er's chocolate, faint anise, prevalent oak with vague vanilla, and a faint yet sharp char aroma. Viscous, smooth, syrupy body. Heavy hand of roasted and burnt malt, but not overwhelming. Anise and vanilla are modest but noteworthy. Tart black-currant fruitiness meets a small but wild fruity ester. Creamy malt undertone, middle to end, with a warming alcohol in tow. Sugges- tions of burnt toffee and sweetened espresso come to mind. Small push towards a long, lingering, semi-acrid finish.

No pun intended, but the sheer depth of The Abyss is more than remarkable. This beer is a good example of American brewers coming into their own and bringing it to the table. Oh, and one bottle is not enough. Buy a case; drink one now and cellar the rest. Stack this one up against rosemary-grilled lamb chops and roasted, maple-glazed acorn squash.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 18:49:11 | More by BeerAdvocate

More User Reviews:

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 say 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