The Abyss - Deschutes Brewery

davidchollar

Washington

4.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Not a whole lot of head, but what there is looks pretty awesome, and stick around for a couple minutes! I am probably not using the right kind of glass, and didn't do such a great pour. Still, one of the darkest, thick milk chocolate brown heads I've ever seen. The beer is as dark as a moonless Northwest winter evening. The molasses, licorice and vanilla advertised on the label are instantly recognizable in the smell, oak is right there as well. I find it really interesting that it's made with 3 different types of barrel aging, oak, oak bourbon and oak wine barrels. I'm going to let it warm a bit before scoring it.

The taste is soooo yuuuummm. Hard to believe it's 11%! Intensely flavorful, but not overpowering. The label says "Best after 8/4/12" ... I can't wait that long! A lot hoppier than I would have thought from the smell. With the licorice and molasses, a sweet smell, but big, bitter hoppy goodness slowly leads to a nice maltiness. Big chewy mouthfeel but a crisp clean finish.

This is my first review in a long time, just stopped doing it for a while. Really surprised to see drinkability replaced by overall!!! Totally makes sense though. That's always what was meant by drinkability, in my opinion, but many people had different takes on it. Overall, I would say Deschutes can do no wrong, and The Abyss is a perfect stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 06:52:58 | More by davidchollar

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

jakeox

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

05-18-2013 23:47:28 | More by jakeox

SightinColor

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev -6.8%

05-18-2013 23:19:40 | More by SightinColor

MrNate

Florida

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%

05-18-2013 22:15:53 | More by MrNate

alanv

California

5/5  rDev +9.6%

05-18-2013 21:23:03 | More by alanv

Hefewiseman

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-18-2013 21:03:41 | More by Hefewiseman

Kreko7

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-18-2013 17:25:33 | More by Kreko7

HopBrain

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-18-2013 16:24:36 | More by HopBrain