The Abyss - Deschutes Brewery

Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.

BA SCORE
100
world-class
-
3,136 Ratings

THE BROS
96
world-class
-
read more »

rAvg: 4.56
pDev: 9.65%
Reviews: 1507
Hads: 1629

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 mdvatab:

mdvatab

Indiana

4.7/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 Vintage. Says best after 11/15, but couldn't wait, and drank on my birthday (11/6)
Poured from 22oz bottle into Bordeaux glass.

Aroma: Nice--hot cocoa, blueberry, fudge brownie, vanilla, and smooth, light bourbon.

Appearance: 1/2 finger dark tan foamy head. Charcoal-black body. A fine sheet of foam remains as the legs of the brew drip down the inside of the glass.

Flavor: Hoowah! Dark chocolate, molasses, some smoke, and bourbon. Light vanilla, some butterscotch, and black licorice contribute to a very well-integrated sweetness. At the end is a light mineral quality, and a nice bitter finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Medium-low creamy carbonation, medium-full body, and some nice warmth from the alcohol.

Overall: An EXTREMELY well-balanced imperial stout. It measured up to all of the buzz I'd heard about it. I wish I had another 2010 to hold onto for a couple of years, and might try to get my hands on one. You should too!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 02:03:12 | More by mdvatab

More User Reviews:

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