Black Butte XXIII - Deschutes Brewery

MasterSki

Illinois

3.99/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by spycow. Thanks Chris! Served in a snifter.

A - Quick-dissolving tan foam settles to a thin collar and tiny specks of lace. Very dark brown body with some ruby-brown glints at the edges of the glass.

S - Interesting note of orange peel that differentiates this from other beers of the series. Plenty of dark chocolate, biscuit, coffee cake, light vanilla , and perhaps a bit of age showing. Not much in the way of alcohol, and fairly understated barrel-aging.

T - Taste has more dark fruit sweetness mingling with the dark chocolate, coffee, and biscuit flavors. The age has probably dialed up some of the fruitiness, but this has a bit of Baltic Porter vibe to it even though I'm certain it uses ale yeast. Barrel notes are faint, with the chocolate and biscuit combo dominating the palate. Not much orange peel in the taste either.

M - Medium body, with surprisingly active moderate carbonation. Chewy texture, and a lightly dry and oaky finish. Again, not much heat or booze to it.

D - A solid beer, but nothing mind-blowing. I have another bottle and I'm going to get to it pretty soon as I don't think further age is beneficial. I still think the XX is the best of the bunch though.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 01:41:01 | More by MasterSki

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

650 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Best after 6/15/12. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Black with a little transparency at the edge. Not much head.

Smell - Dark chocolate, a touch of orange. Hops? No bourbon.

Taste - Chocolatey. Fudgy. Interesting citrus flavor that seems like it's from some lingering hop presence as much as orange. Caramel and toffee finish.

Mouthfeel - Nice, not overly heavy. Nicely fudgy. No bourbon, unfortunately. Not a lot of orange either.

Overall - I don't love it, although it's clearly a well-made beer. Not a lot of orange at this point.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:09:05 | More by Alieniloquium

scottfrie

California

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into NB snifter. Best after date 6/15/2012.
A: Pours near black with a finger soft light tan head. Head slowly faded into a fuzzy film and thick collar that left wispy of stringy lace down the glass.
S: Lightly boozy notes of vanilla, bourbon, and oak dominate with a hint of chocolate undertones and some sort of spice, maybe the pasilla negro chiles.
T: Integrated and mellow yet rich and decadent. Chocolate, vanilla, raisin, and fudge dominate with bourbon and chile coming through in the finish. The aftertaste has a good dose of both dark chocolate and orange zest bitterness. Very well rounded and creamy. Long after the swallow there is still a slight tingle on my palate from the chile and bourbon.
M: Smooth as silk mouthfeel, full and rich body without a trace of alcohol, and soft low carbonation.
O: I loved XXI, I love it still, and this one is every bit as good. Very well rounded and integrated flavors with an exceptionally silky mouthfeel. Drinking really great right now.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 00:39:53 | More by scottfrie

jegross2

Illinois

3.84/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing a vertical of Black Butte XX, Black Butte XXI, Black Butte XXIII and Black Butte XXIV from the Deschutes Brewery from Bend, Oregon to commemorate my 400th written review (per BeerAdvocate)! A major thanks and shout out to Edgar Chavez for making this vertical tasting possible. Each vintage of the Barrel Aged Black Butte release is a different formulation.

Black Butte XXIII is Deschutes Black Butte porter brewed with cocoa nibs, orange and natural flavors added, with 25% aged in Bourbon Barrels. From what I can gather, the Black Butte XXIII appears to be a re-brew of the Black Butte XXII that was not commercially released in 2010.

Black Butte XXIII Score: 88

2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 vintage bottles served side-by-side and enjoyed on 02/10/13 with a few friends.

Appearance: The appearance is strikingly similar on all vintages -- this brew is similar to a dark molasses in appearance/color. The XXIII pour is a little lighter, faintly orange-ish in color in comparison to the other three. Each vintage pours a thin layer of light mocha head that settles to a ring around the glass on all of them. Average lacing and retention using the worst glassware possible. 4/5

Smell: Orange, cocoa, and, when cold, a faint pepper aroma. A little Darkness 2011-like soy sauce too. I get a little figgy dark fruit, but much less than the XIV. 3.75/5

Taste: Chocolate and orange, faint hops and a little smooth dark fruit. Faint prickle of rye-like kick on the palate after the swallow. No alcohol heat. A touch of fruitiness towards the finish. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Each of the vintages' mouthfeels are a little heavier than medium bodied, but far from full bodied (and not quite medium-full bodied either). Low carbonation as well. Each of the vintages has a real nice, drinkable balance (none is too sweet or acidic (well the XXI has a little acidity, but in a good way) or whatever). Oily slick feel on the tongue. Only the freshest vintage (XIV) has a little "alcohol heat" to it. 4/5

Overall: I feel like verticals are often "reserved" for rarer and bigger beers like Dark Lord and Bourbon County (Brand) Stout, or even barleywines dating back to the 90's (i.e., Bigfoot), but this was a really fun vertical to do. Nothing was really can't miss here, but nothing had "fallen off," and nothing here was undrinkable by any stretch of the imagination. My favorite vintage in the end was the XXI, but each vintage struck me in a unique way at different points in the vertical as it warmed up. Cold, the XX and XXIII were my favorite.

Cost: $12.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle that can cost as much as $19.99.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 05:52:47 | More by jegross2

rawfish

California

3.5/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours dark and quickly with a tan thin head. Cola dark center with ruby and garnet highlights. Nearly no retention or lacing to speak of.

Rich fudge, milk chocolate and bourbon. Slight oak, faint and dry. Not a hint of orange or chilies yet.

Cocoa nibs pretty prominent, roasted malt with a hint of milk chocolate sweetness, noticable bourbon character and oak. Not any hop character left, perhaps a bit of bright orange notes. Moderate bitterness, hides alcohol well and lifts from the palate well.

Thin for an imperial dark beer, low carbonation, thin and slick. Alcohol well hidden however.

Held on to this one for a year and a half, perhaps it was too much. The alcohol is really well hidden but the complexities of this brew promised by the label are gone. No orange or chilies to speak of though I tried really hard to find them. Lots of cocoa and slight bourbon, regular Black Butte has a really high and exciting carbonation but this one is more muted and thin. Decent beer but disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:35:44 | More by rawfish

comfortablynumb1

California

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle.

A - Pours a deep brown with a one finger dark brown head. Head dissipates at a good pace, and lacing is minimal...

S - Lots of cocoa notes up front. Roasted malt, wood, and bourbon are also in the mix, but cocoa is definitely prominate. Bourbon is very subdued, and I don't pick up any orange peel...

T - As with the nose, cocoa is prominate. Roasted malt, coffee, and a hint of orange peel are also present. Ends with light/smooth bourbon and a good amount of lingering chocolate...

M - Higher side of the medium bodied scale with light carbonation...

O - Solid beer, but nothing above and beyond. Personally prefer the XXI over this one...

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 04:34:32 | More by comfortablynumb1

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Deep cola colored body with a nice 1" of beige head. The head dissipates but leaves a swirling thin layer of carbonation on the surface.

There's a heavy aroma of cocoa followed by, to a lesser extent, black licorice and orange.

The flavor has fantastic depth. The cocoa seems to be the focal point of the beer. I love what the orange zest brings to the table, which is a touch of citrus acidity that cuts through the sweetness of the chocolate. The bourbon aging gives it only a slight heat and vanilla flavor and is more of a supporting aspect than front and center.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. It's not a big creamy porter but I think that works well for the same reason I liked the citrus, it cuts the sweetness of the chocolate.

I found this to be a phenomenal beer. All the ingredients compliment each other well and it has a lot of depth.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 20:34:56 | More by Vonerichs

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.49/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The bottle is approximately 1.5 years old now with a best after date of 06/15/12. Thanks barfdiggs for the hook up.

The beer pours jet black with an inch of creamy tan head. There is good head retention, enough carbonation to replenish the head while drinking, and adequate glass lacing. Almost immediately after opening and pouring the beer emanates huge notes of chocolate and orange, while more subtle notes of bourbon become available after a closer whiff. As the beer warms, more of bourbon booziness comes forward. The taste presents as a chocolate Christmas orange upfront with a boozy, bourbony finish. I wasn't smelling the roasted malts much in the nose, but a lot more of the beer's roastiness present in the aftertaste. It's definitely a full bodied porter with a tremendous amount of distinct flavors that all work well together. This beer is absolutely tasty and a far cry from what the regular black butte has to offer. I'd absolutely recommend this beer to others.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 02:38:35 | More by ThePorterSorter

denver10

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours back with a slight dirty white head. Aroma is big with some roasted malt, bitter chocolate, orange jam. Some alcohol is noticeable but in a really good way. Flavor is just as big with some roasted malt, bitter chocolate, slight orange jam, and leather. Again alcohol is noticeable but in a good way. A medium bodied, slight activity, it fit the beer. Overall, this was a phenomenal beer. I enjoyed this years version but definitely preferred this one to that by a good deal.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 21:45:25 | More by denver10

CJS

Florida

4.59/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A Pours slightly thick. Medium brown tone with a nice lacy cream colored head.

S Sweet brown sugar, toffee, caramel candy, Deep caramelized sugar scent, peeled citrus, spice, and toasted wood and nuts. Earthy.

T Dark Chocolate oranges up front with spices. Licorice root. NIce woody tones from aging. Herbal hoppy bitterness works well in this one. Lots of nutty flavors.

M Bitter and sweet characters counter balance each other and a citrus tartness fights its way in as well.

O Getting even better as it warms up. Could use another.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 00:58:45 | More by CJS

fiedler84

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From notes...
Poured jet black with a generous head of 3 fingers +, with a pour from 4-6" above the bottom of the snifter. Nose is soy heavy, with hints of cocoa and vanilla. The taste, especially as it warms, still has a decent soy presence, but the cocoa is definitely prominent, long with booze. I can't find the oranges anywhere. Disappointing, seeing as how I love those chocolate oranges. The mouthfeel is awesome for a porter. I do not like overly carbonated porters. This is smooth as silk. Reminiscent more of a stout than a porter with some decent heat. The oranges make their first presence known, but it's subtle. Overall, this is good beer. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 11:57:25 | More by fiedler84

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a very generous Colts9016

Dark, root beer brown black color with a large cascading head that sticks like glue. Foamy glue. Served at alcove by the stairs temp.

Smells like bourbon. Vanilla, cocoa and roast malt too but the bourbon really stands out and that's just fine by me.

Bourbon is again a main feature. Vanilla, cocoa and Gran Marnier highlights sticking through roast malt. Not exactly hot but really warm and giddy.

I would trade all the expired DFH, Green Flash, Unibroue and many other beers that rot on the shelves here to get Deschutes distribution in MA.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 15:49:59 | More by donkeyrunner

claspada

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a super dark brown, pretty much black color with a medium sized khaki head that recedes to leave some super solid, sticky lacing.

Aromas begin with intense porter roasted maltiness. Dark chocolate to the extreme with emerging burnt caramel, espresso and cocoa powder. As it warms I get a little of the advertised orange peel but if I wasn't looking for it I would have missed it.

The tastes follow the nose with assertive dark chocolate, roasted espresso beans and cocoa powder. As it warms I get some caramelized maltiness and some oakiness which I wasn't getting in the nose. The orange which was minimal in the aroma is not exisitent here with the dark roasted malt flavors overpowering everything else. Pretty much straight up what an Imperial Porter should taste like.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is dry, roasty and lightly bitter, but not too much so.

Overall I say this may be sadly passed its prime if you are looking for the orange flavor to really pop. As a straight up Imperial porter, right now, it is amazingly solid and rivals any beer in this class but I was dissapointed that the orange flavor has all but vanished. I would recommend anyone who still has any of these to drink in the very near future.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 16:40:01 | More by claspada

Dope

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle states "best after 6/15/12".

A: Pours an almost pitch black with a big dense medium brown head. Fades slowly with excellent head retention. Nice semi-solid walls of lacing everywhere.

S: Dark, bitter chocolate and lots of it. Citrusy. Touch of oaky vanilla and toffee. Hint of brown sugar.

T: Lots of bitter chocolate and oranges mixed together. Mildly oaky but get stronger towards the middle and into the finish. A little brown sugar mixes with some char in the middle but chocolate still dominates. Oaky in the finish with some spiciness that I can't quite place, almost adds some heat - like cinnamon maybe? Bitter, chalky baker's chocolate everywhere. Finally, some smoke, almost meaty, and bit of char in the lingering aftertaste.

M: Fairly heavy but smooth. Mildly chalky and drying in the aftertaste.

O: Certainly a very complex and big porter. Doesn't have as much contribution from the barrels as I would like, but it definitely adds some small notes of oak and bourbon in there regardless. Lots of bitter chocolate in this one with a fairly strong smokiness in the finish to boot. Pretty much has everything!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 04:22:55 | More by Dope

Arbitrator

California

3.43/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Chilled bottle into a glass. From notes long ago.

A: Pours a black body with a finger of dark tan bubbles.

S: Very, very chocolatey, with a roasted coffee supporting aroma. Good, but a bit simple, especially given the complexity of the ingredients involved in this beer. The orange peel was suppressed on the nose.

T: As in the nose, this is very chocolate-dominated. The barrels are overwhelmed by the sweet (but not cloying) beer. Some orange peel on the back end, but not much; I was hoping it would be stronger, the way it was in BB XXII. This missed that balance I have come to appreciate from Deschutes. It's hardly a bad beer, but it simply isn't upper-tier.

M: Medium-bodied, but the finish was lingering and a bit sticky. You could argue that that is expected for a barrel-aged beer like this, but I recall previous vintages not being so oily.

O: I remember thinking, after trying this, that I should really dial back on the Deschutes Reserve beers, to the point where I didn't even seek out BB XXIV this year. I found XXIII tough to finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 00:02:20 | More by Arbitrator

Murrhey

Montana

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap at Hollingshead's Deli in Orange, Calif. Reviewed from notes.

A- Finger width tan head. Sticky lacing, dark brown color.

S- Wine and dark fruits. Very earthy and dark smell. Roast and burnt smells with wine-y sort of booziness.

T- Earthy tones with grapes and dark fruits. Boozy and fruity.

M- Smooth and very dry.

O- Very well aged, tasty beer with booze and bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 05:31:52 | More by Murrhey

vandemonian

Maryland

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deschutes Black Butte XXIII is a delicious barrel-aged porter. The sweet malty notes and subtle dried fruit flavours are complemented, rather than overpowered by, the bourbon barrel flavours. Yummm!

A: Black colour and a 5 mm head that lasts pretty well. 4

S: Roasty, smokey malt with some subtle and pleasant bourbon aroma. Some chocolate in the finish. 5

T: Malty and reasonably sweet with hints of dried fruit. The bourbon flavours come through in the middle and are pleasant and not overpowering. There are some weak flavours of yeast autolysis. The finish is clean and woody. 4.5

M: Foamy and thick. 4.5

O: 4.5

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 01:56:49 | More by vandemonian

sweemzander

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks for sharing Chris!

(A)- Pours a pitch black color. Some tan froth.

(S)- A nice dry oaky cinnamon-like raisin with some coca, and orange peel.

(T)- Slightly chalky, but with good raisin and cocoa with that subtle orange peel in the background. Decent oaky vanilla component at the finish.

(M)- A good carbonation level. A nice balance too. Not too rich or sweet, but a nice equal combination of both.

(O)- Another good entry in the Black Butte line. A good balance of flavors without being too intense.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 13:29:11 | More by sweemzander

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Just cracked this bottle with a couple friends for a mid-week treat. Pours a deep dark brown with light edges. This isn't as dark as expected. A thin sheet of lace rests on top. The aroma is warming with mild bourbon, vanilla, oak, chocolate. The nose is the best part of this beer I think.

The body is too carbonated. I would think that some time spent in barrels, albeit just 1/4 of this beer, would have mellowed this out. On top of that the time since bottling should have smoothed it out, but is bubbly, bordering on harsh. Some of the "bigger" beers I've had recently have had this unpleasant characteristic, unfortunately. The flavor isn't as enjoyable as the XX or XXI. I realize the ingredients are different, but this one is my least favorite. Mild cocoa, light zesty tartness on the back end. Bourbon character is absent. There's some sweetness here, but it's fleeting.

I appreciate their ingenuity, but this one fell short for me. Stick to coffee, vanilla, cocoa, and bourbon - that combo was a sure winner in my book.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 21:58:24 | More by Onenote81

brotherloco

California

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber stored in the cellar for a year. Best after 6/15/12. Served in a tulip.

Pours super dark brown, almost black. A vigorous pour forms over a finger of tan foam. Settles to a small ring. Moderate amounts of lacing left in glass.

Aroma has a surprising amount of floral hops along with a solid chocolate presence, some roasted coffee, tingly spices. Chocolate is dry, dusty, and dark.

Flavor is mildly sweet and spicy. Chili's don't seem to have faded. Chocolate and roasted coffee malt form a solid foundation for bright floral hop flavors. Just a touch of orange citrus, but not as strong as the chili spice. Finish gets a touch chalky and metallic, which I don't like, but it's subtle. Not getting much barrel presence, except perhaps some oaky dryness that contributes to the finish. I can't say I taste the alcohol either, but it might also be contributing to the odd finish.

Fairly full bodied with a medium level of carbonation. A little thick, but that's expected.

Pretty much 4's across the board.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 02:46:27 | More by brotherloco

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by caSSino during BRoss242’s send-off party before he moves! Will miss you man! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured dark brown with a half finger light tan head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark chocolate, sweet alcohol, wood, and vanilla. The flavor was of sweet malt, vanilla, dark chocolate, and wood. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. There was a really nice balance going on here with this one that really kept my palate happy throughout the glass. The notes of vanilla and dark chocolate mixed together in this one was definitely the highlight for me in both the aroma and flavor. If you have not gotten the chance to try this one before, you definitely need to do so.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 10:58:40 | More by thagr81us

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice beer. Thicker coffee and malt tones than I would have expected. The liquid body on this one is not really all that thick. It's kind of hard for me not to compare this beer to other Black Buttes I have had. When doing that it seems to fall short. It's a nice beer, but I was hoping for a bit more body, character, and intensity.Still quite nice though.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 17:02:36 | More by RblWthACoz

Treebs

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz waxed bottle served in a FW tulip. Best after date of 6/15/12.

A: Pours a dark black color with a nice and thick, light tan head forming on the pour. Solid retention for the head and it leaves some splotchy lace on the way down as it recededs to a thick ring.

S: Nice dark fruit flavors mixes with some sweet chocolate and mild oak. There is a restrained boozy back that plays nicely with the other flavors in the nose.

T: Oaky with some smooth booze. Dark chocolate bitterness, milk chocolate sweetness and some light orange pith. Chocolate covered raisin add another layer of sweetness with a roasted malt finish.

M: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation level, smooth and creamy with a sweet finish.

O: I enjoyed the base beer considerably less than this, but with the addition of the mild citrus and barrel aging it was really elevated. Would like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 18:20:07 | More by Treebs

mfavoino

Washington

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Side by side with Black Butte.

Appearance: Rich dark brown with an off white head that retained fairly well.

Smell: A bit of chocolate with some roasty malts. Orange is noticeable too.

Taste: Roasted chocolate malts mix together with a natural orange flavor. Barrel isn't super prominent, but I did get some wood flavor that added more depth.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, slick and easy to drink.

Overall: Very distinct from the normal Black Butte with lots more flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 23:56:12 | More by mfavoino

mltobin

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared with a few friends. It pours a dark brown color with one finger of a tan head. The nose contains toffee, chocolate and dark fruit. Sipping on this offering from Deschutes and I taste roasted malts, coffee, more chocoalte, mmm, this is a tasty beer. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, a good amount of alcohol in the finish. But all in all this a very nice beer to take your time with and enjoy its` different characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 02:01:47 | More by mltobin