Conflux No. 1 (Collage)
Deschutes Brewery

Conflux No. 1 (Collage)Conflux No. 1 (Collage)
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From:
Deschutes Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
11.6%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 11.33%
Reviews:
226
Ratings:
824
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 17, 2023
Added:
May 01, 2012
Wants:
  108
Gots:
  271
Deschutes Brewery and Hair of The Dog Brewing Company join forces to weave The Dissident and The Stoic and Fred and Adam into an artistic collage of cask-aging alchemy.

Barrel Aging: Rye Whiskey, Cognac, Sherry, Pinot Noir, Bourbon, new American Oak, and new Oregon Oak

Released in May 2012 (12 oz. bottles)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Skye1024:
Photo of Skye1024
Rated by Skye1024 from Indiana

4/5  rDev -3.6%

Mar 11, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Clear reddish-brown, even purple at times, with an unevenly short but soft tan head that quickly disperses to the finest chain around a clear gem-like surface.

Its woody, grapey port nose contains accents of pine. There are plenty of signs of cardboardy oxidation here more than elsewhere.

Taste has a little more horsepower potency with some hints of smoky char and prune. Preceding a caramel nougat exhale, an interestingly drying, bittering tannin in the finish keeps it from translating as stale juice. Is that a touch of Dr. Pepper I perceive as it warms?

The lighter, fluid body is almost watery but for a fine crispness, finishing semi-dry.

Impressive for the style, associated breweries and most especially and obviously its age, I don't feel bad rating it since the bottle does have a drink AFTER date of 4/30/2013, heh.
Apr 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.59 by BMBCLT from South Carolina

Apr 08, 2022
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Murky, brownish-red body; thin yet velvety head, soft and dense. Smell of old wooden barrel staves; tannins and oak. Nice melded flavors; sherry and tannins; very light dried red fruits; very mild malt presence; mild boozy notes. Medium-heavy body; soft and smooth; feathery; light acidity and tannin dryness.

Another example of a big beer that (as far as I know) has aged well. Nope, never tried it (as far as I know) when it was released, so I have no reference point as to how it originally tasted. But for an aged beer, it has its allure. A little old and musty, some nice wine barrel notes, a good mouthfeel, and a unique and interesting flavor. Yep, a good, old beer...

Pouring temperature: 43 °F; bottling data: 4/30/13
Feb 12, 2022
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

4.19/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle from Hinda65, into Odell Teku. Best After 4/30/13. Wow, this is before my time. I don't think I even joined BA until a year or so after this. A cellar treat for sure.

Pours a dark brown with some orange and mahogany hues. A beige half finger of head which recedes to a thin fingernail.

Aroma reminds me of Deschutes of old. It's nice and full. Molasses, pineapple, anise candy, caramel, toffee, raisin, fruitcake, vanilla, and a little bit of barley.

Flavor is definitely faded at this point but has some nice notes of fig, molasses, toffee, vanilla, and spice amidst the overwhelming cardboard. Note this is to be expected of a 7 year old beer.

Feel is crisp and still carbonated, has a medium body with a slick finish and a pleasant warming alcohol presence.

Overall, yes, a bit past its prime, but still a solid beer. I can still taste the artwork behind it. Nice stuff. Note that solid beer tastes good even after flaws have invaded it from storage or time (that's this one); bad beer tastes bad right away and only gets worse.
Aug 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4.17 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Nov 29, 2019
 
Rated: 4.44 by BennyProfane from California

Jan 10, 2019
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.77/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Had this at Sour Sunday in February 2018. Previously bought a bottle but its been just chilling in the cellar. Glad I didn't buy more than one.

Pours a ruddy brown. Very thin lighter tan colored head 1/6". Some chunky floaties in there. Aroma was of vinegar, wood, earth. I dunno, already not feeling it.

Taste was leaning hard on The Stoic, dark sugar, dark fruit, dark malt. More of the sherry barrel seemed to stand out. Just lots of that dark fruit sherry bitterness to it. Mouth feel leans on the hot side alcohol and bitter burn. I dunno, seems to be kind of a hodge podge throw a little bit of everything into a bunch of barrels, blend it and see how it goes kind of vibe. At the price point of $1/oz, you have to be a significantly better beer than this for me to think it was worth it. Not even close in this instance. The kitchen sink approach doesn't work here man.
Nov 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.35 by Thorfinn960 from Ohio

Nov 26, 2018
Photo of tongatim
Reviewed by tongatim from Washington

4.61/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
I first enjoyed this amazing creation 6 years ago, almost to the day. At that time, I rated it on another site, which I no longer frequent because of their questionable conflicts of interest. Way back in November, 2012, I commented in my review: "Deep, fruity, alcoholic aroma. Deep rich complex tastes which took me through moments of sour Belgian to oaked red, to tawny port, to well aged-whiskey, with a lingering, complex pleasant aftertaste....sweet/sour balance, sweet/bitter balance."

A few months ago, I was blown away to find this long vanished gem reappear on the shelf of my favorite bottle shop. They had salvaged a stash from a local restaurant that went belly up, and had been unable to move their stock of more obscure expensive beers. Tonight I enjoyed the 4th of the six bottles I acquired, and can report that this beer has held up well, though hasn't noticeably improved beyond what was already pretty close to my idea of the perfect beer. It still has a very prominent alcohol/dark fruit/tobacco aroma. It pours cloudy copper-brown, with almost no head or lacing. The alcohol is more subdued in the tasting, and the mouthfeel is a little thinner than my memory of the original tasting. Carbonation remains moderate and quite appropriate to the overall structure. Complex layers of tobacco, sherry, and dark fruit. Prominent lingering of pie cherry, followed by dried apricot. Pleasant buzz from the high alcohol. I think the last two bottles will be gratefully drained at Thanksgiving, and I will indeed give thanks for the blessing of a second chance at this beer for the ages.
Oct 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by NickThePyro from Washington

Oct 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Jul 13, 2018
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12oz bottle into glass. Label is dated stamped as 'BEST AFTER 4/30/13'.
Murky, brownish red colored body. Short off white head settles to scattered islands and ring. Chunks of sediment settle to the bottom of the glass. Leaves a few spots of lacing.
Complex aroma: Red wine, oak, cherry, spicy tobacco, brown sugar, oak, leather, bourbon, and sherry.
Taste is heavily influenced by the barrels - vinous, tannic, bourbon and rye. Candied fruit with brown sugar. Tart cherry. Quite layered as to flavors and how the profile sets up.
Medium to full mouth feel, with a touch of syrup. Okay carbonation. Alcohol wafts up into the nose.
A beer that has picked up a lot of lot of wine and spirits notes. Has aged well with no oxidation. A true sipper to savor the complex layers.
Jun 28, 2018
Photo of grover37
Reviewed by grover37 from District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 oz split with Lisa in Salida. Bottle from Coaltown Spirits in COS for $12. Over five years old now. Big notes of Sherry and red wine. Really interesting but won't track down more.
Jul 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.16 by dshansen1184 from Washington

Jul 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.34 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Apr 02, 2017
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.24/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle poured into a snifter
Best after 4/30/13

A- pours a murky brown color with a thin fizzy off-white head that disappears almost immediately.

S- up front aroma is an eclectic mix of spicy leather and tobacco, along with tart cherries, vinegar, brown sugar, molasses & plum. Undertones of barrel aromas pop through; spicy oak, bourbon, vinous notes & sweet sherry. One of the most unique aromas I've encountered in a while

T- slightly tart up front with some notes of tart dark cherry and vinegar, quickly followed by a caramel/toffee malty sweetness, along with that earthy tobacco/leather flavor of the HotD beers. Mid-palate gives a plethora of barrel notes; sherry, vinous white wine & new spicy oak. The finish is dry with lingers of oak, tart cherry and earthy tobacco

M- medium body with medium carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into the finish, abv hidden well

O- surprisingly, all four beers seem to make a presence in this creation and they somehow work well together. I didn't have this fresh, but being 5 years old I'm picking up no oxidation. Very good experiment
Mar 28, 2017
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2012 vintage ("best after 4/30/13"); drank 5/2/16 @ the Yarchives.

Murky orange/brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a nice khaki head; strong lace.

Red wine, dry oak mild dark caramel notes in the nose.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Dark cherry, dry oak & soda effervescence up front; red wine heat on the finish. Unique, wood heavy & red wine forward, this was very good but not quite great. Worth a quaff.
Feb 14, 2017
 
Rated: 4.12 by epyon396 from Pennsylvania

Jan 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by mattboyer182 from Indiana

Nov 28, 2016
Conflux No. 1 (Collage) from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 824 ratings