Deschutes The Abyss 2013 Reserve

The Deschutes Brewery is in Bend, Oregon and they have been brewing since 1988. This is an 11.0% ABV Imperial Stout brewed with black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark and vanilla. Six percent of it is aged in oak bourbon barrels, eleven percent in plain oak barrels, and another eleven percent in oak wine barrels. The bottle says it is best AFTER (not before) August 16, 2014. Well, I couldn't wait to try it, and I have another that I am going to cellar, so I will try this one now, and then report back sometime after August 16, 2014.

The beer pours the color and consistency of used motor oil. There is a tall head of thick foam, very dark brown in color. The aroma is dark roasted malt, coffee notes, lots of dark chocolate, some vanilla, light oak, light bourbon, a light vinous note, cherry, woody. The taste is a perfectly balanced conglomeration of all the aromas, with the dark roasted malts predominating, coffee, dark chocolate, but with notes of all the other aromas imparting flavors that round out, fill out and add subtleties to the whole. It is full bodied, thick, but not syrupy, moderately carbonated, with a very bitter finish. The aftertaste adds notes of dark, moist tobacco. This tobacco note, plus the bitterness and the alcohol provide a bit of a sting. However, it is absolutely smooth, creamy, round and full in the mouth. This is quite amazing, it will be great to try it again with a little age on it!

Tried again on January 17, 2015: The beer pours black in color. There is a short head of dark brown foam. The aroma is like the ingredient list; chocolate, vanilla, molasses, cherry, very light booze and wine, dark roasted malts, very rich. The taste follows the aromas, but adding in much more dark roasted malts, char, and the black licorice comes in too. The oaky wood can be felt in the back of the mouth. There is a moderate to strong bitterness with a woody astringency. I think I might have liked it just a bit better before the best after date.

This beer pours so dark, it made the glass reflective.