Black Butte XXVI
Deschutes Brewery

Black Butte XXVIBlack Butte XXVI
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From:
Deschutes Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
ABV:
10.8%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 9.4%
Reviews:
208
Ratings:
1,135
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 27, 2023
Added:
Jun 05, 2014
Wants:
  61
Gots:
  538
Our 26th anniversary Imperial Porter was aged in bourbon barrels (50% for 6 months) and dry spiced with Theo Chocolate's cocoa nibs, revealing hints of vanilla and chocolate. Pomegranate molasses and Oregon cranberries complement the robust flavor with a hint of fruit and just enough tart to make you smile.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cathomae:
Photo of cathomae
Rated by cathomae from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

Dec 06, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of mushroomcloud
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bomber with a best after date of 6-13-15. Opened 8-26-23.
2 finger sand colored head with outstanding retention. Dark brown body. Early lacing.
Impressive looking beer at a decade (?).
Smoky, faint booze barrel, and tart red fruit in the aroma.
Tart fruit is still prominent, roasted malt, chocolate - milk chocolate
Medium body and low-medium carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel and an alternately tart and roasty finish - delicious.
Amazed at how good this Reserve series has always been at any age.
Outstanding to World Class.
Aug 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by liquorpig from Massachusetts

Jun 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.3 by jordanginsberg from Louisiana

Nov 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by dms1767 from Nebraska

Oct 19, 2022
Photo of pkalix
Rated by pkalix from California

4.09/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
thin. easy to drink. cannot compare fall-off but it doesnt have much of the 'mothball' effect.... not bad. interesting fruits.
Oct 03, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Jul 27, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by MTKATL from Georgia

Dec 02, 2020
Photo of dcscientist
Reviewed by dcscientist from Colorado

4.09/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This was a very creative take on their base porter, which itself is excellent. I'm not used to having fruit in my porters, but this kind of worked. I got the first hint of it up front, and after re-reading the label convinced myself that it was the pomegranate. I didn't really get the cranberry, but then again, maybe that's what I tasted up front anyway. You wouldn't have any idea this beer is 10.8%, so enjoy responsibly. I did.
Oct 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4.4 by BKotch from Texas

Jul 05, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Jun 30, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by zenithberwyn from California

May 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by nataku00 from California

Apr 18, 2020
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4.34/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz (bottled 6/15/2015) into a tulip. Pours a medium brown w/ a thin collar of foam.

Aroma is nice roasty malt, chocolate, sweet fruits, and a hint of bourbon and vanilla.

Taste follows nose. Vinous, sour, and tangy pomegranate and cranberry up front, followed by bitter chocolate and dark malt. Nicely complex with layers of flavor.

Mouthfeel is smooth and slick, medium bodied. Nice balance.

Overall a solid, complex porter, Deschutes keeps managing to reinvent this anniversary and keep it interesting.
Mar 22, 2020
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
Best after 6/14/15

A- pours black in color with a one-finger light khaki head that reduces to a thin film that sticks around for a while

S- dark chocolate and charred malt, burnt marshmallow, molasses, cranberries, vanilla, oaky bourbon

T- dark chocolate and marshmallow notes up front are followed by a subtle hit of tartness that adds notes of cranberries. Mid-palate gives sweet notes of molasses, vanilla cream, caramel and charred malt. The finish gives more tart fruity notes of cranberry and pomegranate, just a hint of bourbon barrel lingers with more chocolate notes

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety, slightly warming finish

O- creamy chocolate mixes with just a hint of fruity tartness, one of my favorite BB variants
Mar 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4.29 by MDDMD from Pennsylvania

Mar 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.18 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Feb 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.15 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Sep 27, 2019
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle. Thin wax over cap. Best After Date is '06/14/05'.
Dark brown colored body, with some reddish brown back lit highlights. Light tan head, which sticks around. Leaves behind webs of lacing.
Aroma of roasted malts, with molasses, cocoa, and dark fruit (cranberry). Slight bourbon barrel and pomegranate.
Taste follows with roasted malts supported by molasses, cocoa and tangy cranberry. Very little bitterness.
Thicker mouth feel, and very smooth. Very good carbonation.
Beautiful body color and long lasting creamy, larger bubble head. Very easy to drink, and the added cranberry adds some twang to the experience.
Aug 01, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by Kwright from North Carolina

Jul 27, 2019
Black Butte XXVI from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 1135 ratings