-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Black Butte XXIII
Deschutes Brewery
- From:
- Deschutes Brewery
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Porter
- ABV:
- 10.8%
- Score:
- 95
- Avg:
- 4.28 | pDev: 10.51%
- Reviews:
- 322
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 28, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 17, 2011
- Wants:
- 148
- Gots:
- 470
XXIII. So where to next? What's 2011's rich, imperial take on Black Butte Porter? Just for kicks, you dream. Orange zest perhaps? From Spanish Oranges. Seville, to be exact. And Chocolate nibs. Pampered nibs from the artisanal alchemists at Theo. Maybe some chilies? Pasilla Negra only, please. That would be crazy wouldn't it? Welcome to crazy. Get it while you can.
55 IBU
Info from brewery: "475 barrels were produced. 275 were bottled and the remaining 200 were put into kegs."
55 IBU
Info from brewery: "475 barrels were produced. 275 were bottled and the remaining 200 were put into kegs."
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by allforbetterbeer:
Reviewed by allforbetterbeer from Colorado
4.35/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a Swiss wine snifter.
Pours with an seemingly black body under a light tan head. I poured it softly and it didn't from much of a head.
Smells of slight smoke, burnt sugar, and a bit of wood. A little swirl brings up sweeter roast and some caramel, and maybe a slight hint of orange. The orange may just be hops though, and I do detect hops after a swirl.
The flavors are outstanding. Huge roasty notes are paired with chocolate, and they meld beautifully. Undertones of port, caramel, and bourbon-oak show up to support the roasted malt/chocolate duo. I tasted a bit of this fresher and I do remember being able to pick out orange, but sadly it has disappeared in the months this has aged in the bottle. There may be an "after-effect" sort of orange quality, but the outright flavor is elusive to my palate.
The mouthfeel is outstanding- one of the best for any beer I have ever had. It coasts the mouth so well I can't believe it, and the carbonation is just spot on.
Conclusion: This is one of the best big American dark beers I have ever had. I think it blows The Abyss out of the water (just my personal preference). The integration of chocolate, bourbon, and big roast is just excellent. Superb work Deschutes! I wish the Abyss was a one-off and this was a yearly recipe!
Jan 17, 2012Pours with an seemingly black body under a light tan head. I poured it softly and it didn't from much of a head.
Smells of slight smoke, burnt sugar, and a bit of wood. A little swirl brings up sweeter roast and some caramel, and maybe a slight hint of orange. The orange may just be hops though, and I do detect hops after a swirl.
The flavors are outstanding. Huge roasty notes are paired with chocolate, and they meld beautifully. Undertones of port, caramel, and bourbon-oak show up to support the roasted malt/chocolate duo. I tasted a bit of this fresher and I do remember being able to pick out orange, but sadly it has disappeared in the months this has aged in the bottle. There may be an "after-effect" sort of orange quality, but the outright flavor is elusive to my palate.
The mouthfeel is outstanding- one of the best for any beer I have ever had. It coasts the mouth so well I can't believe it, and the carbonation is just spot on.
Conclusion: This is one of the best big American dark beers I have ever had. I think it blows The Abyss out of the water (just my personal preference). The integration of chocolate, bourbon, and big roast is just excellent. Superb work Deschutes! I wish the Abyss was a one-off and this was a yearly recipe!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- pours brown in color with a slight ruby hue, one finger foamy khaki head reduces to a ring
S- roasted malt and cocoa nibs initially give it a nice rich chocolate aroma, quickly followed by an undertone of orange zest and orange cream truffle candy. As it opens up, there’s a distinct chili pepper bite coming through, not hot on the nose but more of a pepper skin note. Hints of vanilla and caramel close it out
T- Sweet cocoa nibs and malty chocolate up front quickly gives way to a surprisingly bold note of bourbon barrel (given that it’s only 25% barrel aged.) mid palate brings out the orange as it follows the nose, giving an orange cream truffle note. Mid-palate gives more barrel before adding hints of vanilla cream. The finish brings out the vegetal note of the pepper, along with more chocolate and barrel that stick around on the linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into a warming finish
Not nearly as oxidized as expected, given its age. A nice slow sipper
May 28, 2023A- pours brown in color with a slight ruby hue, one finger foamy khaki head reduces to a ring
S- roasted malt and cocoa nibs initially give it a nice rich chocolate aroma, quickly followed by an undertone of orange zest and orange cream truffle candy. As it opens up, there’s a distinct chili pepper bite coming through, not hot on the nose but more of a pepper skin note. Hints of vanilla and caramel close it out
T- Sweet cocoa nibs and malty chocolate up front quickly gives way to a surprisingly bold note of bourbon barrel (given that it’s only 25% barrel aged.) mid palate brings out the orange as it follows the nose, giving an orange cream truffle note. Mid-palate gives more barrel before adding hints of vanilla cream. The finish brings out the vegetal note of the pepper, along with more chocolate and barrel that stick around on the linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into a warming finish
Not nearly as oxidized as expected, given its age. A nice slow sipper
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV 10.8%. Black colour, big tan head. Strong roasty aroma, notes of coffee, bourbon, vanilla and oak. Strong roasty flavour, medium sweet, notes of strong coffee, caramel and bourbon, hints of liquorice. Bitter finish.
Mar 20, 2021Reviewed by bobv from Vermont
4.19/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Best after 6/15/12
10.8% abv.
Moderate pour yields a one inch tan head over a (you guessed it!) black body. Nose of cocoa, slight booze, and even slighter spice as the nose of orange zest probably took a powder years ago. Taste is where the orange zest makes an appearance and asserts itself while pushing the cocoa nibs and bourbon barrel aside very nicely with the spice coming along for the ride on the back end, Nice feel and overall, a very unique and intriguing offering from Bend, OR. Cheers!
Jan 25, 201810.8% abv.
Moderate pour yields a one inch tan head over a (you guessed it!) black body. Nose of cocoa, slight booze, and even slighter spice as the nose of orange zest probably took a powder years ago. Taste is where the orange zest makes an appearance and asserts itself while pushing the cocoa nibs and bourbon barrel aside very nicely with the spice coming along for the ride on the back end, Nice feel and overall, a very unique and intriguing offering from Bend, OR. Cheers!
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
4.1/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sweet and chocolaty (semi sweet dark chocolate, that is), black with tiny beige head on tap at Payette’s Black Friday event. Lingering sweetness somewhat masks the the roast grain backbone of this beauty, slick and smooth with a slight afterglow. Perfect for a chilly evening.
Apr 27, 2016
Black Butte XXIII from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
793 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!