Black Butte³
Deschutes Brewery

 

550ml bottle poured into a snifter
Bottled 2020

A- pours a dark brown with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring

S- light char, chocolate, pouch tobacco, figs, prunes, black licorice. The barrel emerges as it warms, adding oak, bourbon, caramel and a hint of vanilla

T- Opens with creamy chocolate and light charred malt, followed by black licorice and figs. Mid-palate brings out a bold caramel note that is immediately followed by the barrel, giving oak, barrel juice, coconut and vanilla. The finish gives more chocolate and caramel, with plenty of barrel sticking around to linger of oak, whiskey and chocolate

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly creamy into a warming finish

Note- After the review, I tried a pour of the Black Butte whiskey along with the porter. The whiskey really brings out the barrel notes of the beer, particularly when sampled first

 

 

2018 Bottle poured in a snifter

A: Pours nearly black with a frothy khaki head that settles to a thin layer and leaves a little spotty lacing.

S: Smooth bourbon, peppery spice, roasty, earthy char, licorice, dark fruit, oak, dark chocolate, a hint of vanilla, and burnt sugar.

T: Roasty, smooth bourbon, brown sugar, peppery spice, earthy char, oak, dark fruit, cherry, licorice, dark chocolate, a hint of vanilla, and burnt sugar.

M: Full body, mild to moderate carbonation, creamy, with a touch of warmth.

O: Pretty tasty stuff. I'm surprised it's still got some warmth after a few years in my buddy's cellar. Now I'm curious how it is fresher. With any luck I'll be able to revisit this one.

Appearance: Pours espresso colored with a khaki film that scatters to a collar; leggy with spots dripping down

Smell: The Whiskey barrel wafts and supports the chocolate, char, licorice, tobacco, caramel and vanilla elements

Taste: Chocolate, charred oak and licorice forward with the tobacco and caramel emerging; the Whiskey really builds, through the middle, and brings forward more caramel and a hint of vanilla; all the elements are integrated in the finish

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low to moderate carbonation; some warmth in the gullet

Overall: I really like how all the flavors are well-integrated; a top notch BA Imperial Porter

Bottled on: 12-29-21
Many thx to muchloveforhops3 for this bottle!

A- Dark brown pour that's borderline black and thin caramel colored lacing.

S - Chocolate and cocoa malt base is light with a little bit of oak, and delicate Bourbon.

T - Chocolate malt base with slight bit of char, oak, Bourbon, vanilla, delicate caramel, a little bit of cherry and ends with a nice chocolate char oak smokiness with the right amount of Bourbon blended in.

M - Big medium body with a soft silky body and definite warming in the back of the throat.

O- A couple of years on this bottle and it's really drinking superbly.

 

 

 

 

Bottled June 11th 2020. Bought at Liquor Shed in Casper.

Pours a really dark brown or...light black. Take your pick. Not much foam but what's there seems to be long lasting. For so little foam, the lacing is not shabby.

The smell is cocoa, big surprise, chocolate, and a huge nose from the whiskey. Whew. Vanilla seems to always come through for these big, barrel aged beers.

Cocoa taste with a little milder taste of the whiskey than I got in the smell. A hint or 2 of smoke, charred is perhaps a better descriptor. Kind of sweet but definitely not overly. Vanilla, some heat from the alcohol but I wouldn't call it a burn.

Close to full bodied, this is one very impressive sipper. I imagine that when it was fresh, it would not be as smooth as it is. Oh, I forgot to mention that it is smooth? Yeah it is. Relatively speaking.
I will revisit.

Midnight coal black body with a finger of light brown foam and spotted lacing. Barrel bonds so well with the base porter in all aspects. In the nose the bourbon enhances roasty chocolate, vanilla, dark fruits and caramel most. Where in the taste the robust earthiness, molasses, wood and faint dark roasted coffee lead more with the dark chocolate. Super complex for a porter. While warm the barrel doesn't dominate the body either which can be a danger, more classical feeling by letting the non-sweet elements and rugged roast shine, all the while being very drinkable, a must for the style.

 

Bottled 4/19/18. Pours dark with beige head and persistent lacing. Scents of chocolate, vanilla, wood barrel, and dark malt. Flavors of chocolate, vanilla, cherry, dark fruit, and bourbon barrel. Medium bodied, mildly boozy, smooth. Have had Black Butte a million times before, but this may be the best version I’ve had of it due to the subtlety.

Thanks to Sharpski for this one. 16.9 oz bottle (dated 6/11/20) poured into 16oz tulip. Poured a nearly solid black color with 3/4 inch of than head that had moderate retention and lacing.

Lots of chocolate at the front of the nose, with a solid base brew as a foundation. A bit of whiskey and wood floated around the edges.

Pretty similar on the tongue, a nice blend of the various aspects. There was a touch of alcohol heat, but not unpleasantly so.

The body was, as expected, full, smooth, and had a sticky finish that was still on the dry side.

Drinkability was good, but it's a sipper for sure.

Overall, another very nice brew from Deschutes. Whichever year or variant you see, grab it.

A must try! As a barrel aged porter you may expect serious alcohol burn. But this beer is nicely balanced. There's a subtle hint of roast and smoke that shines through.