Obsidian Stout
Deschutes Brewery

 

A very good lower alcohol stout at 6.4%. Good notes of chocolate and espresso to provide a good kick to it. Pairs great with chocolate and other desserts as well as chicken and burgers.

Very tasty. Looks great, smells great. Tastes great, Perfect mouth feel. Not watery not syrupy. Loses a couple points for flat pour and lower alcohol than I prefer in a stout. But makes up for that for being suh a great beer at a great price $8.99 for 6 bottles where I am

Black with a tan head,
Dissipates fairly quickly.
Roasted Malt, bit of coffee/espresso, and chocolate.
Taste is more bitter than most Stouts, extra hops maybe. Still, very nice with malt, chocolate coffee flavors.
Nice feel, not as syrupy as most.
Very nice stout.

 

Poured fairly aggressively from a 12-oz bottle about 4 1/2 months after its bottling date into a stout glass.

Look: Black, with an inch and a half brown head with decent retention, reducing to a foam cap and leaving considerable finely-bubbled lacing.

Nose: Dark roast and chocolate — very nice.

Taste: The attack follows the nose perfectly and exquisitely, with addition of espresso. Very full-flavored. The finish holds just enough bitterness from the dark roast to balance it.

Mouthfeel; Thick — on target for the style — with near-perfect carbonation.

Overall: This could be the perfect model for its style — it’s certainly become my favorite basic American Stout, and Ivnearly always keep a ready supply of it in my cellar. While I’m enjoying it by itself this afternoon, it pairs admirably with beef, venison, or any hearty red meat that’s grilled, roasted, or braised. Outstanding, Deschutes!

12oz bottle served in a shaker pint glass. Packaged 06/09/25 1045 MR110757.

Appearance: Very dark brown color, approaching black, with just a hint of cola brown at the edges when held up to the light. Thin tan head with plenty of persistent lacing.

Smell: Roasted malts with a hint of dark chocolate and the tiniest bit of a metallic note (iron/rust).

Taste: Roasted malt with some dark chocolate, pine, and lingering coffee/espresso-type bitterness at the finish. No metallic taste even though with a really deep inhale I can smell it.

Mouthfeel: Good thickness, a little sticky on the teeth, good carbonation, a little bit of a dry finish.

Overall / Drinkability: A delightful stout that focuses on the malt and is so old-school in flavor. I feel like I've just been transported back to the early days of drinking beer in the early 00's and experiencing American stouts for the first time. Fits the style well. I definitely want to pair this with food - it's a strong flavored stout even with an ABV on the lower side compared to what typically gets produced these days. The bitterness does creep up on the palate with each sip to the point that I think one per evening is enough, but with the right meal, I may be able to have another one.

12 FL OZ bottle
Served in a snifter

This beer pours black and is topped with an inch of mocha head that leaves little lacing.

Roasted malt, dark chocolate, and coffee aromas

Roasted malt, milk chocolate, with some black coffee.

Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel

Solid stout

 

RB transfer

L -beautiful head of foam that lasts…
S - some nice chocolate, espresso and coffee.
T - dry bitter complex taste.
F- light body.
Very nice stout, but a little light body.

 

I'd buy it again.

A very solid stout. Bittersweet chocolate with notes of espresso and a touch of toffee. The flavor is strong like an imperial stout without the high abv. Highly recommend

 

Pours a jet black, totally opaque color. A one finger dark beige head on the initial pour. Sticky lacing on the sides of the glass.

Aromas of chocolate and roasted malts.

Flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, roasted malts and barley. A tangy, dry aftertaste. Not much sweetness. The ABV is well hidden.

Medium consistency and mild carbonation.

A well done brew that focuses on the basics of a no-frills stout. Nothing hits me as outstanding but a very drinkable beer…cheers!

I've had this one before, but I bought a 6-pack bottle 8/24 and I cannot say that I'm enjoying it. Surprisingly bitter, more than the 55bus, so I wonder what's happened. Or maybe it's me. My rating though is higher since I've had before and enjoyed.

Appearance: Well this one pours as dark as an abyss. On top is about two fingers worth dark beige foamy goodness.

Aroma: Bourbon, dark chocolate, vanilla roasted hops as well as chocolate malt.

Taste: Chocolate notes are front and center. Vanilla, bourbon and vanilla. Nice roasted floral hop.

Overall: What we have here is a very tasty treat. Nice and dark and rather wonderful for a cool night. Prost.

 

Look: Deep, rich brown with a wonderfully thick tan head.
Smell: Chocolate backed up by roasted coffee and malt.
Taste: Barley flavors start off strong but give way to a bitter and delicious coffee taste that is eventually subsided by Deschutes’ trademark chocolate aftertaste.
Feel: Outstanding. High in the mouth and extraordinarily smooth.
Overall: This beer is always consistent and perfectly balanced.