The Abyss (Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged)
Deschutes Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

Pours an effervescent ebony with a sliver of caramel head. Not a lot head retention or lacing

S: Dark fruit and little whiskey & vanilla shows up once warm

T: Cherry, figs, tobacco, dark chocolate & vanilla with a little Whiskey bite. Some Rye shows up as this warms along with plenty of dark fruit & chocolate. Finishes with a nice Rye Whiskey bite, dryness & dark fruit & chocolate

MF: Thick at first, light carbonation, body lightens a little as this warms, a nice warming presence

One of the best takes on this beer I've had in 4-5 years or longer, ABV is so well hidden

22oz bottle poured into a tulip
Bottled 2015
Best After 12/18/16

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy dark brown head that has great retention and leaves some lacing behind

S- chocolate, charred malt and anise on the nose up front, followed by black cherry, figs, dates and molasses. Undertones of leather, cinnamon, cherry pipe tobacco and just a hint of peppery rye, oak and vanilla to close it out

T- rich chocolate and charred malt up front are followed by sweet notes of black strap molasses, caramel, stewed figs and dark cherries. Mid-palate brings out notes of black licorice, as well as some peppery and spicy rye and oak. The finish gives rich chocolate and vanilla, as well as dark cherry. Lingers of spicy rye and barrel juice

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

O- the rye barrel is subtle, but seems to work seamlessly with the base beer

Pours pitch black with a smaller, soon vanishing head, which leaves a small lacing behind.

Smells of molasses, burned oak, cinnamon and distilled rye. Has a caramel peak on the nose, balanced by leather and wood fire.

Has a full, smooth and creamy body, revealing a great complexity while maintaining its balance throughout.

Tastes of fresh brewed coffee, rock sugar and matured hops among an equally dry alcohol soaked oak barrel. Turns spicier, with molasses, cinnamon and char playing along with bitter chocolate and soothing whipped cream. Finishes with toffee accompanied vanilla, boozy praliné, toasted walnuts and a long going Bourbon glow, wrapped into spocy oak and bitter chocolate.

Fantastic, roasty, bitter and spicy stout with a lingering, taste defining barrel presence.

Been waiting a long time to try this. Unfortunately, the 5 years in the bottle did it no favors. Muted flavors with barely anything suggesting aging in a rye whiskey barrel.

 

 

Jet black body topped with a gorgeous light tan head, thick and creamy. Milk chocolate and cocoa on the nose; dark roasted grains and a very faint suggestion of coffee. The taste starts off with a rich American imperial stout sweetness, bittersweet chocolate, a touch of bitterness, and the rye sneaking up towards the finish and lingering long afterwards; some oak barely perceptible. Heavy body; smooth and velvety; oily and chewy; dully sweet overall yet with some alcohol dryness adding counterpoint.

I've had this beer for a while (five years), and I'm guessing some of the rye notes have faded with age, yet the beer still drinks beautifully and still offers a suggestion of the rye barrel aging. Ah, better late than never...

Phenomenal 22oz waxed bottle, 2015 vintage, split into glasses. Poured jet black, opaque and viscous with a dark mocha head that fades quickly. Impressive nose is strong but balanced, the booze is subdued though the barrel character is relatively strong. Rye whiskey is prominent, sprinkled with aromas of licorice and molasses and dark charred sweetness. More of the same on the palate, for 100% barrel aged this leans towards smooth and balanced while still being full-bodied and popping with intense dark stout flavors. One of my favorite Abyss offerings for sure, wish I has another bottle!

 

 

2015 vintage tasted in a Rastal Teku from a 1 pint 6 fluid ounces on March 24, 2020. Brewed with black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark with vanilla added. Aged 12 months in rye whiskey barrels. Best after 12/18/16. ABV is 13.2%. Excellent.

 

 

 

Bottle Date: 2015
Palate Contaminants: other beer

Appearance is dark brown with minimal, but present, head. On to more important aspects...

The main scent is dried dark fruit, mostly raisins and figs. Behind that is light coffee and a little spicy bourbon, which all together is really pleasant. Unfortunately, those later scents fade pretty quickly. Moderately sweet.

The initial taste is dark fruit, and then it's followed up by tons of coffee. A flash of black licorice sometimes comes through. Plenty of whisky accompanied by charred barrel. I can even catch a little rye spiciness, which I might have misclassified on the nose. Unfortunately, the coffee covers most of the nuance from the other flavors, which is doubly weird because the liquid has to warm up in my mouth for a few seconds for it to really hit.

Moderate weight and well integrated carbonation. Plenty of coffee in the aftertaste, with a little sweet raisin behind it. Alcohol is very well hidden for a thirteener.

 

 

 

 

 

From a 22oz bottle, best after 12/18/16. Served in a tulip

Pours an impenetrable black with a scant finger of rich, whipped-chocolate foam which doesn't last but a minute. A nice creamy collar and a webbery of lacing. Held up to the afternoon sun, there is no hint of a highlight, not even a faint glow along the margins.

Smells a bit like sticky date pudding but stronger, more intense, and boozier. The barrel smell isn't at all harsh, it's sweet and smooth, like vanilla extract.

The taste is rich, deep and robust, like molasses but lighter and less bitter. Caramel, eggy vanilla custard, boiled dates and tarragon-like herb which I guess we're going to attribute to the licorice. Notes of powdered cocoa and cold coffee develop late in the sip. The rye whiskey character is present and welcome from start to finish and in no way dominates or overpowers.

Feel is unctuous, rich, thick and super-silky smooth with low-but-adequate carbonation.

Sweet frigging mercy, that was tasty! I tend to steer away from thickly sweet stouts because I dislike that syrupy taste and feel but this was only moderately sweet and, although it was dense, it never approached anything like syrupy.

Pours deep dark. Aroma is quite sweet -- chocolate, vanilla & whiskey. Taste is a wonderful balance of the chocolate, vanilla & whiskey. Not over boozy. Medium body. Drank a 2015 bottle in 2018.

 

Dark as can be. No head. Super thick and sludgey like all Abysses. Very nice but not overly powerful rye finish. There is a slight cherry flavor with actually a lot of licorice