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Black Butte XX
Deschutes Brewery
- From:
- Deschutes Brewery
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Porter
- ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 96
- Avg:
- 4.32 | pDev: 9.26%
- Reviews:
- 283
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 06, 2019
- Added:
- May 23, 2008
- Wants:
- 233
- Gots:
- 31
Porter brewed with chocolate beans and coffee added with 20% aged in bourbon barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ThreeWiseMen:
Reviewed by ThreeWiseMen from California
4.37/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.37/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Got this in a trade from... I don't know whom (session1979 maybe?). Split between Wisemen Justin and Nick in a couple of pint glasses.
Appearance: Pours thick and pitch black, with small, foamy, brown head that disappears quickly. All that remains after a minute is small, brown halo. Spotty lacing. N: 4.0; J: 3.5
Smell: Dark chocolate, bourbon oak, molasses, vanilla extract, coffee, pine, and barbeque. Smell reminds me of a lighter GI BCS, with some added pine. N: 4.5; J: 5.0
Taste: Oak bourbon, dark chocolate, lots of smoky and roasted flavors, charred wood, vanilla, and cream. Finishes with a fairly strong, dry, bourbon burn intermixed with dark chocolate. This hardly resembles regular Black Butte. N: 4.5; J: 4.5
Mouthfeel: Heavy for a porter and syrupy. Justin claims it's light (compared to other barrel aged beers?). Sticky; coats the mouth very well and leaves sticky residue on the lips. A bit gritty. Medium-low in carbonation and warm. Finishes dry and hot. N: 4.0; J: 4.5
Drinkability: Went down well, but obviously nowhere near as drinkable as regular Black Butte. Nick finds this one to be a little harsher than the other barrel-aged beers he's had recently (Nor' Easter and Brooklyn Black Ops). Still good, but a definite sipper. N: 3.5; J: 4.5
Wiseman Nick: A- (4.25)
Wiseman Justin: A (4.40)
Mar 20, 2009Appearance: Pours thick and pitch black, with small, foamy, brown head that disappears quickly. All that remains after a minute is small, brown halo. Spotty lacing. N: 4.0; J: 3.5
Smell: Dark chocolate, bourbon oak, molasses, vanilla extract, coffee, pine, and barbeque. Smell reminds me of a lighter GI BCS, with some added pine. N: 4.5; J: 5.0
Taste: Oak bourbon, dark chocolate, lots of smoky and roasted flavors, charred wood, vanilla, and cream. Finishes with a fairly strong, dry, bourbon burn intermixed with dark chocolate. This hardly resembles regular Black Butte. N: 4.5; J: 4.5
Mouthfeel: Heavy for a porter and syrupy. Justin claims it's light (compared to other barrel aged beers?). Sticky; coats the mouth very well and leaves sticky residue on the lips. A bit gritty. Medium-low in carbonation and warm. Finishes dry and hot. N: 4.0; J: 4.5
Drinkability: Went down well, but obviously nowhere near as drinkable as regular Black Butte. Nick finds this one to be a little harsher than the other barrel-aged beers he's had recently (Nor' Easter and Brooklyn Black Ops). Still good, but a definite sipper. N: 3.5; J: 4.5
Wiseman Nick: A- (4.25)
Wiseman Justin: A (4.40)
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.28/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Ebony bodied; thin yet lasting light brown head. An interesting blend of dark, roasted grains; a rather unidentifiable fruitiness; cocoa. Deep milk and bitter chocolate flavor; some boozy notes; a sense of espresso bitterness. Rich, creamy mouthfeel; velvety with a low-key sweetness tempered with a fine, dry edge at the finish.
I re-discovered this bottle in the back of my beer fridge in the garage. Damn, 7-8 years! A forgotten gem that, although I have no record of trying a fresher version, this go around is quite satisfying. It seems to have aged well, still delivering fine impressions of chocolate and coffee. It's been worth the wait...
Jan 20, 2018I re-discovered this bottle in the back of my beer fridge in the garage. Damn, 7-8 years! A forgotten gem that, although I have no record of trying a fresher version, this go around is quite satisfying. It seems to have aged well, still delivering fine impressions of chocolate and coffee. It's been worth the wait...
Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts
4.24/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A- Deep black Philip pour from the bomber to many flute glasses. A molasses brown foamy cap forms to a half inch with good retention. Small ring drops spotty lace.
S- At this point the age has crept up and dusty old dark fruits like prunes, figs and raisins dominate the aroma with some sweetness. Dusty old cocoa and coffee in there too. Slight wet oak.
T- Cocoa comes out more with a touch of coffee and roasted barley. Caramelized sugars, molasses, spiced figs, raisins, prunes and vinous old oak. Tiniest bourbon vanilla feel.
MF- Creamy and frothy medium body with a certain slickness. Medium level of carbonation and a very warm finish.
Old and the age is showing but a treat indeed. This series never fails to please.
Jan 19, 2017S- At this point the age has crept up and dusty old dark fruits like prunes, figs and raisins dominate the aroma with some sweetness. Dusty old cocoa and coffee in there too. Slight wet oak.
T- Cocoa comes out more with a touch of coffee and roasted barley. Caramelized sugars, molasses, spiced figs, raisins, prunes and vinous old oak. Tiniest bourbon vanilla feel.
MF- Creamy and frothy medium body with a certain slickness. Medium level of carbonation and a very warm finish.
Old and the age is showing but a treat indeed. This series never fails to please.
Reviewed by SpdKilz from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I obtained this beer a few years ago and have been cellaring it ever since. Black Butte XXI was one of my first and favorite BA porters, so I traded for this as it was the first of the series. Seeing as this was an almost eight year old beer, it held up decently if I say so myself. Was it in its prime? No. But for what it was, it was great. The pour was nice and dark with mocha colored head. The aroma was promising in that it was not off putting, sour, or oxidized beyond reproach. Dark chocolate, bittersweet cocoa, and molasses. The flavor was more oxidized than the aroma but honestly, not nearly what I thought it would be for such an old BA porter. Mainly the cocoa and molasses, with a slight hint of bourbon came through. The feel was nice and thick. Quite impressed for such an old beer. I'd take this over the newer, "tarter" versions. Cheers!
Nov 17, 2016Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.94/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one pours more substantial than the normal black butte porter, but still is clearly in the porter genre instead of the used motor oil stout genre. Very pretty dark brown though, mild 1/5" head on the top. Aroma was heavier, not discernably bourbon, but definitely boozy.
Taste imparted roast, chocolate malt, cocao, coffee malt flavors, earthy tobacco. Speaking of which, this goes great with a cigar. Could use a greater percentage of the beer in the barrel, like I said, you really don't pull identifiable bourbon in the mouthfeel, you do notice the heat though.
Aug 11, 2016Taste imparted roast, chocolate malt, cocao, coffee malt flavors, earthy tobacco. Speaking of which, this goes great with a cigar. Could use a greater percentage of the beer in the barrel, like I said, you really don't pull identifiable bourbon in the mouthfeel, you do notice the heat though.
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin
3/5 rDev -30.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -30.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
First of all this is the XX version. Secondly, this is one of the weirdest beers I've ever had. Appearance is a short-lived brown head, no lace, and opaque brown black color. Aroma at first is dark ripe fruits, cocoa, coffee, lumber, leather, but soon that goes waaay bad - to a dirty public toilet! And that aroma kind of comes and goes, but it's nasty. And when I went to take my first sip, my god, that nasty aroma was going into my mouth!! That wasn't easy. After a bit the flavor gives way to the initial aroma qualities, plus whiskey, vanilla and a bit of tang and bitter. Body is so so as carbonation is on the flat side. Luckily the nastiness don't persist into the finish.
May 05, 2015Rated by Kurmaraja from California
4.34/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
For the age this is still remarkably "fresh" tasting. Very slight oxidation that strips a bit of it's looks and mouthfeel, but still a killer beer.
Dec 21, 2014
Black Butte XX from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
361 ratings
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