Black Butte XX
Deschutes Brewery

Black Butte XXBlack Butte XX
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From:
Deschutes Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
ABV:
11%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.32 | pDev: 9.26%
Reviews:
283
Ratings:
361
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 angrybabboon:
Photo of angrybabboon
Reviewed by angrybabboon from Massachusetts

4.17/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for sharing this

Appearance: Yup, it's black - dark, with some dark brown around the edges - light brown head - impressive retention especially considering this beer's age - nice ring, nice dots of lacing

Smell: Very interesting - lots of chocolate, including chocolate malts, dark chocolate, and some milk chocolate - coffee, nicely roasty - rich caramel and molasses - some bourbon and wood, but not overwhelming - nicely balanced and rich

Taste: Chocolate, coffee, and some deep, sweet notes - dark chocolate, cocoa, and some milk chocolate - caramelized sugar, molasses, and caramel - coffee, roasty, very lightly burnt - some vanilla and bourbon - a nice use of whiskey, adds just a background flavor, does not dominate - wood - no hops remaining at this age

Mouthfeel: On the full side of medium, lightly oily, adequate carbonation, great to sip

Overall: Butts

Sorry, but this is something beyond a porter. It's so rich, chocolatey, and ridiculous. It's not mind-blowing, but it's a fantastic sipper. It's aged very well, and I'm glad I had a chance to try it.
Nov 10, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.83 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Oct 06, 2019
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

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, 2018
 
Rated: 4.29 by ckeegan04 from Texas

Dec 16, 2017
Photo of cbutova
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
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, 2017
Photo of SpdKilz
Reviewed by SpdKilz from Illinois

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, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.46 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.79 by JavaNoire from Iowa

May 12, 2015
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

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, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Jan 26, 2015
Photo of Kurmaraja
Rated by Kurmaraja from California

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
 
Rated: 4.3 by wethorseblanket from California

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by derkfromwi from Wisconsin

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by GRG1313 from California

Sep 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by MarkyMOD from Colorado

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by RyanTheLion13 from Iowa

Aug 16, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by JoelClark from Idaho

Aug 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Wolberjs from California

Jul 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by IrishColonial from Texas

Jul 07, 2014
Black Butte XX from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 361 ratings