The Abyss 2019 Reserve
Deschutes Brewery

Back in 2009 or 2010, The Abyss was the beer that got me into 'Big Beers'. I bought one at a local liquor store and drank it down that evening, and I haven't stopped seeking out this iconic brew since.

I picked this up at a local liquor store in February of 2022. I don't know if they had the reserve in storage or what, but I saw it and picked up two bottles straight away. This particular bottle was bottled in September of 2019, which makes this one of the oldest beers I have ever had. It also puts this beer as Pre-Corona, which may mean something in the dystopic hellscape of the far future.

The Abyss pours essentially black, as any stout should. There's a bit of head and a bit of lacing, but carbonation isn't where this beer shines. It shines in its nose, flavor and mouthfeel. The nose is where the age of this beer may have done it the least good. It's coppery, almost alkaline in nature. Not sure I enjoy it, but there are also qualities of coffee and candy in there.

This beer still has the taste of a world-class stout. It's coffee and molasses up front. It's very sweet and sticks to the inside of your mouth. One thing that sets a stout apart from other beers is that they tend to stick with you, both in alcohol content and in the actual residue they leave as you drink them, and the Abyss is no exception.

Mouthfeel is wonderful. Beers like this are thick and sticky, leaving behind a semisweet sort of feel, like you just ate a really good piece of dark chocolate. If I had to guess I'd say they probably used a good portion of oats in the recipe to bring the brew up to par.

The Abyss is a perfect example of the American Stout. If you love beer and you see it on the shelf you owe it to yourself to give it a try, even if its a little out of date.

 

This is an amazing beer series, and this one meets expectations. Beautiful looking with color, head, and lacing. Smell is the weakest point, as it’s the only thing less than outstanding. Tons of flavor, feel is awesome, and barrel presence is strong. Smoky, boozy, roasty, just hits all the points I want from a barrel aged beer. One of best versions I’ve had of it. Need to find another bottle to age for a few years.

 

 

 

22oz bottle into a goblet yesterday. For the second time this weekend, I initially reviewed the wrong beer, and had to delete and repeat. Gotta pay more attention.

Looked superb in the glass. Black oily, slippery looking body. Outstanding deep tan head manages to persist in decent form throughout, despite the abv. Some good lacing, though the length of time it took me to get through this one saw most of the lacing disappear.

Aromas mostly of roasted malt and licorice.

On tasting, the individual flavors I get are very aggressive. Roasted malt, Licorice, bovril, maybe even a touch of soy sauce. It's quite bitter along with roasty, and the only flavor left to balance it out is the molasses, which gets trampled underfoot.

Mouth a little thinner than i would have liked, finish bitter and roasty .

All in all, this one didn't work for my palate. Not enough sweetness to round off the rough edges from the roast & licorice. Is apparently brewed with cherry bark and vanilla, but neither came through. The multiple barrel aging process was not apparent either. Quite the letdown here.

 

 

Pours a dark brown approaching black. A finger and a half of creamy brown head. Medium to strong lacing. Fades quickly to a thin line. A good looking brew.

Nose is packed to the brim. Immediately noticeable is the barrel presence. It has the sweet rich scent indicative of bourbon barrel but a hint of intrigue...Bright fruit notes, just short of jammy. The vinuous presence easily identifiable. Followed by dark smoky malt, brown sugar/molasses, dominant vanilla, a touch of chocolate, and spice? Herbal notes? Similar to cinnamon. I'm guessing it's the licorice. Booze as it warms. Complex, yet balanced.

Taste is malt dominant first. Smoky and dark reminding me of coffee. Barrel comes in second this time. Similar to the nose, it's brighter and more tart than your typical bourbon barrel aging due to the wine barrel. Vanilla brings a sweetness to counteract the smoky malt. A slight hint of dark chocolate bittering the brew.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied. Very mild carbonation. Smooth and drinkable.

Overall this was a very different brew. Extremely enjoyable. The wine barrel, licorice, and vanilla creating a interesting multi-faceted flavor.

Had the 2018 last year and loved it - stoked to have it again... Pours a glassy black in the glass beneath a creamy dark foam about a finger high that'll eventually subside into wisps and motes floating down the glass... Upfront you'll get a molasses and chocolate splash, rich and sweet, with notes of vanilla and licorice and some buried dark fruit; but there's lots of smoky char and bitterness to the darkly roasted malt flavors, and this will dominate and linger with dry wood and bitter chocolate on the finish... Medium-full-bodied and smooth, but with some alcohol slipping through... Has a raw, rustic feel despite the refined trappings...

Brewed with black strap molasses and licorice, dry spiced with cherry bark and vanilla bean, 50% aged in bourbon, wine, and new american oak barrels... Features Roasted Barley, Black Barley, Black, Chocolate, 2 Row Pale and Wheat malts, and Millennium, Northern Brewer, Nugget and Styrian Golding hops...

9/12/19 bottling; 11.2% abv...