What Beer Are You Drinking Now? #2883

Deschutes -- Abyss 2015 Reserve



4.59/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2015 Release (reviewed 09-11-20

No update to my current ratings (I really don't recall if they are from my initial review or from subsequent reviews)

Deep, dark brown body topped with a thick, dense, creamy light tan head. Strong aroma of cocoa, bitter chocolate, and a bit of booze. Huge booze and licorice flavors; fermented cherries; baker's chocolate bitterness. Heavy body; a bit watery yet still delivering some decent residual sugar softness; whiskey heat.

Well, perhaps it's degrading somewhat after 5+ years, but this beer still delivers some high octane goods. I wouldn't rate the 'Fee' at '5' for this one, but then I would have to have it close to when it came out to properly rate it. Even the overall, I'd probably drop to a 4.25, but it's still Abyss, and it still hits you like a hammer between the eyes (but with love and a velvet covered chain-mail glove...
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2012 Release Best After Date: 11/01/13 ABV: 11.1% Reviewed 12-03-2017

Still black-as-night body; thin yet lasting light brown head; plenty of foamy rings and lacing along the glass. Mild yet definite roasted and charred grain scent; heavy sweetness. The flavor is much like past examples I've had, dark, rich, bitter. The body likewise maintains a thick, chewy character.

Perhaps five years or so has taken some of the edge off the looks and aroma, but the taste and mouthfeel have aged well.

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2011 Release Best After Date: 8/4/12 ABV: 11.0%

Ratings: 5.0 4.5 5.0 5.0 5.0

Black as a moonless midnight with a very dense, very thick light brown head. Cocoa and old wood aroma; molasses; slightly sweet smelling; faintly spicy (something like cinnamon). Dark and charred grain flavors; bittersweet chocolate; a well-tamed booze flavor in the background, co-mingling with well-ripened dark fruit character; vanilla. Thick and chewy; syrupy without being cloying.

Thick, foamy sheets of lacing clinging to the glass adds to the initial appearance appeal. The melt-in-your mouth mouthfeel is incredibly satisfying. And then you come to the flavors! Oh, man!! All I can say is this monster is incredibly delightful to coat and swirl about your taste buds. All the components just come together perfectly, providing one immensely gratifying dark beer experience, one that few high ABV stouts or porters can deliver. An exceptional offering and an even more exceptional drinking experience. I look forward to opening up my 2012 release in the future...
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2014 Release

4.5 4.0 4.5 4.5 4.5

Deep, dark brown body; thick, foamy, brown head; plenty of clinging tan foam. Vanilla and cocoa aroma. Anise and chocolate notes; mildly boozy. Heavy body; slick and silky; mostly sweet finish.

Another fine tasting, sweet and heavy dark beer. Reviewed during the "online" Abyss 2015 taste test...

Oct 02, 2013
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...Jimmy Page on guitar with the Stones...



...and another outtake from the classic Mick Taylor-era Stones...