abyss flavor falloff

I would think that the date on the 2014 bottles would actually be a "Best enjoyed AFTER" date. They recently switched to just listing the bottling date. (Maybe it was because the 2014 fell off before the best after date and they got complaints?)

 

I don't think I have ever heard people say that Abyss falls off pretty drastically after the date and more so that they need at least that much time before being ready. Fresh Abyss can be a little abrasive and so far I have felt like the variants are more ready to drink fresh

 

I just got to share a bottle of 2010 Abyss ("Best After: 11/15/11"), and it was phenomenal! I like my barrel aged stuff on the hotter side, so I usually go 1-2 years age...but that may have been the best tasting of Abyss that I've had.

 

I prefer Abyss fresh(er) having experimented myself with aging it. Don't get me wrong, aging it does not hurt it in any way, I just prefer my Abyss usually no older than 2-3 years. Each year of Abyss is different as well, they use different barrel ratios each year (eh: 60% Pinot, 20% bourbon, 10% plain) in blending and also use different flavoring adjuncts (licorice vs anise vs cherry vs vanilla etc) for each years release.

Bottom line: you can't go wrong with aged or fresh, and if you wait until next October or so (or whenever it is released I forget, I find it at the supermarkets) you can trade for Abyss very easily.

 

Abyss does not fall "off drastically", period (unless it been stored in terrible conditions). This is one of the few beers that I think it just fine fresh, but turns into something magical after a couple years of rest (though it was much better before they started putting cherry bark & all that stupid shit in it). If you like the mix, the 2014 will be just fine.

 

I drank a 14 last night with a couple friends. One guy liked it, I thought it was ok and the other guy pounded it to get it over with. I liked it up front but it had a bit too much roast or char on the back end for me to drink a ton of it...

 

I only had abyss once and it was a year old 2015 bottle a few months ago. My sentiments were exactly that though - too much roast/char. It was delicious and complex off the bat but it was almost painful to finish the bomber as all I could taste after a while was burnt wood/coffee/chocolate and none of the multitudes of nuances the first couple sips brought out.

Against my better intuition I impulse bought it to try again just last week. I was planning on aging this one long term to hopefully ameliorate the overwhelming char to some extent. However if you drank a 3 year old one and experienced this as well I'm wondering if perhaps aging it is only doing it less justice than it deserves and I'm better off trying it again right now without any age.

Can anybody else weigh in on how the roast/char flavor changes over time?

 

I've had a 2015 and 2014 within the past month. The 2015 had tons of bitter baker's chocolate and roast, with a bit of coffee, vanilla, and berry in the mix. The 2014 was much less complex and basically just dark chocolate. Needless to say, I liked the '15 better.

 

That's pretty much all I got out of it after 3-4oz... Liquid bitter bakers chocolate. It started off amazing though, just anything but what I would consider balanced after that.

 

I have never had an Abyss (but have the last 2 years cellared), but based on personal experience with other beers that have a prominent roast flavor present when "young," I have noticed that after 2-3 years the roast flavors morph into a really nice sweetness. That falls in line with what I've read that this one ages with the best of them. But yeah, if you like the roast/burnt flavors don't wait to drink it, if you prefer sweeter stouts, let it age.

 

Why are you cellaring a beer you've never had?

 

The first Abyss I bought had a best after date on the label, which I noticed they changed this year. My first experience with Deschutes limited releases was BBXXV, which I had on tap at the brewery and then purchased a couple to take home. I had one before the best after date and it was awful. I trust Deschutes' judgment when they put a Best After date on the bottle.

Also, I haven't made a special occasion to open one. I'm one of those people.

 

I'm trying to be a "one of those people" in recovery. I kept stockpiling stuff and never having "The right time" to crack the bottle. Finally decided "It was a good week at work and a good friend is here to hangout" was enough a special occasion.

Fresh Abyss isn't a boozy mess, definitely not like BBXXV where there's point in even touching it before a couple years. I'd break one open, just to know...no way to tell if you like it aged if have no baseline from which to judge.

 

I'd imagine you should be able to find some fresh on tap in most markets, might go quickly, but should be out there. This way you can at least get a baseline for the beer. I always buy one or two a year to cellar, than always make it a point to have some on tap for that years version.

 

I've been trying to do the same as well. Pulled a single bottle of DFH Raison D'extra this week because I'm not focusing on trying to put any semblance of a vertical of that together. I might have to open the Abyss I got this year when my brother is in town next month...

 

I have decided to stop buying Abyss this past year for this reason. The last 3 years have just been to Char/Roasty/Bakers Choc bitter to me. I first had abyss that was aged about 4 years in 2012 I think and it was great. I have always felt this beer aged well.
Seems to be the 2010-2013 blends were just better beers that aged well. I assume the last 3 years were just blends that I didn't prefer.

 

I had a 2014 in January 2016 and January 2017. I did not notice much difference. The Abyss is generally known for aging well, so I think your sources may not be reliable in this case.

 

Just did a tasting flight of 2014, 15, 16 ... It was still fantastic.

Also had a bottle of the brandy 2016. Even though it is hot right now, I think the sweetness from the brandy brings out some character in this beer. Albeit a boozy mess that needs aging.

 

Recently have had 10-15 and personally liked it progressively better the "fresher" it was