Sweet spot for the Abyss?

Good question. I've only had the 2014 relatively fresh. I liked it a lot. Have 3 more, so hope to try it again soon.

 

I have been sitting on last years and its on my New Years eve list so I will weigh in once I drink that bad boy. I've heard its pretty good at the two year mark.

Great question

 

Kind of hard to make a statement because of batch variation, but I like it fresh

 

Drinking a 2014 now. Drinking amazing I think. Have couple more cellaring. Curious how another couple more years will affect this.

 

It varies by year - I've definitely had some that were better fresh than others.

I've been able to sample verticals (or close enough) for the past three or four years and GENERALLY two years seems to be the sweet spot. Usually the boozier the beer was up front, the better it'll be with age.

 

I had 14 fresh and just had it again yesterday with a year on it and IMO it has aged very gracefully and taken on another dimension. Have another 14 I am going open next Christmas for comparison.

 

Had a 2012/2013/2014 vertical recently, and much preferred it with a single year on it. The Abyss is, in my opinion, rather complex with all three of its aging barrels coming through at different points, along with everything else wonderful about this brew. After 3 years, those notes and complexities, to me, are lost.

Drink it fresh or with a single year on it, in my opinion.

 

I liked to just get some.

Cheers!

 

I've tried fresh, one, and two years, and, honestly, I like the more assertive flavors of the fresh. Can't go too far wrong with Abyss, though.

 

I had a chance to do a four year vertical at Beachwood a few years back and loved the 3 year. I've been aging all of mine that length since then. My friend brought a '14 over the other day and it confirmed, for me, that three years is the way to go.

 

I preferred the 2014 fresh; it was unique and complex in a way that no other beer in its style is. It's far more like what one would expect from an imperial stout after a year- and still a world class one at that- but I like The Abyss so much because of how it differs from other similar beers, so I liked it more fresh.

 

What's the best after date? How is it?! Mine is in the basement with a best after 11/5/15 date. Tomorrow might be the night...

 

Mine was 11/10/15....I was thoroughly impressed

 

As fresh as possible, when it is at its meanest. All of those flavors just slap you in the face.

 

Drank a 2010 and everyone loved it. Best beer of the night. Up against some big boys too.

 

Just did a 4 year vertical of 11/13/14/15, 2011 was far and away my favorite.