Deschutes Conflux No. 1 - Collage

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

12 oz bottle, best after 4/30/13, bought 5/17/12. Pours hazy reddish amber with a small creamy off white head that goes to a thin film that laces the glass.

The aroma is some oxidized sherry with some fruity oak and alcohol.

The flavor is figgy vinous fruits, vanilla, oak and some strong alcohol and slight oxidation. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, aging helped this one. A nice flavorful aged beer - tastes like an older English barleywine.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

A medley of influences within this strong ale. Deep amber~brown body with a medium sized cap and good lacing. Very fruity and woody right away. Dark berries...almost vinous in nature, then the bready malts kick in to assemble some type of balance. Oak and a splash of whiskey pull through, but don't overstay their welcome. Sweet with a very slight tart aftertaste. A bit thinner than anticipated, but the abv is well hidden.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

12oz bottle -

When a brewer sets out to make a style of beer that has such a huge range of variety, being able to make a beer that crosses multiple spectrums is truly an art. I'm not the worlds biggest Deschutes fan...but wowza. What a friggin' beer.

Aroma is chock-full of heavy oak and bourbon, candied dark fruit, port, vanilla, dark brown sugar, some light dill or celery notes, with chocolate and red wine.....huh? Some how with all those aromas, it works. Huge, huge complexity in the flavor with a perfect amalgamation of wine, whiskey, brandy, brown sugar, and toffee. You are hit over the head with flavors and aromas multiple times and you love every second of it. A stunning beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

This is phenomenal. Thanks to slowrunner77 for sending this. Best after 4/2013, but I couldn't wait. Bottle pour is murky brown with a quick burst of carbonation that caps nicely with a thin head. Very complex aromas - barnyard funk, muskat grapes, figs and cherries. This is just a phenomenal blend - up there with what Firestone does with their anniversary brews. I taste parts of all four brews. Neither steals the show, but each lends its own unique nuance to the brew. Tart cherry from Dissident is up front, followed by bourbon/wood and raspberry from Stoic. The two old ales lend a caramel maltiness and lingering mouthfeel that make this a LONG finish. Highly recommended...thanks slowrunner for sending this!!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Sampled on 7/7/2012. This American Strong Ale pours a medium to dark orange gold color from a 12oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is caramel, sweet, fruity and ever so slightly tart. A medium to full bodied American Strong Ale. The malts are fruity and sweet. The hops are herbal and earthy. A barley wine meets a sour/wild ale. Very sweet, Mild carbonation. Smooth tasting. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet and a touch funky.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

I was at the Deschutes Portland location yesterday and asked the waiter if they had anything special. When he described this beer I said stop right there and get me a bottle! I love this place. I have never tried The Stoic, but the combination of all 4 of these beers is incredible. I can't believe how strong this beer is because it was so easy to sip. The complexity changed every minute. Amazing dark fruit aroma with sweet raisins hitting you up on the poor. Take a sip and all that plus a punch of sourness takes over your mouth. The variety of ok barrels and beers brings this to the level of a masterfully constructed scotch. I will have to find another bottle of this to age! Well worth the price.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Epic in every sense of the word. Almost turned off by the price, & still wish this was priced like Deschutes Reserve beers, but it is what it is. Pours like a dark Flanders red. Immediate aroma of tart cherries and sherry. As the beer warms it just gets more and more complex. Dissident continues to be the main player throughout, but the various barrels...bourbon, rye whiskey, wine, cognac, & oak all show themselves, perhaps more so than the other beers in the blend. Mouthfeel is ridiculous... Luscious. No heat whatsoever at 11.6%! Finishes sweet & sour with all kinds of complexity! Definitely a contemplative sipper that should age incredibly well.