Deschutes The Abyss 2011 / 2012 Reserve

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

So, I'm in Portland, Feb. '13, with PfoxyJohn and Phishpond, we're at Deschutes... and they're sold out of bottles of The Abyss. Huge Bummer. Low and behold I receive one in my Portland shipment via the PfoxyJohn because he found one for me after I left the Great Northwest. That guy is great! Wish List beer, 2012 version. Shared this with my closest beer bros because it was just too big and good to keep all to myself. Almost black colored pour, ample head and big lacing. Rich roasted malts, burnt molasses, java, slight vanilla, light oak, rich ripe pitted fruits, hint of anise, more big toasted malts. Helluva beer. Thank you Mr. Pfister.

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

Scored this bottle back in the summer and finally opened it up for Christmas Eve, 2012 version. Poured a deep inky black with a thin tan head. Aromas of alcohol, slight roast malt, faint hints of black coffee, some vinous wine, brown sugar, molasses and slight licorice. Very nice aroma. Deep, complex and strong. Taste begins with black coffee, rich roast malt, bittersweet cocoa and vanilla bean, with notes of oak, licorice, very faint hints of wine and hints of oak and bourbon in the background, especially as the beer warms. Finish and aftertaste are bitter, roasty and strong in black coffee. Very well done, balanced, yet assertive, aged, yet not dank. An excellent flavor. Mouthfeel is medium-thick bodied, sticky with a faint alcohol burn. Quite nice, very much a sipping beer. Overall this is another excellent, deep, complex Imperial Stout. It's strong, assertive and bold, yet balanced. Well worth drinking.

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

Midnight in a glass with a large, frothy brown head and enormous amounts of lacing. Lush aroma of cream, chocolate and fresh roasted coffee. Full bodied, mildly sweet and exceptionally smooth. Flavors provide a medley of milk, nuts, dark chocolates, coffee, vanilla and raisins. Great stuff here.

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

Bottle pour into a snifter is midnight black with a thick consistency and a mahoghany head. Aroma is dominated by bittersweet bakers chocolate/cocoa and coffee. Massive flavos - loads of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and faint faint oak among others. The dark chocolate is balanced with a sublime sweetness that lends to really high drinkability. This is a top tier brew - truly amazing.

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

I have never had any of the Abyss versions prior to this but this was mind blowing. Amazing depth too all character aspects, really well done. It's jet black pour was just what I expected but the deep mysterious aroma was a big surprise. Lots of licorice, tar, candlewax, booze, malt and a tiny touch of oak in the smell. Flavor had some of that as well but also added coffee notes, chocolate, burnt and roast malts, a little vanilla and molasses. Warmed up a bit it really shined, the balance and depth of such a big beer was truely well done.

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

not quite as awesome as the previous incarnations, which have been (with the exception of the infected 09s) one of my favorite beers of any style. i've said that an Abyss 50% barreled (instead of 33) may just be THE perfect beer. this one went the other way...only 6% in bourbon, and it was hard to pick out, though if you had one w/o it, i'm sure you could tell. the cherry bark is very nice, as is the vanilla. the wine only shows a tiny bit in the aroma and a little in the finish. more hops and chocolate come through than previously. awesome, awesome brew...just not as awesome as before...especially 07-08 and 10.