Deschutes The Abyss

This special Reserve Series brew will only be offered December – February (limited distribution)
The Abyss: Stout brewed with licorice and molasses with 33% aged in oak and oak bourbon barrels.

It’s dark. It’s deep. It’s mysterious. Aged in French Oak and Bourbon barrels, this special brew has immeasureable depth inviting you to explore and discover its rich, complex profile. The flavor of molasses and licorice draw you in further and further with each sip. The Abyss beckons. Enjoy the journey.

4.2

1759 reviews

Bend, United States

Community reviews

4.3 Bottle. 11.0%. No best before date. Pours black, with a diminishing, dark tan head. Slight lacing. Roasted malt aroma, with a light creamy overtone. Wooden note as it warms. Flavour is roasted malt, coffee. Hints of liquorice, chocolate. Bitter liquorice finish, dark chocolate. Alcohol burn. Lingering ashy and grassy notes. Overall very good, smooth, well-balanced. 20.02.22.

4.2 Black with a black head - Dark malt aroma with some wood - Dark malt body with chocolate and some wood - The dark malt flavour with some wood goes into the finish - This was real good

3.7 Draft at Bru Craft. Having the 2018 version in March 2022. Opaque black pour with a dense dark brown foamy head. Wall of lace. Coffee liquor aroma. The flavor is intense. Strong pungent dark malts. Dark roast coffee. Strong liquorice/star anisette. Cocoa. Molasses. Charcoal. Faint black cherry. Burnt bourbon barrels. The burntness supersedes the sweetness. Quite powerful. Aged well. Would recommend but not for the faint of heart. Earlier Rating: 12/10/2014 Total Score: 4.4 Draft at Good Dog. Pitch black pour with a tight creamy brown head. Good amount of lace. Thick, rich and dark. Big cocoa, coffee and liquorice flavors. Additional notes of tobacco, molasses, peppercorns, black leather and charcoal grill. Feels a bit boozy up front but has such an abundance of wood tannins such that it finishes smooth and dry. Gigantic and fantastic!

4.2 2017 on iteration on 2/26/22 in a snifter. Pitch black with a beige/pink head. Aroma is cherry, molasses, bourbon. Initial taste is molasses, cherry, burgundy? Fades to oak, smoke, bourbon. Body is smooth, though a touch on the thin side. Carbonation is perfect. This is some seriously complex stuff.

4.1 0,33 litre Bottle, shared with Bergstaden + some Untappd peeps! Roasted malts, coffee, dry, Chocolate.

4.0 2017

3.9 2015 bottle. Pours black, with a medium, foamy, brown head. The nose is toasted oak, dark chocolate, sharp pine, cherry wood, and burnt caramel. Apple and soy aftertaste. Sweet and roasty, with a sticky, funky bitterness. Heavy body, with a syrupy, doughy, lightly acidic mouthfeel. Big, dry, and tasty stout.

4.0 Flaska från systembolaget. Svart öl med fylligt beiget skum. Trevlig öl med fina toner av lakrits, choklad, rostad malt, trä, vanilj och kaffe. Torr fin avslutning.

4.0 Svart med lys brunt skum. Lukter kaffebønner og mørk sjokolade. Fyldig. Smaker bitter mørk sjokolade, kaffe, noe floralsk og havre. Middels lang.

3.6 Flaska från Systembolaget. Svart med ljusbrunt skum. Kola, kaffe, portvin och choklad i smak och doft.

4.0 Flaska från Systembolaget. Svart med ett ljusbrunt skum. Dofter av choklad, rostad malt, bourbon, trä och torkad frukt. Smakinslag av choklad, lakrits, rostad malt, bourbon, espresso och läder. Fyllig kropp, oljig munkänsla.

3.9 No head. Pitch black beer. Aroma of creamy dark chocolate, barrel, liquorice, burnt caramel, japanese soy sauce and espresso. Taste of toasted oak, slight salty liquorice, hint of caramel sweetness, dry tobacco, prunes, raisins, an earthy note, very dark chocolate and a whisky finish. Mouthfeel is lightly oily but surprisingly drinkable without being light or watery. Medium creeping bitterness. Slightly sticky. Overall: Damn solid stout. Excellent levels of BA and a more classical dark profile with low levels of sweetness. Price should never be mentioned in a review but the affordability of this beer is a welcome change.

4.6 Creamy aroma and taste of tobacco, coffee, chocolate, sweetness, licorice, raisins, soy and roasted malt. Dry good bitterness that fills the whole mouth for an eternity. Really good beer. Follow me @ Kung av öl @ Facebook and Instagram for more pictures and ratings.

4.4 Bottle - from 4 pack. Nearly pitch black, opaque. Smells strong and roasty. Very strong with licorice and roasty. Can taste the hops at the end.

4.1 Vanilla on nose with the expected dark chocolate and roasted malt flavor. Solid malt backbone with the barrel influences. Remarkably smooth for the high abv. Would definitely benefit from aging some more in the bottle, in my honest opinion. Didn't blow me away, but a good sipper I feel.

4.7 Aroma roasted coffee, licorice, molasses. Taste: molasses, fig, dark chockolate. Licorice, roasted coffee. Some of that otherwise well hidden warming alcohol in aftertaste as well as hints of vanilla. Creamy smooth and sticky mouthfeel.

3.9 2015 Reserve. Big time molasses - thick! Chocolate, and coffee - fun share with friends

4.1 Black colour with a large creamy head. Aroma: heavy aroma of roasted malt, dark chocolate, cacao nibs, vanilla, molasses and liquorice. Some oak. Taste: roasted malt, dark chocolate, molasses, liquorice, some cacao, coffee beans and some coffee berries. Quite strong with alcohol, some burning feel. Steady coffee bitterness.

4.1 Bottle.Pitch black colour with large beige head.Aroma of chocolate and roasted coffee good full body with even flavors of coconut and barrel wonderful overall beer.

4.3 Flaska från SB. Ett öl man läst om, suktat efter, hoppats på och så dyker den upp i fasta sortimentet. Både bra och dåligt kanske. Visst är den bra men tiden och andra bryggerier har kanske kommit ikapp. Men stor kropp som bär alla smaker väl, subtila fattoner, ett överdåd av choklad och en snygg kärvhet som drar åt både lakrits och tjära. Vanilj och molass ger dessertsötma. Alla bitar passar ihop riktigt bra och ger en snyggt balanserad helhet. Pastry stout kanske men också stabilt och kärvt. Riktigt gott.

4.5 Bottle 355ml. Jet black, brown creamy head. Sweet aroma of molasses and plums. Taste explodes in sweet chocolate, but the comes roasted malts, coffee, barrel coconut notes and some of that liquorice and bitterness. Palate os ridiculously smooth and sticky. Alcohol well hidden. (Looking forward to the vintage ones in the beer cellar.)

4.2 Pours black as metal. Nose is dominated by cacao and tar and after a while wood fron the barrel aging. Mouth is coffee, milk, cacao, licorice, roasty finish. Heavy and great imperial stout. Nice zipper. I like these imperial stouts with a balance towards the roastiness mixed with hints of licorice and coffee/cacao.

5.0 0,355 l bottle from Systembolaget Barkaby. Perfewct Imperial Stout for winter evening.

4.0 @ Havregatan 20211203. Bottle (355 ml) from Systembolaget. Roasted malty with licorice and dark chocolate, full body with an oily texture. The finish is roasted and bitter.

4.3 Black color, small brown head. Aromas of dark chocolate, licorice, molasses, tobacco, oak, coffee and roasted malt. Taste of coffee, tobacco, licorice, molasses, dark chocolate, roasted malt, oak and alcohol.

4.0 Bottle (2011 Reserve) pour shared by WillRunForBeer--thanks, Brian! It's an opaque black with no sparkle, thin cap of off-white head, nice viscosity and no lacing. Aroma is strong licorice, molasses, oak--not getting bourbon. Taste is strong toffee, molasses, licorice, oak. Mouthfeel is full bodied with thick texture, soft carbonation and finish as taste. Overall, strong aromas and flavors 10 years later--remarkable! Though, without a bourbon contribution (likely faded with age). Would like to try a more fresh version.

4.8 01-OCT-2021, bottle @home, from Chicago, with Ulkløbben. Black and dense with a lasting, brown head. Dry, no sweetness. Ash, smoke, roast, licorice, molases. Big but not huge. Smooth, creamy. This is really a great beer.

4.2 Pours black, with a half inch of very fine meringue-like foam, tannish brown, that leaves very fine lacing. Aroma is roasted malt, black licorice, and molasses. Taste is the same, maybe with a bit of coffee, dark chocolate, and dark fruit as well. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. This is great.

4.4 Aroma: molasses, vanilla, licorice, toffee, dark dried fruit, wood. Appearance: deep brown color with a little tan head. Taste: molasses, vanilla, licorice, toffee, dark dried fruit, wood, medium-high sweetness, medium bitterness Palate: low carbonation, chewy texture, soft dryness in the finish Overall: excellent. nice drinkability despite its richness.

4.3 August 2021. Poured into a Teku glass. Pours black with a creamy brown head. Decent head retention with plenty of lacing. Light carbonation. Full bodied. Oily. Vinous. Complex. Strong roasted malt backbone with notes of bourbon, chocolate, dark cherries, caramel, molasses, oak and licorice. Slightly bitter, dry finish. Solid brew.