Region: Bend, Oregon

Brewery: Deschutes

Release: 2018

Beer: Abyss

Style: American Imperial Stout

Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 11.2%

IBU: 74

The Barrel Cellar Score: 5 Points

Review Date: January 2019

Availability: Special Release every Nov/Dec

Brewer notes: Barrel Aging (50%) 12 months in bourbon, new Oregon oak barrels, wine

Assessment: The name Abyss must be a nod to both its color and depth of complexity. It pours obsidian black with a dark tan espresso crema colored head. This special brew has the aroma of coffee, vanilla, and chocolate. The taste is big and aggressive. Each sip contains several unique flavors. It goes down surprisingly silky smooth with a bitter finish. The perfect balance of heavy and sweet, this is an incredible stout. Absolutely delicious immediately upon release but also has potential for those flavors to further fuse together in the cellar for a year or two. A great beer to enjoy during the winter months but surely can be enjoyed year-round if you can hang on to it that long.

The release period of this beer is limited.  If you find one take advantage.

This is a truly memorable beer, a top-notch stout that continues to impress with each annual release.