12 Days of Abyss (Part 3)
So far, I've done a good job of talking about the idea of the beer, now I'm going to talk about the actual beer. Deschutes' The Abyss is categorized as an Imperial Stout. I'm going to slide it into the Russian Imperial Stout category as recognized by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP).
Out of the bottle and into the glass...
The BJCP Style Guidelines say that the overall impression of a Russian Imperial Stout should be: "An intensely flavored, big, dark ale. Roasty, fruity, and bittersweet, with a noticeable alcohol presence. Dark fruit flavors meld with roasty, burnt, or almost tar-like sensations. Like a black barleywine with every dimension of flavor coming into play." Deschutes Brewery says "This exceptionally popular imperial stout, aged in French oak, pinot noir, and bourbon barrels since March 2007, has immense depth with its rich and complex flavors. True to its name, subtle notes of coffee, chocolate, molasses and licorice pull you in deeper and deeper. Cherry bark and vanilla bean added during the dry-hopping process are the proverbial “cherry on top”!"
You'll definitely notice all of these flavors and more, especially if you pair it with different foods. This is not a session beer, so relax and enjoy it with your favorite meal or snack.
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