A lot of guys do what I do and that’s they buy/trade or seek out big beers like The Abyss because they hear it’s good. My ’08-’11 Abyss Vertical was completed 2 months ago yet I’ve just been sitting on them. I guess it’s just cool to look at a vertical and feel special about it. Fuck that. You have to open up some beers if you want to actually enjoy them. How was I to know I even liked Abyss? I didn’t so I opened one up. Here’s the review.
AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
adamjackson (390) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – JUN 26, 2012
A – Nice hiss while removing the cap. Poured a 2-Finger coffee & leather colored head. Head subsided to a quarter finger over 5 minutes and left behind a small film of bubbles. The beer was midnight black, semi-thick pour but not as oily as I expected. Decent head lacing, slight alcohol legs but nothing too intense. Expected for 11%
S – I can smell the beer from 2 feet away. Up close, I’m getting a big coffee with chocolate syrup scent. The licorice bombs out on the back of my nostrils leaving behind an intense milk chocolate sweetness. Hints of bourbon but nothing overpowering.
T – Wow. Okay, I don’t quite know where to start. First taste is the bourbon followed by sweet vanilla and peppery licorice. I get this dry roasted almost biting chocolate espresso bean taste that fades away leaving behind an oaky chocolate sweetness that fades to a bitter oakiness over the course of about 30 seconds.
M – The mouthfeel is slick and surprisingly thin for an Imperial Stout. On a very vigorous mouth swish, I only get about 30% carbonation mouth feel. Medium to heavy body and A super oaky sweet finish that reminds me a lot of cane syrup fresh from our farm.
O – This is a fantastic beer. The Imperial Stout category has seen a lot of changes in the last few years. Abyss holds its own against a lot of huge beers. Stoked to finally try this.
