Beer Review: The Abyss (2011, fresh)

Reviewing the The Abyss from Deschutes Brewery. This is universally hailed as one of the top imperial stouts made in America.
Score: 87

November 2011 vintage bottle -- best after 08/04/12 -- served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 01/22/12. I have three of these bottles so I'd figured I'd have one relatively fresh, one at the "best after" date, and one a year after that.

Appearance: Pours a completely opaque, pitch black color with two full fingers of foamy dark tan head that settles into a thin layer across the top of the glass. Amazing lacing -- as the head settles, it leaves a thick, sticky residue of foamy head on the side of the glass. 5/5

Smell: Creamy milk chocolate, roasted chocolate and coffee prominently featured. Roasted malts, light brown sugar, light cherry bark and some vanilla complement the coffee/chocolate aromas. There is a light anise (black licorice) aroma, mixed with hints of alcohol, in the background. If you swirl the beer, the creamy chocolate aromas exponentially increase. As it warms, more cherry notes come out in addition to a hint of dark berries towards the back end of the nose. 4/5

Taste: Creamy bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee upfront. Some dark licorice and "dark cherry" on the midpalate. Very light notes of dark berries towards the finish. Finish is quite coffee heavy. Not getting a whole lot of barrel characteristics, though there are hints of oak and vanilla at points as the beer layers. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, minimal carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. Finish is bitter and slightly acidic. 4/5

Overall: A solid, but nothing special imperial stout when drank relatively fresh. The bottle implores you to wait nearly a year after picking it up before drinking it, so it will be interesting to see how this one improves with age. Certainly an interesting beer to seek out, but I'd recommend aging this one rather than drinking it fresh. Not because I know how it'll age, but rather based on reputation. As it drinks fresh, it is not worth going out of your way to seek out.

Recommendation: Age this one. It does not live up to its hype -- at least not when drank fresh.

Pairings: Steak.

Cost: $14.99