Deschutes Black Butte XXI

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Bend, Oregon USA

Really cool label but it says this was aged in bourbon barrels. I thought I read on their website they used Stranahan’s whiskey barrels, whatever, let Kentuckians quibble over that. Black with red edges. Not nearly as viscous looking as the Abyss. It smells like an amped up black butte, roasted coffee but with an alcohol tinge that could be from the whiskey barrel but is more likely just the high abv of the brew. The alcohol kinda dominates the flavor for me at first, tingling the mouth. For the life of me I can’t taste coffee, chocolate, or whiskey. Then it warms sufficiently and the coffee begins an assault. It is easy enough to drink and it might become more interesting in a couple months, who knows? Oddly, I think the regular black butte is a better porter than the XX and it actually packs more flavor if not more punch. 01/01/08 smells like coffee and whoppers. Tastes smooth but the coffee is a little much for me. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 07-12-2008 03:42:53

Poured from a 22oz double-waxed bomber and served in a snifter. Poured a deep, dark brown with a thick, cakey mocha head that lasted throughout most of the glass. Heavy lacing. The aroma consisted of chocolate covered coffee beans, heavily caramelized sugar, light vanilla, and just a hint of bourbon. Smells delicious! The flavor included bittersweet chocolate, heavily roasted coffee, cocoa powder, and a hint of bourbon. Mildly alcoholic. Still quite appealing, but not so much as the nose originally indicated. The mouthfeel was full-bodied but still relatively clean for the gravity. Lightly carbonated. Layered with rich flavors. A great sipper.

In short: An intense chocolaty imperial stout with a nice moderate bourbon barrel presence a biting bitter finish. Huge in size but never syrupy, almost floury/dry. Kick-ass!
How: Bottle 22oz. Consumed when about 6 months old. Bottles received from a few sources, thanks to you all. This bottle from JCB (Jason)
The look: Black body topped by small tan head
In long: Nose or dark malts, bourbon barrel and green grass. Taste is a truckload of dark malts, bitter black chocolate, floury cookies, burnt wood, cacao, highly roasted nuts, some tar. Alcohol is a bit too apparent but certainly feels less than 11% and provide an adequate warming sensation. The body is far from syrupy and the sweetness goes unnoticed. I had an overall sensation of floury cookies with a lot of bitter black chocolate chips. The bourbon barrels flavours are well integrated, not subtle but certainly not overwhelming like with too may BA impy stouts. The finish is rather bitter and I got pleasant hoppy grassy notes that I don’t get from BA stouts that tend to kill all the hops. This is one of the few very good brutal imperial stout I’ve had. Any more extreme and naughty and it would be a movie Deshit Black Butt XXX.

Bottle: Pours a DARK black with a medium sized, slick tan head that disappears as quickly as it arrived. Aroma is of coffee, dark chocolate, wood with a touch of whisky. The flavor is dominated by malt, with a touch of bitterness and alcohol. However, the taste is a bit off with a funky astringent/medicinal layer. Palate is spot on..medium/heavy body, silky smooth and creamy. Just an outstanding mouthfeel. Overall this is a very interesting beer. It gets a decent score, but I probably won’t be rushing out to buy more.

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a good size light brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of bourbon and black chocolate is dominant with some light roasted malt notes also discernable. Taste is also a nice mix between some well balance bourbon with notes of black chocolate. Hops are well hidden as well as alcohol. Full body with great carbonation. Interesting and well done but I was expecting to be blown away as I had been with the Abyss so I was somewhat disappointed by that one.

Some vanilla and plenty of chocolate along with coffee in the nose. Opaque black body is topped by a decent tan fine bubbled head that recedes to a lasting cover. Pleasantly sweet chocolate flavour with some nice dark malt character and hop bitterness to take the edge off. Alcohol is notable in the aftertaste. Medium-full body is somewhat syrupy in texture and would perhaps benefit from higher carbonation. Tulip glass. Cellar temperature. Bottle acquired from JohnC in Jul-08 on my trip to SoCal.

Courtesy of After4ever, thanks Tom! It is pitch black with a huge, light brown and creamy head. The aroma has sweetness and notes of licorice, coffee, wood and vanilla. The flavour has sweetness and light notes of bourbon is the first expression. It also has notes of licorice, wood, coffee, chocolate and the bitter, dry finish has some peppery alcohol.

22 oz. bottle. Pours a dark black with a creamy tan head. Aroma of chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, and roasted malts. Flavor is very rich. Regular Black Butte is one of my favorite porters anywhere, and this version is absolutely incredible. This is probably the best bourbon barrel aged beer that I’ve had.