Deschutes Black Butte XXIII

UPDATED: JUN 27, 2011 On tap at the Portland pub. After last year’s mishap, I was expecting some level of near-perfection like its older brothers XX and XXI. What I got instead was.... this. Which is not to say anything bad about Deschutes Brewery. I absolutely LOVE their beers, their creativity, and their willingness to go where no beer has gone before. I also respect the fact that after XXII didn’t uphold their level of quality, they refused to sell it to their many adoring fans. But sadly, I feel they missed the mark on this one. It came to me pitch black with a thick, tan head that quickly dissipated and turned into a light ring. The nose on this is pretty bland for an imperial porter. Lots of roasted coffee and bourbon notes. But, there’s a weird metallic funk in the background, like pouring fresh roasted coffee into a bag of pennies. The flavor is earthy roasted coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, burnt oak, and subtle undertones of citrus that don’t compliment the other aforementioned flavors. As far as the chiles go, I can only guess they show up in the hot bitterness towards the finish. The mouthfeel is pretty thin compared to previous installments, but still good. Overall, if this was my first imperial porter, I’d probably like it a lot. But maybe that’s it. Maybe XX & XXI were so good that my expectations are way too high. Or maybe this really just isn’t very good. And Deschutes, I’m sorry for not being one of those fans that swears by every beer you make, good or not. I will always be a fan, but in this instance, I’m more like that friend you have that will tell you that you’ve got food in your teeth. I respect your willingness to think outside the box and brew something unique. But you basically took a near-perfect recipe, added some things that really don’t mix too well, and called it (dishonorably, in my opinion) by the same name. I did, however, buy a couple bottles to keep in the cellar for a year or two.... in the spirit of hope.