Deschutes Obsidian Stout

12oz Bottle $1.55 Single Liquid Solutions Obsidian Stout pours the blackest of browns (if that makes any sense). Mahogany highlights only when held directly to the light and only creeping through the bottom of the glass. A strange looking big three finger tan head formed on the pour. I say strange because it was soapy looking and creamy at the same time. Very odd but definately a tasty looking stout. Leaves excellent lacing. Unfortunately the nose seems to be lacking. Mild lightly roasted malts are there in the background but weak. Mild dark fruits, a lactic quality, and a pronounced metallic twang. If I smell deep I can pull out the aromas I like to expierence in a stout but they’re all just too weak and distant. This is a quality stout. Roasted malts start things off with faint flavors of anise. Mild nuttiness mid-palate along with a creamy lactic quality. Nice balancing on the finish with bitter roasted malts and a touch of hop bitterness that make this smooth and exceptionally balanced. Medium body with a slightly airy but creamy mouthfeel as it moves through the mouth. Nice lingering bitterness from a comonation of the hops and bitter malts. This is a very good sessionable stout. Perfect beer to have on hand from Autumn through Winter if you’re in the mood to sit down and have a few to warm up. I believe this is only my second beer from Deschutes (the other being Black Butte Porter) and I wouldn’t hesitate in buying either one of them again. Both very good examples in their respective styles. 10/1/07

Very tasty, nice dark tan full head, flavors of chocolate and coffee are present but not overpowering. My favorite stout.

Bottle. Pours thick with roasted coffee and chocolate aroma. Flavor has espresso and bitter chocolate notes. This is a great stout. Easily one of my favorite stouts!

Had this beer on 2/20/2006. Aroma is a deep roasted malt scent. Color is black with good carbonation and thick head. Taste is full, roasted and toasted. Starting with a full body it goes smooth with a bite on the end. Finish enters with a roasted malt flavor and a faint hop flavor that is backed by a sharp toasted bitterness. This is not the best Stout by any means but still good.

Wonderful chocolaty, roasty smell; slightly sweet aroma. Almost black with smallish head. Balanced taste with a lasting roasted/coffee-like taste. Hints of chocolate. Great medium-bodied but smooth mouthfeel. An excellent stout!

bottle 12 oz. This stout was better than I expected. well into med bodied, decent flavor with some spiciness, complexity, and dark roasted coffee. Plenty of malty creaminess with some pleasant hop flavors and bitterness. Available almost everywhere, I may even drink some again. A bit to the sweet for me, but not bad. (3 days later) bought a 6er today for $6.99. I’m upping this .2 to a 3.7, not bad at all for supermarket beer. I’ll probably be looking at this brew every time I open the reefer door from now on. 9/22/07: There is a somewhat unpleasant bitterness from the bittering hops that lingers on the palate for many minutes with a bit of a menthol characteristic that I don’t care for.

I am a stout fan, and this is a fine example of how a stout is supposed to be. Very dark color, really no ruby highlights on the edges. The taste is of roasted coffee beans and dark roasted chocolate...very good. This is an example of a Master Brewer showing his skill at the craft.

9/5/07 From the bottle. Aroma is fruity esters and citrus blended with sweet roast malt and some light alcohol notes. Appearance is dark brown with a persistent tan head. Flavor is sweet, heavily roasted malt forward, full flavored with earthy/citrus hops across the palette, followed by some fruity esters and moderate bittering. Mouthfeel is medium/full bodied, warm, with light astringency and a resiny finish. Overall, this has great complexity and might be a little rich for some, but it goes down easy for such a big brew.