Deschutes Obsidian Stout

Bottle (Sydney Summer Gathering 2007): A solid performer. Thick opaque black with a menacing tan head. THere’s no mistaking where this is headed, or is there? In the nose, slightly salty, roasty aromas over a base of chalk. Possibly a touch thin. Thankfully, it was just a case of the liquid not wanting to give up its essence. In the mouth lots of roasted grains swirl around creamy chocolate. There’s not really a lot of complexity here, but there’s a hell of a lot of flavour. Tasty.

Pours black, thin tan head. Flavor is dark chocolate and roasts. Finish is more roastiness and dry. Might be a little too much roasts for my taste, but still a nice beverage.

Another star performer at an Australian group tasting of absurd extravagance. I might rate this even higher had it not been sandwiched by a couple of stunning Mikkellers and succeeded by a pair of Pannepots, Westveleterens and a Belle Vue Selection Lambic. Oh, that every day could be like that Sunday. Obsidian Stout was an impenetrable black capped by a lavish layer of coffee cream. The aroma was rich with molasses, cocoa powder and sump oil - a feast of roasted grains. Medium bodied but quite lactic. Good bitterness. It’s sweet but very balanced, with a late sourness in a dry finale. A fine balancing act. (Bottle courtesy of Linc at the Sydney Jan 2007 RateBeer gathering)

Bottle. Black color, fluffy brown head with some nice lacing. Roasty aroma with a hint of imperial stout-ish hops, taste is pretty simple with some dirt, coffee, chocolate. Medium bodied, dry finish.

Bottle. Pours a pitch black color with a medium tan head. Aroma of dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans. Taste is of dark chocolate earthy and bitter. Finishes very dry. Not a very complex stout but still manages to keep your interest.

It’s a pretty average black with some espresso head. Malted milk balls, grocery store coffee and a little soy sauce in the aroma. Tastes of milk chocolate, oatmeal, some smoked dry meat, probably venison, lending itself to a distantly salty finish. More coffee asserts itself after the fact. Very engaging and subtley unique amongst its peers of equal, classic simplicity.

Very dark with a nice head. I found it quite dry with hints of dark chocolate and roasted nuts. I’ll enjoy the rest of my 6 pack but I’m not sure it’s worthy of the high praise it’s received here. I’m sure it’s better on tap.

Bottle: Ruby with a tan head, dark fruits and roasted grains in the aroma, thin bodied with mellow carbonation, starts and ends lightly sweet.