[World's Best Beers]10. Deschutes Brewery’s The Abyss

 

 

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Bend, Ore.

 

Deschutes Brewery was founded by Gary Fish in 1988 as a small brewpub. By 2010, Deschutes was the fifth-largest craft brewery in the U.S., riding the craft wave on its quality beers. The Abyss is a special reserve series brew available only between December and February. Abyss is an appropriate name, since the beer is viscous and permits absolutely no visibility of light through its dark body.

Ingredients include licorice and molasses. Thirty-three percent of the beer is aged in French oak barrels and oak bourbon barrels. Said to be extremely rich and complex in taste, with hints of licorice playing over the smooth, oaky flavors.