Deschutes Brewery Black Butte XXIX – Imperial Porter at 12.2% ABV | 55 IBU (C$24.99 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, packaged on 12-Jun-2017, acquired 7-Jan-2018, reviewed 21-Jun-2020)
Appearance: deep cola red with one finger of loose light beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: cocoa nibs, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum barrel, dark fruit, cayenne, toasted bread. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, mild peppery spice. (9/10) Medium-full slightly sticky body, moderate carbonation, smooth warming finish. (4/5)
The Great Cellar Drink Down continues. What? I’m in quarantine in a (supposedly) sold house, so I can’t get anything fresh, and who knows how long my collection will go into a storage unit after we pack up here and find a new house – could be months, easily, subjected to wild temperature variations. No, better it end here, with dignity: cue the swelling orchestra.
The start of a four-vintage vertical, this is the youngest at three years. I didn’t do a fresh one as a baseline here, but I’ve done a couple of two-year-olds, so I’m thinking we may well be starting off with something that is already at or near the sweet spot for cellaring. Though, given the ABV, it could continue to develop for quite some time, and in any case, I really don’t expect it to decline rapidly. This one is simultaneously pleasantly complex, yet seamlessly integrated, with no single element dominating. In particular, the cinnamon and cayenne are both relatively mild, and though they become more noticeable as the pint progresses, they remain unobtrusive throughout, contributing to a smooth warming finish. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
