Sunday, February 8, 2015

#310: Deschutes Brewery » Black Butte XXVI (Imperial Porter)


Deschutes Brewery » Black Butte XXVI (Bourbon Barrel Imperial Porter) | ABV: 10.2%
One of my favorite parts about winter is the occasional night in with my partner accompanied with big dark brews. We'd picked this beauty up on our anniversary trip to Philadelphia back in December - no Deschutes Brewery distro to upstate NY, but there's always hoping.

This 26th Anniversary beer is Deschutes' Imperial Porter, 50% aged in bourbon barrels for 6 months and dry spiced with cocoa nibs, pomegranate, molasses and Oregon cranberries.

Black Butte XXVI kicks off with deep, aromatics notes of pomegranate threaded with raspberry truffle, cherry chocolate, and molasses.

Onto the palate, it's exceptionally dark and juicy with a far lighter mouthfeel than expected. Its boozy without being sharp and backed by a delightful sweetness that's just a touch sticky on the lips. The initial finish wraps up with dark chocolate, tart pomegranate and cranberry.Further through there's a growing dryness and inferred flavors of vanilla bean.

To be honest, Deschutes Brewery Black Butte XXVI is phenomenal. A deftly well-balanced and unique blend of boozy dark beer with just the right amount of tartness that somehow all remains light on it's feet. It's not cheap, but well worth the cost.

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