Gentlemen, start your engines! Ladies, you too. The race is on to see if you can get your bottle of Deschutes' legendary oak-aged Imperial Stout before all of it gets hoarded or auctioned on ebay. I ran into a fellow last year who had made the rounds until he had -- this is what he told me -- 5 cases in his basement. That's only because he drank the sixth case. At least he wasn't auctioning it.I wasn't up for the 10 PM release party Friday, but Dave and I headed over to the Portland pub for lunch Saturday. They had sold out of bottles Friday night, but they still had both the 2007 and 2008 Abyss on tap -- they'll do you a "flight" of 5 oz. of each. It was great to taste them side-by-side. This year's is spot-on, big body, big booze, and big hops occasionally peeking out. Last year's is even better. I don't chalk it entirely up to age, because tasting it immediately brought me back to remembrance of that same flavor from last year. Among other things, I think the 2007 has more licorice flavor, which seems like it would turn me off but which somehow works just right.
They still had the little two-stop flights when Carla was there yesterday, so you might want to scoot down there and check it out. They come out of the taps way too cold, let them warm up a bit. Drink, hoard, and share as much as you can, but don't be a lowlife and buy it up just to auction it on ebay. You do have my permission to auction your empty bottles.
We Texians don't stand a chance in your little contest, Bucko, and I think you know that very well!
ReplyDeleteActually, now that Deschutes distributes to Texas, I wouldn't be surprised to see a keg of Abyss at the Gingerman, or a bottle or two at Grapevine Market.
ReplyDeleteYou should call on Lee to investigate that.
Gone? Ugh, I knew I should've made the trip into town that night.
ReplyDeleteBen: The pub said Saturday that they'd have more bottles this week. Of course you can check specialty stores and better grocery stores.
ReplyDeleteI'll be surprised to find much of this if any in Colorado, but if I do, I'm going to be sure to snatch up a bottle of this. I've got a weak spot for imperial stouts this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill - John's Marketplace is my go-to since it's less than a mile from my front door, but I'm glad to hear I might be able to run it down in a few locations if I time it right.
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