Deschutes Black Butte XXIX

LOC: Bend, Oregon ABV: 12% | IBUS: 55 | SRM: N/A

What the brewer says

“Every year, we celebrate our anniversary with an imperial, barrel-aged version of our flagship Black Butte Porter. This year, to celebrate twenty-nine years of brewing, we’ve added chocolate malt, cocoa, and cinnamon for another multi-layered flavor experience.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Really fruity. Plum, raisin, dark cherry, blackberry, banana, cherry cola, and sherry notes dominate, with very little malt or adjuncts coming through. Slight spiciness of cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg.” Flavor: “More blueberry fruit up front with malt sweetness washing over the entire palate. The flavor lingers with flavor of nutmeg, light amounts of dark cocoa, and a mild barrel character.” Overall: “Lots of fruit and lots of sweetness. The barrel is subtle. On paper, the combination of spices and ingredients should be an easy slam dunk, but this beer is an example of how ingredients alone do not make the beer. It’s a thin, overspiced, cloying, and nowhere near as enjoyable as other beers we’ve had in the flight.” 74 AROMA: 9 APPEARANCE: 3 FLAVOR: 15 MOUTHFEEL: 3 OVERALL: 7