The Abyss

◎ Aussehen

The Abyss presents a deep, near-black body with a distinctly ruby-tinged edge visible against light—a hallmark of high extraction and long barrel aging. A brown head settles to a thin collar, displaying moderate retention and fine lacing that clings to the glass. The opacity and color density signal substantial roasting and adjunct integration.

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with dark roast coffee and baker's chocolate, grounded in rich roasted malt character. Licorice emerges as a distinct herbal-sweet thread, followed by undertones of molasses and cherry bark that speak to both the brewing additions and barrel maturation. Oaky whiskey notes round out the profile with a subtle vanilla-oak backdrop without overwhelming the complex base.

◐ Geschmack

Entry is full-bodied and warming, with the roasted malt character anchoring a palate that unfolds through molasses sweetness and cherry fruit. Mid-palate reveals layered complexity from the three-barrel blend—whiskey wood providing dry oak structure, while the licorice and cherry bark additions weave through. A measured bitterness (65 IBU) emerges in the mid-to-late palate without cutting short the sweetness, creating controlled tension.

◑ Abgang

The finish extends long, pivoting from the residual sweetness toward a bittersweet and increasingly dry conclusion. The oak, whiskey warmth, and roasted grain linger on the palate and throat, with the bitterness gaining prominence as the beer warms in the glass.