Deschutes Black Butte XXIV

From Deschutes – XXIV. 24 years after Black Butte Porter’s debut, our potent, layered, imperial tribute returns. As usual, it’s a jazz riff, guided by the brewer’s muse and the lure of exotic ingredients. Artisanal dark chocolate nibs. Daglet dates. Mission figs. It may, possibly, hopefully, be the best edition yet. But, as it should be, you’ll be the judge of that.

Deschutes Brewery – Deschutes Black Butte XXIV – 22 oz. bottle poured into a goblet. 11% abv.

Appearance:  Pours a viscous black with tan edges.

Aroma: Roast, alcohol, ripe dark fruit. Cough syrup

Taste: Dark fruit, alcohol, char, burnt roast.

Mouthfeel:  Thick with soft carbonation.

Overall:  I’ve enjoyed previous years “jazz riffs” more than this beer. I simply didn’t enjoy this.  I never look for literal balance in a bourbon barrel aged strong dark beer, but for me it was just too much dark fruit and over the top char.  Perhaps this is a candidate for cellaring.