Deschutes Obsidian Stout

When I first started drinking beer, Deschutes Obsidian Stout, the darkest standard offering from Deschutes Brewing, was my go to fall/winter beer.  Obsidian Stout poured an impregnable black into the glass, capped by a tall, red-tinged brown head.  The nose was roasty, with a subdued coffee undertone.  


Deschutes Obsidian Stout opened with a surprising heavy carbonation and a hint of tartness.  The stout quickly mellowed into a sweet middle, with roasted cocoa stealing the show over an underlying, creeping bitterness.  Obsidian ended with a touch of coffee.


Deschutes Obsidian Stout is a year-round offering and regional favorite for a reason; the balance between dark flavors and light drinking find a nice middle ground here, with enough ABV to keep you warm on a cold day but enough carbonation to never feel heavy or filling.  In a beer world of "Bigger is better", it is nice to have an old standby between the burly ones.