1. Deschutes Black Butte Reserve XXXI
The topic of this article is the Deschutes Black Butte Reserve beer. The name “Black Butte” refers to an extinct stratovolcano located in the state of Oregon, USA. I purchased this beer at a large supermarket, which makes it quite an expensive premium beer.
The Deschutes Black Butte Reserve is a very unique product. At the top of the bottle, it is sealed with wax, making it quite difficult to open. Therefore, I had to heat the wax with a lighter to remove it to some extent before opening it. It took quite a long time.
The volume is 650ml, and the alcohol content is 12.2%, which is relatively high. According to the information on the bottle of Deschutes Black Butte Reserve, it is the 31st anniversary reserve and is of the Imperial Porter type.
Deschutes Black Butte Reserve XXXI includes chocolate, cold brew coffee, and cardamom. Most importantly, it was aged in oak bourbon barrels for 12 months, with 80% of it barrel-aged. Hence, it also has a bourbon flavor.
2. Deschutes Black Butte
1) Deschutes Brewery
Deschutes is one of the leading craft breweries in the USA, distributing beer throughout the country. It was founded in 1988 in the city of Bend, Oregon, starting as a small brewery. It was named after the iconic Deschutes River that flows through the town.
Starting with 310 barrels sold in its first year, today it sells more than 225,000 barrels annually across 32 states in the USA and other countries. Its famous products include Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Deschutes has two breweries and has also opened a beer pub.
In 2012, it received a sustainability award and was named a Green Power Partner by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2011. This denotes it as a champion level member of the Blue Sky Renewable Energy Program, which utilizes renewable energy sources.
2) Tasting Notes
When poured, the carbonation does not seem very high. It has a dark, opaque brown color with fairly thick foam, though the retention is not strong. The aroma reveals rich malt, cocoa, and a hint of vanilla dark chocolate.
The taste initially reminded me of a kind of cola. It has flavors of charred wood, dark chocolate, coffee, and a fairly rich texture, with the 12.2% alcohol not feeling overly strong. The aging process makes it quite smooth. Hints of bourbon are slightly noticeable in both aroma and taste.
3) Product Information
Product Name: Deschutes Black Butte Reserve
Type of Food: Beer
Country of Origin: USA
Volume and Alcohol Content: 650ml, 12.2%
Ingredients: Purified Water, Barley Malt, Hops, Yeast, Coffee, Sugar, Molasses, Cocoa, Vanilla
Manufacturer: Deschutes Brewery
3. Overall Review
In summary, this is an attractive premium dark beer. The alcohol content does not feel too strong, and the variety of flavors present make it quite enjoyable. It certainly feels luxurious.
it has received high ratings on beer review sites, with a score of 91/100 and a star rating of 4.11/5.0. I recommend purchasing this product if you come across it.