Nectar of the gods!

Deschutes Abyss is the most amazing beer ever made! I just went to a vertical tasting at Holiday Wine Cellar on Saturday and was so stoked to get to taste the '07, '08, and '09 vertical. We started with the '09 and ended with the '07 which was near perfect, I was so excited by the perfection of the '07 that I'll start there. The nose, flavor, and mouth feel were fantastic. The color was dark like my heart. No light could possibly penetrate this Imperial Stout. We could talk about the temperature of the beer, but honestly, who would  really take the time to put a thermometer in a beer like this. Believe me when I tell you all of the coffee and anise flavors came through in this richly complex yet  balanced and drinkable nectar. No doubt this was a treat.
The '08 was fantastic as well. Retrospectively, this beer did well given the context of the vertical. The taster was able to appreciate the maturation when compared to the '07. I'm incentivised to keep this beer in the closet for another year or two to see how it turns out. The colors of the beer and the foam were consistent to my eyes throughout the vertical tasting. The taste again was of coffee, licorice and oak. Not as mellowed as the '07, but worthy of the discipline of waiting the two years to open the bottle. The '08 is well worth holding in my opinion.
Then there was the '09. I'm well aware of the controversy surrounding the possible 'infection' resulting in the hint of sour cherries. In this tasting, I believe that the sour cherries flavor was there. I am also aware that the power of suggestion is significant, but I tasted it. Does that mean the beer was bad? That's for the individual to decide. Just because someone doesn't like something desn't mean it isn't any good. You are all entitled to your opinion and mine is that I liked the '09 Abyss, cherries and all. I don't think it will be another '07 quality. Let's wait a couple of years to find out. Maybe it will be great. Mabe it will make a great marinde.