Deschutes The Abyss Reserve 2011

Deschutes The Abyss is an American Double/Imperial Stout, this is the 2011 edition released in November of that year. Brewed with black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark and vanilla. The young beer is blended with 6% oak bourbon barrel aged, 11% oak barrel aged, and 11% oak wine barrel aged Abyss. Still with me? Starts off big and roasty with good bit of molasses and slightly burnt caramel sweetness. The licorice is a little too strong for my tastes, kind of over powering anything being added by the cherry bark and vanilla. This is a boozy beer but not exactly from the bourbon barrel, more of just a general alcohol heat (11% ABV). The finish is very dry and woody with a bit of hops as well. Overall this is a very good stout, but for me just a bit too much licorice. I think I should have let it age a bit more as well, cracked this open at about 6 months but more like a year seems right to me.