Deschutes Black Butte XXXVIII Returning To Reserve Series To Celebrate 38 Years

Today brings major craft beer release news as Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon announces the return of Black Butte XXXVIII, the 38th‑anniversary edition of the legendary Black Butte imperial porter series. This annual Deschutes Brewery Black Butte release remains one of the most anticipated barrel‑aged imperial porter variants in the American craft beer world, and the 2026 version pushes flavor, complexity, and barrel character even further.

The 2026 Black Butte XXXVIII Imperial Porter is built on Deschutes Brewery’s iconic imperial porter base and aged extensively in rich, expressive Port Wine barrels. This Port Wine barrel‑aged treatment adds deep fruit character, oak complexity, and layered sweetness that define the modern barrel‑aged beer category. To amplify the profile, Deschutes Brewery loads this anniversary porter with chocolate, orange peel, vanilla, lactose, and Oregon cranberries, creating a bold, dessert‑driven, adjunct‑enhanced barrel‑aged imperial porter with roasted malt depth, fruit‑forward acidity, and smooth vanilla‑cocoa richness.

For fans of Deschutes Brewery barrel‑aged beers, Black Butte anniversary releases, and collectible imperial porter variants, Black Butte XXXVIII stands out as a must‑have 2026 craft beer. The combination of Port Wine barrel aging, chocolate additions, citrus peel, vanilla sweetness, lactose creaminess, and Oregon cranberry tartness positions this release as one of the most flavor‑dense, adjunct‑layered, and cellar‑worthy Black Butte variants to date.

Packaged in 12‑oz bottles, the 2026 Reserve Series Deschutes Black Butte XXXVIII continues the brewery’s tradition of producing limited‑edition, small‑batch, barrel‑aged imperial porters ideal for aging, vertical tastings, and craft beer collecting. With its Port Wine barrel character, chocolate‑orange‑vanilla profile, and signature Deschutes Brewery imperial porter base, this release is engineered for fans seeking bold, complex, high‑gravity dark beer.

Stay tuned for full 2026 Deschutes Brewery release details, AbV, Black Butte XXXVIII tasting notes, barrel‑aged beer availability, and expanded coverage of this milestone imperial porter as Deschutes Brewery prepares to launch one of its most anticipated anniversary beers yet.

Label Text Deschutes Black Butte XXXVIII:

“RESERVE SERIES
Cheers to 38 years!
This Imperial Porter is aged in Port barrels for deep, dark berry flavor and aroma. Oregon cranberries add tartness and mingle with notes of chocolate and orange peel to create a smooth, layered, and beautifully balanced release.

Imperial porter with Oregon cranberries, orange peel, vanilla, milk sugar, natural flavor, and aged in Port barrels.”

About Deschutes Brewery:

Deschutes Brewery is an independent craft brewery in Bend, Oregon and is family, and employee-owned since 1988. Founded on the guiding principles of true craftsmanship and ultimate quality, Deschutes is known as a leader in hops, dark beer, innovative India Pale Ales, and small-batch experimental and barrel-aged beers. Deschutes Brewery is crafted for community, committed to sustainable business practices and support of charitable organizations across our distribution footprint. Visit Deschutes Brewery’s beer finder to find a Deschutes beer near you in 36 states across the country. To learn more about Deschutes Brewery visit www.deschutesbrewery.com.

Good Beer Brings People Together
It’s pronounced Da-Shootz

In 1988, Gary Fish established a small brewpub in downtown Bend, Oregon and named it after the Deschutes River. He wanted to build a home for the public. A spot where friends, family, and neighbors would come together over a house-brewed pint of beer. After Gary opened The Deschutes Brewery and Public House, people started to arrive, hang out, taste our beer and food, and spread the word. In that first year, we sold 310 barrels of beer.

Today, things are a little different. The brewery sells more than 225,000 barrels per year and our beer can be found in all 50 states (and even a few other countries.) We’ve set up more locations and have a brewery and tasting room less than a mile across town in Bend and a second pub in downtown Portland, Oregon.

We might have gotten bigger, but our mission has stayed the same: Creating community over damn tasty beer.

Crafted For Community
Our community has always been there for us, and we strive to always be there for our community—from Bend to Portland to the earth we all share. We support a large variety of non-profit organizations with a primary focus on diversity and inclusion, water and land conservation, hunger prevention and youth services.

Pints with a Purpose
We’re proud to highlight and support a local non-profit every month. For each pint sold on Tuesdays, we donate $1 to the chosen organization—all day long, from all our locations.

Beer Today, Beer Tomorrow
We’re committed to sustainability and lessening our environmental impact. That’s why we are a Green Power Partner through the EPA, partner with conservation organizations, implement recycling and composting programs at our pubs, and much more. We’re dedicated to doing a lot because a lot needs to be done.

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