Descender IPA - GoodLife Brewing Company & Bier Hall

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A: Pours a hazy copper color. The head is a two finger offwhite shade with many of the usual characteristics in an IPA (okay retention, good texture, nice patchy lacing on the glass). Pretty standard IPA appearance.

S: The hops bring both a good deal of grapefruit peel/flesh, and permutes into a piny, peppery aroma after opening up some. Caramel malts provide the backbone. Very good, especially considering it seems to be a typical "crystal malt and pine hops" IPA I'm oh-so-used to on the right coast.

T: I'm really enjoying the grapefruity hops that open the palate up. As the flavor progresses, it shifts from grapefruit to bright, piny qualities on the finish and aftertaste. The malt profile helps to keep things in check without overpowering. While it doesn't really have any standout qualities to it, the finesse and refinement of the execution is what makes this a great IPA.

M: It's thick and creamy, yet dry all at the same time. Hop resins accumulate on the palate to a very pleasant level. There's just something about it that gives an incredibly 'bright' feel to it.

O: It's not particularly unique, but the execution here is top-notch. The beer of the month club I got this from has been WILDLY hit-or-miss so far (emphasis on miss), so I'm finally glad to receive a really good beer from them.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 23:29:11 | More by ThisWangsChung

flagmantho

Washington

4.01/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz can into a pint glass.

Appearance: rich orange hue with a moderate haze and effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy tan foam with moderate retention. Not bad.

Smell: sweet malt with a little oxidation-type character and a fresh bouquet of grassy hops with just a little bit of berry character thrown in. Very smooth and approachable; I like it.

Taste: plenty of sweet malt with a subdued hop presence. Hops are similarly grassy and fruity, but with a little bit more citrus character thrown in. Bitterness is strong but relatively smooth toward the end. A good IPA, if a little on the malty side of things.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a very good level of carbonation and a great creaminess; one you don't usually see in an IPA. Love it!

Overall: this is a darn good IPA. The finish really lingers on the tongue; the bitterness isn't harsh but it sure is durable. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: can

06-18-2013 23:36:34 | More by flagmantho

RJLarse

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I bought a bomber of Descender IPA in a grocery store. Poured in to a pint glass.

Pours a rich gold/amber color, slightly hazy, with thick creamy head. Also in the appearance category I'll note the bottle. Nice silk screened artwork on the bottle instead of a paper label.

Smell is a string and sweet lemon blossom and pine aroma. Very nice and strong on the nose.

Taste is a subdued citrus and sweet bread flavor up front, with a stronger fruit flavor through the middle, and then back to a bread and bitter pine flavor on the finish. Three very distinct flavors.

Mouthfeel is incredibly smooth, with a silky mildly carbonated texture, and a fairly clean finish, with a mildly bitter aftertaste.

Overall a very drinkable IPA. I know where to get more of this, and I will definitely get some more this summer.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 22:48:02 | More by RJLarse

nmann08

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%

06-15-2013 20:36:41 | More by nmann08

stx00lax

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

06-14-2013 04:32:49 | More by stx00lax

merc7186

New York

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to W_Klon for this great local extra.

12oz can into snifter glass.

A: Hazy Orangish/Mild Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, Thick White Head, Decent Lacing

S: Piney, Crackers, Mild Grapefruit

T: Piney, Crackers, Mild Bittering Hops

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Drying

Overall, a really decent drinking IPA with a great nose but a little too smoothe on the taste...drinkable and not a palate wrecker.

Serving type: can

06-13-2013 21:11:34 | More by merc7186

PortlandSunDevil

Oregon

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-12-2013 22:58:06 | More by PortlandSunDevil

ThePorterSorter

New York

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-11-2013 16:17:11 | More by ThePorterSorter

BillHilly

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-04-2013 01:38:39 | More by BillHilly

stript

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -16.3%

06-03-2013 02:59:55 | More by stript

Greels

Oregon

4/5  rDev -4.3%

06-02-2013 03:29:38 | More by Greels

ehammond1

California

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Can (2013)

Acquired via trade
Thanks, libbey!

Slightly hazed dark orange. Moderately-sized near-white head. Incredible lacing. Beautiful IPA.

Bright orange and tangerine zest and flesh with just a hint of pine. Some simple grain and bread accompanying.

Moderate bitterness, citrus zest and flesh, tiny bit of pine, and very little malt sweetness though there is some accompanying bitterness. Very drinkable.

Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation.

Before I knew it, my beer was gone and I was looking for another! This was delicious!

Serving type: can

06-01-2013 04:47:54 | More by ehammond1

judkinst

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-29-2013 00:50:53 | More by judkinst

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-28-2013 03:10:14 | More by Beerandboards

HarmonMW

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-13-2013 21:53:38 | More by HarmonMW

LXIXME

New Mexico

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-09-2013 19:39:33 | More by LXIXME

leftoverburrito

Oregon

5/5  rDev +19.6%

05-08-2013 02:51:00 | More by leftoverburrito

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-07-2013 04:10:41 | More by ericj551

SMITHAND

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-06-2013 16:37:33 | More by SMITHAND

MastaShonuf

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-05-2013 22:14:41 | More by MastaShonuf

Murrhey

Montana

3.66/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at Portland's Belmont Station for $4.98. Poured from a bomber into a conic pint glass in high elevation Libby, Mont.

A- Two and a half finger cream-colored head. Surprisingly long retention, lasts several minutes. Murky orange color with middling clarity. Thick fluffy lacing as the head descends.

S- Citrusy, tropical, West-coast hop smell. Fruity, floral and fragrant. Pineapple and sugary bits. Very sweet and floral aroma.

T- Fresh, not too bitter, not to sweet. Has great qualities on both sides of the IPA scale. Nice flavor. Slightly sour, actually.

M- Medium bodied, wet, slightly sticky.

O- Nice IPA from GoodLife. Bend is a great scene right now.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 04:26:13 | More by Murrhey

TrailSnax

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

04-13-2013 19:24:12 | More by TrailSnax

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.94/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a clear gold-amber with two fingers of pale yellow tinted head.

Smell. Sweet oranges, grapefruits, mango and papaya. Some toasted malts in the back, but mainly getting the signs of a citrusy hop bomb.

Taste. Grapefruits, oranges and tropical fruits along with a bit of cedar and sweet toasted malts. Some grapefruit rind bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel. Medium body, slightly sticky, medium (or slightly lower) carbonation.

Overall. A fine IPA with lots of citrus and tropical fruit flavours. Diggin' it.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 01:50:02 | More by Rutager

Big_V

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -16.3%

03-28-2013 18:08:03 | More by Big_V

deanhead

Vermont

3.5/5  rDev -16.3%

03-27-2013 10:33:34 | More by deanhead