Red Chair IPA - Deschutes Brewery

tr4nc3d

Kansas

1.93/5  rDev -50.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Poured from a 22oz bomber into my pint glass. Best by 8-19-09

Pours a very light copper color with a huge 3+inch slightly off-white head. Great head retention and very frothy looking leaving soapy lacing clinging to my glass.

Very grassy and earthy like smells come to my nose. Herbal and pine like notes are also to be smelled.

Either the best by date is way off or something, but this is one watery IPA. No hop bitterness or citrus like flavors, and to beat not even a caramel like malt taste either, this is just a simply watery IPA. WTF is going on man?

Mouthfeel is thin and watery and damn it I'am very dissapointed.

I cant believe I wasted my money and time to drink this sorry crap. They definitely need to change the "Best by date".

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 02:49:25 | More by tr4nc3d

koopa

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber purchased at liquid solutions

Appearance: Fairly transparent body that is just a touch too orange to call full blown red. Lush 2 finger crown comprised of fine bubbles. Some retention and lacing.

Smell: Very nice subtle yet complex nose. Lots of herbal, minty, floral, and citrus hops creating a nice bouquet.

Taste: A bit less complex than the nose. Orange tangerine note that gives way to wet hopped goodness.

Mouthfeel: A bit thin for my liking and for the style.

Drinkability: Its thin, has a 6.40% abv, and doesn't taste bitter so it gets high marks.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 22:52:47 | More by koopa

RustyDiamond

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Best by 08/19/09 on label. Poured into a Moonlight nonic pint glass. Pretty quick rising cream colored head. Nice prism of color- red/orange/yellow. Fragrant aromas of grapefruit rind with a subtle whiff of pine. There is some honey bread sweetness too.
Taste seems little thin at first. Good hop flavor...chalky grapefruit pine needle melange. Not much malt flavor to be found yet very hopped restrained. Good and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 22:47:59 | More by RustyDiamond

bosco7

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Crystal clear ruby orange color with a chunky off white head.

Smell is so clean and hoppy. Cascades all cascades here. Grapefruit and pine and plenty of it. You can definitely smell the toffee like malts underneath the hit of hops.

A little let down by the taste after smelling the liquid for the last 10 minutes. Really malt forward at first then hops take over. Im getting a lot of esters out of this beer some cherry and banana come to mind. The hops are really soft and pleasant.

Mouthfeel is medium almost full bodied which is kind of odd at first but it works. Overall this is a fine libation and reminds me a lot of the Sierra Nevada Harvest ales in that it has a soft malty yet definitely hoppy flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 23:56:20 | More by bosco7

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Like many Deschutes beers, the hop profile is rich, complex, and varying- giving a new experience with each sip. But also like Deschutes, the beer's balance may keep it from greatness. A lot of residual sweetness from the barley keeps the beer from favoring the dry, crisp, hop profile. Maltiness run the gammot of bready, graham cracker, caramel, and light toffee. Hops are spicy and range from grapefruit, orange zest, pine, lemongrass, pineapple, herbal teas, and fresh cut grasses. These powerful hops could take much more of the stage if not for the competing malt sweetness and heavier body. Still, the beer isn't completely unattenuated; some hotter alcohols still make their way in and make the hops even spicier and bite-ier than I prefer. Lighter in color than a lot of Double IPA's, the beer has a reserved head stance and retention but did sow legging and some lacing with the sugars and alcohols present. A lot of negatives in this review, but the beer acually fares better than my Debbie-Downer demeaner. Very pleasant and enjoyable- I didn't have a problem with the session. Better attenuation and less alcohol bite could put this beer on the pedistal with Yulesmith and 90 Minute.

Thanks again awinte1!

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 16:45:15 | More by BEERchitect

GClarkage

California

3.38/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

06/14/09- Purchased at K&L Wine Cellars.

Presentation- 22oz bottle, spring 2009 release. Poured into a random pint glass.

Appearance- Darker amber in color. About a 1/2 inch head upon pour. Looks lightly creamy and frothy. Nice streaks and sticky patchwork of lace left behind.

Smell- Good aroma of pine and grapefruit hops. Pretty pungent, as well as a nice toasted malt base.

Taste- First few sips were fine. Good amount of hops and a good handfull of very lightly toasted malts...it tended to loose it complexity quickly though. Really just became a hoppy carbonated water as the beer was consumed.

Mouthfeel- Watery in flavor as well as in the mouthfeel. A sharp but lighter carbonation level. Hoppy and dry aftertaste.

Drinkability- Not really impressed with this output from Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 16:09:00 | More by GClarkage

woemad

Washington

3.68/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big-ass bomber purchased at a local grocery store for $3.99(?) about a week ago. Best by August 19, according to the label.

Poured a burnt orange color, with lots of good clarity and a big, creamy slightly off-white head. Foam hung around for a while and left a thick webbing of lace on the sides of the glass. Probably the best looking IPA I've seen for a long time.

Super fruity in the nose. I get grapefruit, which I sort of expected, but there's also a lime-like flavor, which I, at least, find rather unusual. Beyond the citrus flavors, there's a herbal hoppiness, but it's very subordinate to the fruit.

The taste starts out with citrusy hops that are quickly paired up with an unobtrusive bready malt flavor. The more herbal, "green" hops are present as a faint background flavor. Slightly dry at the swallow. Odd tasting beer. What's here tastes good, but it seems like a DIPA that somehow lost half it's flavor.

Oily, coating yet somewhat thin mouthfeel.

Odd tasting beer, but not in a bad way. I don't like this as much as Hop Henge, but I might drink more of this in a sitting, as it's much more sessionable. Still, it's a little too fruity for me to want to drink a lot of it.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 00:11:32 | More by woemad

GRG1313

California

4.47/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark amber-reddish copper color with a white head. Very pleasant sweet creamy lemon nose with hints of yeasty white bread and biscuits. The nose finishes with assertive pine; complex.

Bright flavors of fresh bread, yeast with a hint of malt, goes to grapefruit hops in the mid palate and finishes in the back palate with "elegant hops;" no other word for it. The bitter hops are assertive and desireable and very nice and full. Yet, they don't "hit you over the head."

Clean, fresh and extremely drinkable. There is an all around and incredible "refined bitterness" here. This is a beer that is likely to have very wide appeal; while a true IPA and hoppy, the refined hops and elegance will still appeal to the Belgian malt fans. Hop heads will also still get plenty of big and flavorful hops, only with some refined elegance on them. Nice all around.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 05:32:13 | More by GRG1313

ThreeWiseMen

California

4.2/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed a single bomber of this from the San Luis Obispo BevMo.

Poured into a New Belgium globe.

Appearance: Clear, bright amber with sticky, soapy, off-white head. A bubbly cap sits on top for the entire session. Head is very sticky; coats the glass with web-like lacing. Almost no carbonation. Swirl the beer for a second or two and you'll return the head to it's initial state. Gorgeous.

Smell: Caramel malt and piney hops. Grassy and floral accents are also apparent, along with a couple handfuls of grain. Some light mellow citrus and possibly melon. Mild and enjoyable.

Taste: Crisp citrus, bitter hops, and doughy malts. Floral accents throughout. Very balanced. Bitterness starts out mild, but definitely builds throughout the session.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, spicy, balanced, perfectly carbonated (on the light side), medium bodied, and smooth. Very, very nice.

Drinkability: A solid IPA. Simple and balanced. Will be buying again.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 02:23:31 | More by ThreeWiseMen

Philabeerphia

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tolann has generously sent me a bomber of this as a trade extra - straight from my wants list!
Pint Glass poured 6/12. Plenty of entrained air creates large bubbles in an otherwise micro dense head. 1/2" high, full high as hell as Dre Dog would say. Body is clean and clear, deep in copper color. Smell is unique. I am picking up some strong metallic notes, chlorine like almost. Very clean, cucumber like, warms a bit... almost herbal, aloe comes to mind. A warm and earthy hop presence is there.

On the tongue this starts out full bodied, an abundance of the micro carbonation expanding in my mouth. This lends well to a rather bready and biscuity start, the whole experience continues to 'grow' on the tongue, opening into a sweeter malt experience. Solid notes of honey as well. For a minute it seems that I am lost in a soupy, sweet mess, but soon the carbonation has grabbed the hops by the hand, producing a noble hop style dry, biting presence which takes over quickly. The beer comes alive with some spicy, herbally notes, a hint of cocoa. This works its way to a close with stark mentholyptic sting, marking the presence of alcohol. This warms and eases, and the beer goes out with a prominent, biting piney hopiness.
A wide array on the tongue here. I give it points for being adventurous with the mouthfeel and profile, yet overall it is easy to drink. This has grown on me big time as I work my way to the end of the bomber.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2009 02:48:46 | More by Philabeerphia

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle.

Poured a medium and clear amber color with a large sized off white head. Aromas of pine, floral hops, and some citrus. Tastes of pine, toastiness, the same floral hoppiness, and some caramel in the background. Body on the thinner and weaker side.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 00:32:58 | More by hopdog

Birdiebeagle

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle An extra from Brandon Cheers Buddy. Pours a good clear amber with a generous off white head. The head is foamy and lasting. Produces nice lacing. Has a wonderful aroma of spruce, lemons, and lightly spiced. Has good carbonation and a nice mouthfeel. The flavor is excellent. Well balanced but still has a good hoppy base to it. Has a good crispness. Has a oily texture. A good solid finish, with a great lasting aftertaste. I like IPA's and this is a good one.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2009 23:49:25 | More by Birdiebeagle

Halcyondays

California

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bomber,

A: Pours a clear orange with a 1.5 finger head, solid lace. Great label as well, Deschutes always has nice labels.

S: Orange, really some orange soda immediately backed with lemon zest.

T: Light toasted biscuit malt balanced by a floral lemon/orange mix with some pink grapefruit juice. Definite peppermint/menthol in the finish.

M: Good medium body, smooth, very light aftertaste for the style.

D: A nice little IPA here, I like that Deschutes tried to do something different instead of making another West Coast hop bomb, which they already do a great version of - Inversion. I liked it, the low ABV for the style makes it much more sessionable. In the end though, I'd take Inversion as it's considerably cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2009 18:05:51 | More by Halcyondays

wagenvolks

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into a beer mug.

Red Chair pours a gorgeous copper color with excellent clarity and a lazy carbonation level that looks like an inverted snowfall. The custard head is thick and sticky as it clings to the inside of the glass; excellent retention, too. Nice aroma...malts are more English in nature with a hint of toffee. Fruity bursts of mango, tangerine, and starfruit. The hops are gentle, but mostly citric and herbal in nature.

Much more aggressive hop front than the aroma lets on, as juicy, green hops coat the front and sides of the palate with delicious resins that drip freshness. So incredibly well-balanced, as the toasted caramel malts lay down a solid backbone alongside hints of pineapple and pear. Exceptional mouthfeel, as the medium body takes on a near perfect carbonation level and finishes with a crisp, bitter bite from the hops. Can Deschutes do no wrong?? Not in my eyes...a fantastic beer!

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 04:30:13 | More by wagenvolks

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a solid IPA. Traditional. The label actually says "...without the bitterness", as opposed to what a previous reviewer stated. No biggie, but it's true. The bitterness is faint, yet the brew has a good sharpness to it. A copper, clear body with a semi-soapy head. Average lacing and retention.
Popped the cap to a citrus/piney/flowery aroma. It wasn't intense, really, but it was noticeable for sure. Hints of bread and caramel as well.
Floral and citrus up front in the flavor, rolling into slight malt and then sharp pine. Clean finish makes this very drinkable. wish it would come in a 6-pack (maybe it does). This could be my everyday IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 20:28:15 | More by Mebuzzard

bcm119

California

4.18/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Copper in color with a fine, durable lace. Aroma is malty with ripe red fruit notes. Clean pithy bitterness delivered on the Deschutes signature brassy, fruity malt profile. Malt flavors are complex, with red fruit dominating, but never becoming too juicy or cloying. Hops are well integrated-- green and fresh, but not overpowering. Dryish, a bit minerally, with fine carbonation. Balanced and composed. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 02:59:53 | More by bcm119

Jmoore50

Nevada

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Where is the bounce!? Even on the bottle it says 'this courageous take on the traditional IPA offers a deliciously intense hop presence with the bitterness'. NO BITTERNESS!? But why? Well all griefs aside, it comes out to be an okay brew.

The appearance is orange. It has an amber hue to it, making it a reddish orange, but put up to natural light, its orange. The head came fast and strong, a three finger with just a medium pour. It left quick quick though, and left a few horizontal lines for the lace.

The smell is interesting as it smells like the regular cinder hops that they usually use, but also has a weird stale smell. Interesting.

This brew really baffles me because it is so strange. It looks like a red ale, smells like a weak pale ale, but tastes like nothing I have ever had before. You get a hops first impression, the mouthfeel is that of a pale ale. There is a slight dryness, but not a bitterness that comes with a GREAT IPA. Really weird, it tastes like a bit of a red ale maltiness. Indescribable.

The mouthfeel hits the palate on all fronts, giving it a nice 'all over' feeling. I could drink two or three of these bombers if I wanted to, but I dont. Overall an interesting experience I don't really want to repeat.
J

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2009 23:35:39 | More by Jmoore50

ChadS99SVT

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Slightly cloudy amber color. pretty light head that fades pretty quick.

S-Smell is tangerine,grapefruit, nothing to overpowering.

T-Lightly sweet citrus taste, followed by a light pine/hoppy finish.

M-The mouthfeel is nice. light-medium carbonation with a soft lingering finish.

D-I feel like this beer has excellent drinkability. it's not to sweet and not overly hoppy I feel like I could easily drink multiples in one sitting.

Overall I really enjoyed this beer. It is crisp, refreshing, and has just the right amount of hoppiness to make it an excellent IPA to suck down. I say it's the lighter more drinkabled ogfishhead 90 minute. So if you like the DFH IMO you will probalby like this.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2009 06:14:38 | More by ChadS99SVT

froghop

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours a clear amber with a small off-white head, and good lacing.

smell of light grapefruit, spice, floral, some caramel, and pine in the back.

taste is crisp, caramel, citrus, pine, and roasted nuts, ends nicely bitter.

a very nicely made IPA, well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2009 01:33:01 | More by froghop

Yetiman420

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Unibroue tulip glass.

Clear bright copper golden orange color. One finger head with a slight peach color.

Aroma had light resin with a touch of pine.

Peach and fruity in flavor. Not a tremendous amount of bitterness. More of a smooth beer with some citrus hop punch.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 21:16:48 | More by Yetiman420

Beaver13

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

22 oz bottle. Pours a dark golden with a large creamy white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is subdued sweet and piney hops - what's there is nice.

The flavor is sweet fruits and caramel malts with a lightly spiced hop finish with medium bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to light bodied and pretty watery which washes out the flavors.

Overall, an OK IPA. It's pretty subdued though.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 05:12:56 | More by Beaver13

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, bubbly, orange-amber color with a small, foamy, off-white head. It left sticky patches of lace.

S - It smelled of citrus, roasted malt and some subtle grapefruit notes.

T - It tasted of biscuity malt and citrus. The hops provided a grassy kick.

M - It was sharp and very crisp. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a very tasty IPA. Another great brew from Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 03:00:56 | More by zeff80

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bright translucent copper in appearance, loose frothy off-white head that settles to a thick cap that retains. Wide thick patches of sticky lacing.

Bready carmelized malt on the nose, floral and citrus hops, some pine and grapefruit.

Light toasted malt can't quite hold its own with the puckering piney citrus of the hops, which pretty much carry the show, no discernable breaks in the finish or aftertaste, the hops presence is consistent, yet a bit one-dimensional as a result.

The mouthfeel is pleasant, a smooth, rounded medium-bodied affair, with a bit of carbonated kick on the finish to give more of a crisp than oily texture.

A nice mellow IPA when all is said and done, it offers a hop kick that pleases but doesn't smack you upside the head. Yet on that note it doesn't really stand out from the American IPA throng as a result of that either. Good easy gateway beer for the style in a way, not too intimidating.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2009 19:00:30 | More by IronDjinn

GJ40

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled from a 22oz bottled purchased in Seattle. Best by date was 8/19/09.

A - Golden with a hint of red and great clarity. A moderate off white head that dissipates quickly. Good lacing.

S - Initially yeast but then turns to fruity and floral hops. Nice.

T - Loads of citrus flavor dominates. It's fairly tame at 6.4% and 55 IBUs but it's still very flavorful and intriguing.

M - Moderate consistency (maybe even a tad bit thin) with a nice lot to moderate carbonation.

D - Very compelling, smooth and easy to drink. I really enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2009 10:43:42 | More by GJ40

Patrick

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a nice clear copper color with a light cream colored head. Nice spotty lacing left behind.

S: A nice subtle whiff of grapefruit and citrus. Some sweetness too.

T: Nice light caramel flavor up front with a grapefruit and pine filled finish.

M: They say its not bitter, but it still is, well carbonated, crisp, dry.

D: This is a great IPA, I like it quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 20:20:20 | More by Patrick