Red Chair NWPA - Deschutes Brewery

engisch

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to my fiance for packing this in her suitcase on her way back from out west! She knows I love to try a new beer that I can't get over on the east coast.

Wonderful looking beer. Pours a nice pale amber with a giant lacey head. Has a bit haze, but still a very clear ale.

Smells really good too. Floral and citrus.

Tastes great! Balanced yet really hoppy. Nice bitter after taste. Citrus hops! Yum! Nice sweetness pairs nicely with the hop flavor/aroma/bitterness!

As always, I'd always be up for a Deschutes brew, and if out west, I'd recommend this. A very exceptional example of northwest pale ale!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 17:51:10 | More by engisch

TheSixthRing

California

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Pours a fairly clear, golden amber orange with an off-white, 2 finger head. Good retention. Lacing hangs nicely around the glass.

Smell - Citrus hop. Clean. Mild grapefruit. Lesser note of dark caramel.

Taste - Hop forward, but not to say the hops are aggressively bitter. Lots of citrus, orange zest and a tame grapefruit, with strong, deep caramel backbone. Slightly toasted malt. Hint of peppery spice. Finishes with a nice, equal balance between the malt and hop.

Mouthfeel - Incredible mouthfeel. Impossibly smooth. Creamy. I could drink this all day.

Overall - Deschutes does it again. I went to this beer many times during the spring and winter last year, and this year it's been no different. Such a phenomenal beer from every aspect. My favorite Pale Ale. By far. Deschutes, PLEASE make this a year-round offering! It's too good not be there for 4th of July and Halloween!

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 06:24:26 | More by TheSixthRing

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass. Label says best by 05/25/12.

Appearance: Pours a deep and clear amber with some ruby red. Lots of rising bubbles and a big four finger off white head with very good retention. Leaves lots of lacing around the glass.

Smell: A pretty hop forward aroma with a good mix of citrus and herbal piney hops. Hints of grapefruit, mango, and orange peel along with some spicy pine resin. A good scent of yeast and bready caramel malts with some toffee in the background. Smells pretty full and enticing.

Taste: A very nice juicy tasting ale. Big taste of citrus grapefruit with some mango and orange. Also some herbal pine resin. Hop taste is big but not overly bitter like an IPA. Good backing of biscuity caramel malts with some toffee and yeast. A very solid taste with a nice vibrant citrus presence.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Very creamy, juicy, and smooth with only a slight bite to it.

Overall: A great pale ale. One of the better ones around. Great juicy taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 04:51:24 | More by MattyG85

kchannel9

California

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Finishing the last sip or two of a six pack I bought a few days ago. I absolutely love this beer. It's the only pale ale I care for. It's utterly delicious, with fruity, juicy textures and beautiful white head. The lacing is minimal, but nice. Smells great, very fruity, but not sweet. Light and enjoyably carbonated, but not low ABV like a lame "session ale". I'm grateful to have access to such an exquisite beverage, thank you Deschutes #We'reNotWorthy

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 14:04:55 | More by kchannel9

velosuds

Oregon

4.44/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Edit 3/11/2013: changed appearance from 4 to 4.25 and smell from 3.5 to 4.25 based upon having on tap yesterday and from the bottle tonight. My esteem for this beer has risen. The aroma on tap was wonderfully fragrant - more NW IPA than NWPA, but the taste (probably should increase this rating too) is outstanding. This is my favorite APA. I have only one regret about this beer - it is only available seasonally.

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a clear pint glass. Best by 7/28/2011.

A-Pours a deep golden, almost orange color with a two finger, off-white head with decent retention and ample lacing.

S-A citrus hop bouquet from a judicious use of Cascade and Centennial hops. I would favor more aroma, but it is appropriate for style.

T-Very well balanced. Bitter hops are supported by a pleasantly smooth, bready malt backbone followed with a slight hop twang in the finish. Very nice. Delicious.

M-Very smooth and extremely well balanced. Light and refreshing. 7 different malts provide an amazingly luscious feel.

O-This "debut Northwest Pale Ale" is very good. My only regret is that it is a seasonal. Very easy drinking. I could readily enjoy a whole six pack on a hot summer day into evening. One of my favorite APAs.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 01:43:37 | More by velosuds

MaltsOfGlory

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a nice one finger head, doesn't last long. Gives nice lacing throughout the glass. Smell is hoppy, not overpowering, and gives a slight hint of sweet malt. Taste is hoppy but very drinkable, not an IPA, but hoppy and SUPER crisp. Slight floral and citrus notes, but very very vague. A little sweet, but nothing too sweet, very very good balance. Mouthfeel is light, and drinkability, like I said is unbelievable, I could drink these all day.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 01:41:50 | More by MaltsOfGlory

loren01

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear copper color with nice sized white head great lacing down the glass
S: Grassy, piney hops.
T: Slightly malty followed by a nice grassy/pine hop flavor.
M: Medium bodied beer, nice crisp aftertaste
D: This is a great beer, nice balance. Very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 01:19:08 | More by loren01

codfeast

California

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured into pint glass, 5/17 freshness date.

A: Amber, small head, with sticky lacing.

S: Pine, citrus fruit, mild malty smell.

T: slighty sweet start. piney, light licking the forest floor. nice hoppy finish.

M: Medium carbination wonderful balance.

O: This beer brings me back to how I felt about SNPA when I first started drinking it in the early 90's. Like I was drinking something real special. Could easily pass as an high quality IPA in a blind tasting. But I'll go with label and call it the best pale ale around.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 06:08:29 | More by codfeast

Schmit

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

One of the best pale ales in the Pacific Northwest, deserving of its self-identification as the original NWPA.

Pours an orange/copper with moderate head. Aroma is thick and florally fragrant, heavy with hoppy goodness. This beer's flavor is bold but smooth, more than the sum of its parts in the way that only perfectly balanced beers can be. The malt presence is strong without tasting "grainy", and the hops are citrus and pine without being astringent. A little on the fizzy side, making for good mouthfeel and bringing the flavors together pleasingly.

Two thumbs up--definitely a buy.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 06:38:39 | More by Schmit

natemort13

California

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beer pours a deep orangish ruby. Light LIGHT tan head that dissipates pretty quickly.

Smell is of bread, citrus zest, caramel malt sweetness

Taste is caramel malt up front that gives way to some grapefruit and lemon. hoppy oilness. Delicious

Medium bodied, super smooth and slick

one of the easiest drinking pale ales i've ever had. delicious balance where both the hops and malt are pronounced. Still yet to be disappointed by deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 01:41:18 | More by natemort13

cole2

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a dark gold with a copper hue. An aggressive pour yields a white one-finger head. Hop-heavy for the style both in flavor and on the nose, with piney notes standing out. Citrus and fruit flavors add complexity. Lighter feel than one might expect to given its taste and appearance. Just an excellent pale ale. One of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 20:22:02 | More by cole2

mnphish

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

First nitro beer! Pours a light amber with a one finger head. Citrus, pine, and caramel on the nose, same goes for the taste. It's got a nice bitter aftertaste as well. Mouthfeel is epic. It's milky creamy goodness, lightly carbonated & highly drinkable! Great brew, fantastic on Nitro!

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-06-2013 05:18:39 | More by mnphish

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a tulip)
Best by 4/11/13

A- This beer has a deep copper clear body with an oatmeal tan head that is thin and sticks to the glass in rings. There is a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles that glides to the surface.

S- The woody hops aroma is full with notes of mint and unripe tropical fruit in the finish.

T- The full dry dark woody herbal hops has some pale biscuit malt underneath before the full mellow pungent hop finish. The pungency lingers with just a hint of bitterness.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has a gentle carbonation with no alcohol heat.

O- This beer has a full hop profile with nice depth and it has a pale hop quality so it is very sessionable with out make my tongue go hop numb. This must be a classic NW hops brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 15:32:52 | More by rhoadsrage

constantine_272

Oregon

4.41/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Served from the tap into a pint.

A: Dark amber in color with a light sticky foam.

S: Light citrus smell over a heavier citrus and floral punch. A small hint of woodiness like an amber.

T: first taste is of a sweet and floral . Then the hops flavor washes over the tongue. The hops flavor mixes with a rich woody oaky flavor. The beer finishes with a zesty fruity grapefruit.

M: Great texture. Not too chewy, but just enough texture from the roasted malts. Finishes very clean and, in a mouth watering sort of way, leaves you still thirsty wanting more.

O: I really like this beer, but I think I remember this more fondly than it really is. Maybe it's because I've had more pints of this than most of the non-seasonals from Deschutes so I'm numbed to it's greatness. Maybe they changed the recipe over the last couple years. I don't know. This beer still is very solid. It's no longer my favorite, but its toward the top of the list though. A word of warning, the bottle serving is a tad too bitter and woody for my taste. Though still good, the bottle just doesn't seem to finish quite as clean, diminishing the best quality of this beer. During spring, this is my go to beef unless there's something new on another tap.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2013 02:26:46 | More by constantine_272

blackie

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

a: amber-copper in color, full eggshell head with high retention and good lace, looks great

s: grainy caramel malts - the heavy (7 varieties to include crystal, pilsner, cara-pils, and munich - woah) grain bill really shows and provides more than just a base structure, pulpy pine sap hops - tealike, juicy citrus rind, powerful aroma for a pale ale

m: carbonation lighter, creamy and big bodied for the style

t: great flavor - full malt body with a range of grainy and caramel flavor, somewhat sweet, with a big, pulpy northwest hop flavor providing weighty pine and citrus notes, full bitterness, the heavy malt and strong hops have a nice push-pull going on while the cones win out in the end

d: a very tasty pale that's arguably pushing IPA territory - or firmly inside NWPA territory, would be glad to have a few, off style or not - I can't believe this doesn't get more love

single from College Liquors, Grand Junction, CO

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2010 05:04:30 | More by blackie

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a clear amber-orange color. The head is one inch in height, and recedes slowly into a firm cap of lacing. The aroma is of mandarin oranges, grapefruit, pine, and pale malt. The taste has a firm bitterness that runs through everything. There is a lot of citrus, and pine that coats the mouth long after the beer is gone. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with lively, fine carbonation, and a velvety texture. Overall, this is a really, really, good APA/IPA hybrid that I will surely become a regular of mine.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 18:55:08 | More by KarlHungus

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally taking the time to review a beer that made a huge impact on the Colorado market last year. Thanks to Red Chair, Deschutes Seasonal sales grew over 150% in Colorado last year. This one's a game changer!

Red Chair pours a beautiful reddish amber body with a creamy off white head that displays excellent retention and persistent lacing.

Citrus and floral hop notes with an underlying malty sweetness.

Biscuity caramel malt on the entry with a strong citrus hop mid palate before piney, floral hop bitterness build on a dry, lasting finish. Balance is near perfect, with enough hop bitterness to keep you interested, but not too much to counter drinkability.

Creamy and smooth beyond belief. This may be the best part of this beer.

Super drinkable. Doesn't drink like 6.4% at all. Food friendly, sessionable, but still provides that hop fix we all need now and again. Red Chair enters the market at a time when APAs almost seem like old news, as though with the growth of IPAs this style is antiquated or redundant. Red Chair shows that APA still has something to say, it is still relevent, and when done right, you can tell why so many APAs have become brewery flagships over the years. This is a great beer. Nothing new for Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 22:05:30 | More by BradLikesBrew

Mdog

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Clear copper, big head.

Smell: Pine and citrus.

Taste: Crisp sweetness before the citrus hops give some bitterness and a dry finish.

Drinkability: Feels light and crisp, very easy to drink.

Wow, I am really impressed with this pale ale. Delivers nice flavor without getting too heavy. It's hard to describe, there's a crisp bite of hops in this that I haven't experienced in other beers. Take a drink, bang! it's there, then it's out. Yummy!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 19:59:51 | More by Mdog

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz into a Vertical Jewbelation glass. Pours a medium amber with an inch and a half of head. The head fades and leaves not much lace.
The smell is light but interesting, bread and caramel with floral, grassy and citrus hop notes.
Red Chair is very well balanced in the taste. Though it follows the smell, there is a meta/mineral background that throws it off just a bit. Other than that it goes down smooth, is very affordable, and in my opinion, is a welcome sort-of new-comer to Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 08:13:37 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

AorakiMyEyes

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Truly an awesome beer and here's why!

From 12 oz bottle dated 'best by 5/25/12'; poured into 4 oz tulip-shaped glass.

It pours clear gold with a white head, thick and lasting about two minutes. I didn't see any threads.

Smell is slightly lightest floral, but I don't have a sensitive nose. I could have just imagined it.

The taste has a range of bitter to finishing hops, not packed nor overpowering, and well-balanced with a sweeter than normal American pale ale. Maybe a slight pear flavor, a little bitter after.

This is among the smoothest, most well-balanced pale ales I've tasted. In your mouth, it re-effervesces lightly, tingling on the tongue and roof but not acidic. Flavorful, it's not heavy. I've had this beer plenty this winter after skiing and with different meals. I recommend it again and again, except after cough drops.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 01:28:27 | More by AorakiMyEyes

sleuthdog

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Acquired via trade with RWNEWHOUSE
Best by date of 5/11/12 my. My bad...missed that date on bottle

Appearance: This beer poured a real nice looking hazy orange color with an absolute huge white fluffy head. The head was a good four finger size and left a ton and I mean a TON of lacing behind. The head settles down to a light fluff floating on top of my beer. I love the color of this beer. It's very enticing to say the least.

Smell: Right off the bat orange peel smacks me in the face. It's like a sweet tangerine mixed with pineapple and grapefruit. This is followed by a piney and floral hop presence but I must mention that the hop nots are light on the nose. Very nice nose

Taste: Wow what a well balanced beer here. There is the slight hop bite mixed with orange and mango fruitiness. There is a breadiness and toasted character found in it also. I am also finding a caramel taste in it that seems to add a background sweetness that is super enjoyable!

Mouthfeel: I find this beer to be super creamy in the mouth. It almost feels as though I squirted whipped cream in my mouth and have that creamy feeling left behind. The carbonation is moderate at best and I believe this adds to the creamy feeling of this beer.

Overall: I true pleasure to drink this one. I mean I could sit back and put away quite a few of these. Not overly hoppy and not overly sweet or fruity either. Just an absolute perfect balance to be able to enjoy any time. I know this one was past it's prime according to the best by date but it's excellent IMO even three months past said date.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 01:40:39 | More by sleuthdog

mtboozeaddict41

Montana

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served on tap at the base lodge at big mtn(not whitefish mtn)
A: pours a dark blood orange with maybe an angel's touch of amber. Very pale white lacing settling around the rim. Transparent orange
S: aromas of sweet citrus fruit-pineapple and grapefruit mixed in as well. Herbal hops very noticeable with faint scents of toasted malt.
T: Citrus bomb of hops on the initial taste. Big hoppiness, i'd be interested to know the IPU's on this one. Nice backbone of toasted malt and caramel flavors. This is my definition of a large beer in attitude. Pleasant bitterness
M: oily texture left behind with a nice aftertaste to complement it. Finish is hop dry
O: in my eyes this is a red ale and for a red ale its exceptional. It has the strong hop profile to complement the lingering caramel malt. Its between this and lakefront fixed gear for my fav reds. Thx

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2013 17:46:53 | More by mtboozeaddict41

KBomb

Minnesota

4.39/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice copper/amber color, translucent, effervescent head, enduring lacing.

Great aromas of graham cracker sweet malt, resin, tangerine peel, floral, the slightest bit of pine, and brandy-like sweetness (perhaps some honey in there too).

A very well balanced dance of deliciously sweet malt and restrained but exciting mix of hop flavors. Aside from enduring sweetness and resin, finishes mostly clean like a good pale ale ought to.

Fairly crisp and dry but not at all watery. Again, this beer finds the "sweet spot" of being precisely carbonated to fit the style.

An awesome beer. Perfect for those cool, damp winter days in the PacNW... or those cool damp spring days here in Minnesota.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:46:38 | More by KBomb

HOPFENKOPF

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured a crisp, clear, copper with shades of amber in my pint glass. A finger of dark off white head topped this treasure and slowly dissipated to about a half. Good lacing for this style of beer. I got thirsty just looking at this one.

The nose was not as strong as I thought it would be but still very nice with citrus and sweet caramel notes. A very subtle mineral/pine ended the nose.

This beer is built very well, fighting shape even. Definite malt front, showcasing caramel and sweet bread quickly rolling into a grapefruit citrus and what I felt was not quite pine or green grass but something in-between. Don't let me freak you out with the green grass thing because it has a refreshing finish.

The red chair goes down crisp and clean with a satin feel. The carbonation is close to perfect. It comes in at 6.4abv but in my book every bit a session beer. I could seriously drink this year round and hope it will not be a limited or seasonal release.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 09:53:51 | More by HOPFENKOPF

jimbodude

California

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Amber with a very thin layer of head.

S - You can definitely smell the fruitiness hop out of the bottle.

T - The bitterness is so crisp. You taste bitter, fruity, then it just hops away; taste doesn't linger for that long. You wont' be able to taste that its a beer on the stronger side.

M - Not a heavy beer. Just enough carbination.

D - I can enjoy these all night long. This would probably go good for a summer bbq. Just need to remember to drink in moderation since its a stronger beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 06:03:08 | More by jimbodude