Red Chair NWPA - Deschutes Brewery

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -31%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle, with a best by date of 04/18/2013. Uncapped and poured to a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a somewhat murky burnt orange color with virtually no head to speak of, just a soft white foam on the surface. Lots of bubbles rushing to the surface. Nice ring of lacing left on the glass.

S - Very fruity type of hop aroma is what initially comes to mind. Almost reminds me of an artificial strawberry / peach soda type smell. Slightly piney and grassy, but faint. Bready malts really only become apparent to me as the beer begins to warm.

T - Interesting blend of malts up front, with underlying fruity hoppiness. Nicely bodied, but poorly balanced in my opinion. Far too bready and fruity. Apricot and peach flavors present. I commend it on it's tame taste as opposed to those APA's that are basically just hop bombs, but I would have enjoyed some more bitterness here for sure. Sweet in the finish.

M - Feel is dry and slightly resinous and viscous, invoking another sip.

Overall, this is nothing to write home about. It is by no means a bad beer, I would just prefer something with more of a punchline to it in the end. This beer is definitely falling short somewhere, and in desperate need of a kick. Nice light body, nice carbonation, and nice 6.20% abv, but that's about all this beer has going for it. Not something I would try again, but this was my first beer by Deschutes Brewing, so I'd be interested in trying one of their other beers.

Deschutes Red Chair NWPA ---3/5.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 22:24:15 | More by mfnmbvp

sam_bliss

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

12 oz into globe

The head is yellow-tinged cream and the beer is red-orange sienna. Northwest-style hop scent is the foremost feature of the fresh-smelling aroma. The malts are smooth and subtle in the nose, underlying sharper citrus and grassiness. The complex malt flavor makes for a viscous mid-mouth bready sensation. Striking citrus at the tip of the tongue mellows to sweet caramel, pale malt, and earthy grains in pleasant carbonation. The aftertaste is neither strong nor unsatisfying.

This beer is less bitter-refreshment forceful than your typical west coaster like SNPA. The malt body is robust and comforting, but does not tower over the flavorful hops and esters. I recommend this beer to anyone, especially if you appreciate northwest pales.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:39:55 | More by sam_bliss

alexgash

Connecticut

4.31/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle. Best by 04/18/13.

Mostly clear red-orange body with golden edges. Slim, yet persistent, creamy, meringue-like, light beige head. Great lacing. Vibrant, hoppy nose. Lots of C-hop-ish pine and citrus just explode above some very fruity, spicy, and candyish malt. Very nice.

Toasted malt up front. Spicy, herbal hop bitterness follows and builds. Fruity, jammy, sweetish, caramelly malt fills in. Butterscotch notes as well. Apricot and orange hop flavors gradually become more bitter and grapefruity. Pine, spice, and lingering caramelly malt in the drying finish. Medium body with a nice, creamy mouthfeel. Very nicely done!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 23:06:44 | More by alexgash

Stevedore

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Note: personal system goes in whole numbers)

12oz bottle, best by 5/8/2013, poured into a Bell's tulip and quaffed 2/21/2013

Aroma: I get a nice bready pale malt- sweet biscuits, caramel, toffee mixed in with hints of grapefruits. It's nothing super strong, nor is it anything special for pale ales. (3)

Colour: A very nice cloudy copper body that pours with a dense 1cm white head that dissipates quickly. Lacing is consistent and somewhat sticky. Nothing special for a pale ale, but neither is it a bad looking beer. (3)

Flavour: Starts off with a really nicely balanced mix of the pale malts just like in the nose along with a citrus/grapefruity bitterness that really takes over near the end. I give this brew credit for staying balanced initially and then staying true to the west coast brewing tradition by giving a hop kick at the end. (4)

Mouthfeel: Nice, crisp, dry yet refreshing with great carbonation. Medium bodied on the light side, not terribly sticky at all. Fairly easy to quaff and the aftertaste is a bit bitter for a pale ale and is a bit closer to an IPA but not being quite bitter enough. Really nice to drink. (4)

Overall: Not bad at all, a well-put together APA that straddles the line with the IPA. It's got the balance I like in my pale ales but shows its Pacific Northwest roots by giving my palate a punch on the arm, so to speak. While its nice that they are distributing to Chicago (easy to drive down to get it for me being in Wisconsin), I think I would rather have Alpha King if I want a nice hoppy pale ale- it does what this beer does but quite a bit better, and I can still get it in Wisconsin. Otherwise, for the style, it's a nicely done effort by Deschutes. (4)

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 02:23:58 | More by Stevedore

--Dom--

Missouri

4.7/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip. Smells of citrus and a good malt aroma as well.

I'm not exactly sure what a NWPA is supposed to taste like, but I'm pretty sure this one is close to perfect. Perfectly balanced forward citrus hop, I'd guess 40 or so IBU's. The malt stays in the background where it should be. It's crisp and refreshing. Not much else to say, it's just a damn fine pale ale. I could drink these all day and I love to keep a sixer in the fridge. Shame it's not year round.

Mouthfeel is a good carbonation, not sticky, not heavy. Overall, it's probably my second favorite pale ale, and it's nearly my favorite. Don't miss it.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 04:36:43 | More by --Dom--

bperry65

Ohio

3.31/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

There is definitely a very strong malt presence for an APA. There is a slightly bitter, bready taste, but I think this beer could be more well balanced. Overall, I'm slightly disappointed because there was a decent amount of hype when Deschutes started distributing to Illinois, but I think Black Butte it their only beer that has lived up to the hype. Red Chair is a decent APA has some unique characteristics, but I would not choose it over other APAs at a similar price point such as Dale's Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 21:12:34 | More by bperry65

Etan

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a tulip.

A: Pours a reddish amber with a nice off-white head.

S: Nice, lightly spicy hop profile. Caramel malt, bready, light grapefruit.

T: Caramel, mild piney bitterness, biscuity, a bit peppery, pithy citrus, fresh grain.

M: Light-bodied with a bit of heft from the moderate carbonation.

O: I really like the malt profile on this one - compliments the restrained hops nicely.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 01:13:16 | More by Etan

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

I find red chairs in my living room to be a bit gaudy... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear copper topped by over a finger of cream foam. The nose comprises pine needles, grapefruit zest, orange peel, a touch of tangerine, and a hint of honey. The taste brings in more of the same, slightly rindier than before, but still pretty bright and enjoyable. A bit of grass is tossed in for good measure. Thee body is a rather light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a very nice pale ale, one of the best Deschutes offering I've yet had.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 07:10:21 | More by TMoney2591

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This pours a semi-cloudy amber orange color with a slight head. The aroma is mostly hops mixed with a little citrus. The taste is smooth, malty, and complex. Initially there is this bready, toast, malt taste that then turns into a dry crisp after taste. Full of flavor and very well made!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 06:18:19 | More by Lemke10

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

bashiba

Iowa

4.36/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured a perfectly clean amber with a thick and sticky white head.

The smell had a light crackery malt quality with a fresh pine hoppiness.

The flavor reminded me of a nice hybrid between real English IPA and West Coast. Not as hoppy as most West Coast and more English malt coming through. A nice English Dry Crackery and buscuity caramel keeps the malt bill flavorful without compromising the hops at all, mixing nicely with the piney and grapefruit classic West Coast Hop Bill. Very balanced and supremely drinkable.

The mouthfeel had a nice touch of hop oil and resin along with a long dry finish.

Very solid American Pale Ale, no real shortcomings at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:43:10 | More by bashiba

arfenhouse

California

3.61/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear copper amber with off-white head. Retention is above average.

S: Pine and orange. Brown sugary sweetness. Cherry licorice and dragonfruit.

T: Caramel and biscuit sweetness. Oranges and cherry. Grassy pine aftertaste.

M: Light bodied with medium carbonation. Slightly dry.

O:Well balanced and easy to drink. A decent dose of hops but more on the sweet side.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 21:00:31 | More by arfenhouse

pkalix

California

4.59/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

nice coppery translucent look with an oatmeal-y, creamy topping. thick, creamy lace on the sides when tilted.... a beautiful looking brew....
smell is pine-y, grapefruit-y; hop-dominant.
taste is.... hop dominant. the bottle says it's a smoother hop taste (and i agree), but even with all the extra added malt types it is still a hop-dominant taste. i guess the bitterness of the hops trumps to a particular level? a slight 'earthiness' is present at the end which is almost a gritty kind of malt, i think...
smooth, slightly creamy mouthfeel. overall, this is not a typical, boorish pale ale with lots of hops caked in. it is rather refined, and i believe the intention of smoothing out the bitterness is evident. there are no jagged edges to the taste, but rather a soft feel to the bitterness as it slides past the tongue. i'm still not very familiar with the deschutes brewery but i recollect that i am very impressed with everything i have tried from them. even the styles i am not particularly excited about. and not many hoppy beers can claim to be creamy...
while i am not impressed with the style, i try to rate it according to my experience and i feel this is a great sample of american beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 05:09:30 | More by pkalix

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

Kastler

Washington

4.11/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured a bottle into a frosty beer mug

Appearance - It has a Dark amber color and a minimal head

Smell - Sweet, sweet honey

Taste - A great hoppy taste. Not too strong, not to weak. A perfect combination

Mouthfeel - Great mouthfeel; A little on the thinner side for a Pale Ale.

Overall - Exactly what I want in a Pale Ale. That classic hoppy honey taste that goes down smooth and smells like a drink of champions. I highly recommend this brew

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 06:00:18 | More by Kastler

nova009

Kentucky

4.11/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass

A- pours a clear copper color with a steady stream of bubbles, a solid one finger fluffy off-white head appears and very slowly dissipates, spotty lacing

S- bready malt, citrus hops, slightly sweet too with vanilla and caramel

T- just like the nose, bready malt, a pretty substantial hop punch, creamy vanilla, real clean finish

M- light to medium body, nice balance of carbonation, finishes slick and clean

O- this is a great pale ale, nothing overwhelming or unbalanced, very clean and easy to drink, alcohol is barely noticable, highly reccommend

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 00:51:31 | More by nova009

Danishboy59

5/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The other reviews here said it all, this one needs no further technical explanation. As a Mirror Pond fan, I must say that this one is at even higher level than the former great brew. It is a home run for Deschutes, much like the SF Giants 2012 season. It makes me glad that it's January, and I will use this amazing Red Chair brew to celebrate the upcoming SF 49ers Super Bowl win!

This is quite possibly the most balanced pale ale ever, no wonder it has such top level awards. The taste and hops are very similar to Mirror Pond, but there is the Grapefruity, orange, and even mango-ish explosion added to it, with a more amazing balance between the big hops, and toasty malt. It is a "perfectly complex" beer, a pinnacle of fine brewing ingredients and skill. A must have!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 12:34:47 | More by Danishboy59

hoppytobehere

Colorado

4.21/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoy by 4/4/13

A: Clear amber body. Generous soapy head and excellent retention.

S: Nice notes of malt and hops.

T: Awesome balance. Fantastic fresh hop flavors with a malt backbone.

M: Drinks great. Good levels of carbonation, medium-bodied. I'd knock these back with fervor.

O: I love their Mirror Pond and this is just as good, if not better.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 03:34:16 | More by hoppytobehere

barnzy78

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hmmm...World Beer Awards Best Beer 2010 & 2012 - a must try!
12oz bottle pours amber with excellent clarity and is topped with a rocky, off-white head that holds good retention & leaves lots of sticky, chunky lace. Floral hop nose with citric grapefruit, caramel, toasted malt. Tastes are piny hops up-front, grapefruit rind, caramel malt, bready malt, nice toasted grain finish while the piny hop lingers yet finishes clean. The hops come across more juicy and slightly tropical rather than piny as the palate warms up to the moderate bitterness. Mouth-feel is smooth with pleasant carbonation allowing the vast complexity to meld. Overall, amazing balance with a nice complex array of flavors. One of the best APA's out there!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 01:24:35 | More by barnzy78

KFBR392

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: A really beautiful amber color. A nice bubbly head that retained pretty well. Some sticky lacing remained on glass.

Smell: The only disappointing part of this beer. Very light hop presence with kind of an artificial/metallic aroma. There were some sweet hops to be found in the end of the aroma but not enough to bring it back.

Taste: This is really fantastic. The crisp hops bite at the front of this beer and yield to the creamy caramel body which makes this pale ale really fantastic. A malt thickness is on the undertones of this brew. The hop brightness blasts through at the end of this beer and makes it stick on the palette for a long time.

Mouthfeel: A very heavy malt feeling covers the palette. The hops are not too very pronounced on the aftertaste but overall this is very pleasant

Overall: Really awesome. Deschutes is making some incredible beer. I've been impressed with the wide range of their beer. Any of their products should do the job for you.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 01:17:32 | More by KFBR392

Efay

Illinois

4.61/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Really enjoying the new distribution of Deschutes in Chicago. Had this baby before but needed to give it another try.

Served into a teku glass

A- Transparent, light maroon colored body. Not much head retention, but lots of lacing in this baby.

S- Sweet tangerine with biscuity malt, and you can definitely smell some honey.

T- Extremely complex but everything complements each other. Initial bitter pine taste that is smoothed out by honey, which then turns into a light malt backbone, which then ends with some bittersweet tangerine. This is heavenly.

M- Light, sticky mouthfeel with moderate carbonation.

O- Deschutes is slowly becoming my go to brewery for pale ales. They really know how to make the ingredients work together, and nothing is overwhelming. i feel like this 6 pack may go by fast.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 03:47:21 | More by Efay

Nugganooch

California

3.9/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle to standard pint glass
Notes taken 01/13/13 - BB 04/11/13

A: Pours a caramel amber body with some orange colored hues to it. Bright clarity. Topped with a thick cloud of khaki tan foam. Soapy looking and stubborn as all get out. Leaves a thick lattice of sticky coat down the glass.

S: Smells real piney with an overall honey like sweetness. Soft caramels with a bit of orange peel and some herbals mixed in. Not bad at all and hoppier than I was expecting.

T: Taste brings forth more orange and citrus fruit than the nose and a modest amount of sappy pines. I get a distinct earthy mineral note with a bit of minty herbs in the background. There is an overall caramel sweetness to the beer with some soft bread and a relatively lower bitterness factor that is quite delicate on the palate. Alcohol is well hidden and seldom known. A rather quaffable pale ale I must say.

M: Creamy and frothy feel. Very smooth with a nice even carbonation and moderate in weight. There is just a slight warming sensation with a nice light drying crisp finish. Touch of residual sugary hop oils linger about.

D: Much better than I remember the Red Chair IPA being. Hops were vibrant while still complimenting the sweeter malt additions as the PNW style is known for. Clean yeast character. Very drinkable balance.

Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 22:58:38 | More by Nugganooch

matjack85

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is my 4th Deschuttes beer since they started distributing in the Chicago area earlier this month, and all of them have been delicious. 12oz brown bottle with a best before date of 04/11/13 stamped above the bar code.

The beer poured a clear amber color with a 1½-finger white head that lasted over 3 minutes. Lacing was also plentiful.

The beer had a nice shortbread cookie smell to it along with citrus and floral hops.

Big grapefruit/tangerine flavor with lots of hops and lots of bitterness. Sweet caramel malt and other malts for balance along with a kiss of honey. Delicious.

Thick and creamy despite the fairly high carbonation. Got to put this one at full bodied with a bitter citrus aftertaste.

If you like big, bold, and bitter IPA's, then this one's for you. Let it warm a bit for best flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 09:35:33 | More by matjack85

Star80

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Best before 4/11/13. Date coding is GOOD.

A - Pours our a rich copper with creamy head. Really great lacing.

S - Smells floral, brightly citrusy, with some lemon zest, grapefruit twang, some faintly tropical fruits and candy-like malts. Really a nice smelling beer.

T - Tastes very zesty, faintly earthy and little bit of sourdough bread. it actually comes together quite well and is highly refreshing. Some puckering lemon and grapefruit in there as well. Quite hoppy for a pale ale.

M - Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy.

O - Overall a wildly hoppy pale ale with a lemony hop bite and smooth creamy body. Can't believe this is a seasonal and will enjoy it while I can. Deschutes is impressing the hell out of me so far. Welcome to Illinois!

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 22:42:11 | More by Star80

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best by 3/29/13. Poured a slightly-hazy orange with a short white head. The aroma seems like it should stand up more— I just gets a creamy, mild floral and tangerine hop character. The flavor, however, has big, biting grapefruit over a subtle caramel malt backbone. There's also a nice juicy hop undertone that sets this apart from your average all-citrus pale ale. I'm a fan, it's a touch thick for the style, but damn tasty and a good break from the often-boring APA. Have a couple pints, you won't regret it.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 23:43:56 | More by tempest