Red Chair NWPA - Deschutes Brewery

morimech

Minnesota

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

Best by: 04/19/11

Clear copper color with two fingers of dense head that had excellant retention before settling to a thick cap. Heavy lacing is left on the glass.

Really big hoppy aroma. This is an APA? Loads of pine with hints of citrus and dank weed. Some bready malt somehow makes it through the hops.

Hoppy flavor but not as hoppy as I expected from the aroma. Citrus and pine hop flavor. All 60 IBUs can be detected. The malt does add some flavor and sweetness, but the hops take center stage. Finishes bitter with a little bit of cloying hoppiness.

Wonderful texture to this beer. Silky smooth and gentle on the palate. Body heft is on par for an APA.

I think I was expecting a hoppy red ale and got a borderline West Coast IPA. Just another wonderful beer from Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 22:58:02 | More by morimech

climax

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Glad to find this one. It pours a bright amber with excellent clarity. The head was even and fairly tall. The retention and lace were respectable.

The nose was an herbal explosion for a pale ale. IPA-esque qualities ooze out. The balance between sweet and bitter is excellent. Tropical fruit, spice, and caramel lurk in the shadows of the grassy hop profile.

The flavor was excellent. It was grassy from the start, but the finish is exceptionally earthy, moreso than any beer I remember. Sweetness in the form of bubblegum and pink grapefruit does it's best to match the extreme herbal flavor. As far as the malt goes... er, maybe a whisper of caramel and sourdough bread in the backbone.

The body is just on the light side of medium. The feel is nicely carbonated, sharp but light. It's mostly slick through the finish where it eventually leaves off at dry. Drinkable? Absolutely. Definitely a sessionable pale ale, despite a surprisingl well hidden ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 01:45:44 | More by climax

grittybrews

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep orange-amber into a Duvel tulip with a finger of quick-receding fluffy white head. Intensely floral aroma with subtle notes of grapefruit, lemon, pine, and caramel.

Moderate carbonation and a creamy, full-bodied mouthfeel. Citrus hops up front followed by biscuity malt with further hop flavors that progress from gentle floral notes to more intense pine.

This beer didn't blow my mind the first time around, but after revisiting it I'm really impressed! Really tasty, balanced, and easy-drinking.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2011 06:15:17 | More by grittybrews

yemenmocha

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright copper with enormous meringue-like head that jiggles. Nose has fresh bready components, citrus, and tingly herbal notes. Nice balance of biscuity toasty flavors with citrusy hops. Light bodied and incredibly drinkable. Hides alcohol well.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 04:13:33 | More by yemenmocha

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

UTCengOwl

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Someone left a bottle at my house after they came over to watch a playoff football game. I figured why not and cracked this open into a (512) shaker pint.

The beer is a clear orange-hued brown with an excellent off-white head. The head is composed of tiny bubbles that seem to float on top of the beer and leave great lacing down the glass. I'm a sucker for a good head.

This beer smells like hops. Piney, pithy hops. I wish it was a bit brighter on either the pine or fruit notes, but it's not bad. There's a caramelly, bready backbone behind the hops, but the hops are what stand out.

The taste is also dominated by the same hops. The malt backbone is there, but not impressive. A strong bread taste, but also a lingering mineral bite that I wish it didn't have. The hops suffer from the same somewhat bland hit that it had in the nose. The mouthfeel is not all that impressive, but it's not bad either. The overall decentness combined with the somewhat muted flavor profile of a pale ale as opposed to an IPA makes this fairly drinkable. I jut wish it did the little things a bit better.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 23:26:00 | More by UTCengOwl

GoldenJet

Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Session, session session! Did I mention this would be a good session brew?

While I rarely dislike anything from Deschutes, outside of the limited release stuff (Abyss, Dissident, etc.) I'm rarely blown away by their beers. This one's no exception.

Red Chair NWPA seems loaded with citrus, a little ripe fruit on the nose, a ton of grapefruit on the palate, and more citrus on the finish. This reminds me a lot of Widmer Drifter, but not so overbearing, and much more well-crafted.

I think this is a great session beer, but the overwhelming citrus tones might get a little tiresome after five or six of these.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 22:26:37 | More by GoldenJet

herman77

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Light orange amber with an off white head. Good lacing.

S: Carmel malt is the dominating aroma. There is some damp earthiness and a bit of citrus, pine hops.

T: Muted citrus hops, a bit of pine hops up front with a good dose of carmel malt. Bready and grainy. Ends with a slightly dry, bitterness.

M: Light to medium body. Moderate carbonation. Fairly smooth.

D: Decent drinkability. A bit hoppy, a bit malty. Pretty easy to drink no thrills APA.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 00:06:01 | More by herman77

jera1350

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Copper colored with a one finger head that is off-white and leaves some nice lacing.

Smells generously hopped with a sweet malt presence. Nice citrusy hop presence.

Not digging the taste a whole lot. Pretty big hop bitterness with a large earthy, ashy and musty taste as well. A little malt sweetness, but still can't get past the tobacco ash taste that lingers.

Smooth and medium bodied with a dry hop finish.

The taste just doesn't work in the overall beer for me. This one is not for me and I don't think I'll have it again. Does have some nice qualities. Different strokes for different folks though.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 22:07:35 | More by jera1350

nickhiller

Texas

3.13/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: hazy rust, thin head fizzles to nothing, not really any lacing.

S: HOPS! Earthy, grassy, fresh doughy yeast, almost exactly like fermented pizza dough; a little bathroom cleaner.

T: it tastes like a homebrew. It's super bitter, super hoppy, but has some sour off flavor that I can't quite place other than that I'm reminded of my more unsuccessful homebrews. The finish leaves a strong taste of brie (not something I typically like to attribute to beer).

M: carbonation can't hold and it quickly goes flat, body is light to medium body,

D: really kind of bad. The dough and the cheese were straight up gross. Come on Deschutes, I expect better of you.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 04:22:10 | More by nickhiller

busternuggz

Arizona

4.47/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
Nice crystal clear orange with a 1/2" cream colored head. Leaves some persistent stringy lacing. Head recedes to a thin frothy layer.
Nice rich juicy nose, pineapple and tangerine, pine sap, a little caramel.
Big, bright flavors of orange juice, grapefruit zest and pine, with a little pineapple. Nice malt presence but well balanced with a pleasant bitterness. Clean aftertaste with a little lingering bitterness, and a dry lemon zest on the end.
Medium bodied and creamy texture, very nice.
A flavorful and well made beer, balanced, complex, interesting, and refreshing. This may be my favorite pale ale, one of the few spring seasonals I look forward to and buy multiple six packs of.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 22:41:52 | More by busternuggz

Buebie

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a sixer for appx $8 today.
Poured from the brown bottle into a pub glass. Production of head is a billowing soft fluffy off white head at about 2 inches. Sitting there for many minutes before receding to a thick frothy cap and generous amounts of lace. Lining the glass in thick coatings.
Color is a pale transparent copper amber.
Malty caramel aroma, With dried hay hoppy aroma and a little citrus mixing with pine.
Taste is medium hops, drier flavors and a bit of malt sweetness off the back end. Dry flavors return to the finish with a touch of mint leaf and citrussy whole cone hop flavors.
Mouthfeel is medium with a full feel and layed back carbonation.
Great sessionable brew that does not destroy the pallet, but does bring flavors throughout the drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 21:02:18 | More by Buebie

meeekyh

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found this one at the newly renovated local LQ that is expanding its selection. I decided on a Fin Du Monde glass. Last night my initial impressions were of a round beer with a significant hop bite.

The color of the beer is rather a deep amber and the head is light tan. Turbid describes the visible body. I do like the lacing though the head does not last much itself.

I suppose I will think not to plan a beer review when the rest of the family is making popcorn again. The ambient smells are strong and pervasive inhibiting my ability to accurately note the smells that are not contrasting; I notice a good hop brightness and a bit of alcohol.

Initially this beer is bright and without strong malt presence, though this should not imply a lack of balance just that no one trait I commonly associate with malt comes through strongly. I get a hint of that black-tea taste I have noticed in Stone Pale Ale and Boont's Imperial IPA. There are notes of peach that linger.

Mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied with light carbonation and a dry finish.

I dig this beer quite a lot. It is full and smooth with a good hop bite and a balanced malt profile. There is much here to like so I plan to get some while the gettin's good.

Slainte.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 01:45:47 | More by meeekyh

ebrauser

Utah

3.43/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass from the first annual SLC beer festival.

Appearance: Pours a reddish-copper color with thick, three finger head that quickly dissipates. The head left big lacing on the walls.

Aroma: Piney hop resins and a small bready sweetness. Very grassy.

Flavor: Plentiful hops in this one. NW hop character is dominant from the beginning, all but overpowering the faint malt backbone. Bitterness builds to an exciting crescendo at the crisp finish. They do their duty when they say they're making a NWPA, but I think a little more malt would do wonders for the beer.

Mouthfeel: A little overcarbonated but still highly drinkable, though it may be too bitter to handle for some people.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 04:34:12 | More by ebrauser

hardy008

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Amber with a one finger white head. Has good retention and lacing. The aroma has citrus and some caramel malt. Not complex, but good.

The flavor is both hoppy and sweet. Grapefruit, pine, and caramel flavors are all present. This is a nice, well balanced APA.

Medium bodied with average carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink. You can tell this is well made.I could drink this on a regular basis if it was available year round.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 03:31:49 | More by hardy008

deadliest

Texas

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Clear amber body, 2 fingers of eggshell head that dies down quickly.
S: Dry, somewhat astringent. Lots of bready malt and citrus.
T: True to their advertising, this is a deliberately balanced PA. Spice and breadiness are equal partners to the hops, while still letting the citrusy hops stand out in the aftertaste. Very good.
M: Med feel, a little light on the carbonation.
D: Quite drinkable, not the hop assault of many new APA's and IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 23:57:51 | More by deadliest

bsp77

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Clear amber orange with a thin white head and just a touch of lacing.

Smell: Citrus, grainy malts with touches of toast and caramel. Dry and spicy aroma overall.

Taste: Citrus hops upfront with layers of spiciness. The semi-grainy malt backbone is fairly complex with biscuit, toast, caramel and some grassy characteristics. Ends with a spicy bitterness that is a little different (some have mentioned ash, maybe that's part of it).

Feel: Moderate carbonation, medium body that is fairly full and smooth for an APA. Nice dry finish.

Drinkability: A very nice Pale Ale overall that is quite a bit better than Mirror Pond. Very drinkable indeed.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 22:41:47 | More by bsp77

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours an orange/amber hue with a foamy off-white head that gradually settles to a thin surface froth. Lacing is sticky, and clings to the glass walls.

S: Slight floral hop character on the nose, combined with sweet notes of caramel and fresh out of the oven bread.

T: more mild than the smell. The malt lends flavors of cereal, bread, and caramel, balanced out with a floral, fruity hop character. Finish is dry and crisp, and long lasting.

Notes: This is a light to medium-bodied ale with a very silky mouthfeel. Quite tasty, and makes one Hell of a session brew. Not my favorite seasonal release from Deschutes, but very solid. I'll be enjoying it while it's available.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 03:52:04 | More by WYVYRN527

philbertk

Washington

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deschutes Brewery--Red Chair IPA--India Pale Ale--Bond Street Series--2009 Release. 22 oz. Bottle. 6.40% ABV--55 IBU's. 4.5 / 5.0. IPA Big foamy thin white mild lace head. Clear fizzy bright thin pretty amber red color. Intense floral earthy hop malt front. Tangy mild sweet dry toasted hint caramel hop infused fully fermented mild fruit body. Dry rich hop spice clean mild bitter end. Resinous. Sampled 4/30/2009. $4.69 Each. NEW BREW!!

Deschutes Brewery--Red Chair NWPA--Northwest Pale Ale--New Spring Seasonal--2010 Release--12 oz. Bottle--6.40% ABV--60 IBU's. (4.4 / 5.0) Pale Ale--IPA? Dense rocky lacy 1/2" off white head. Beautiful clear bright rich amber red hint color. Floral earthy hop mild malt toast front. Cloying mellow sweet earthy crusty doughy toasted rich caramel resinous pine malty body. Cloying smooth creamy rich hop spice end. WOW BEER! Sampled 2/4/2010. 6-Pack--$5.99.

3 oz. Taster @ Portland Spring Beer & Wine Fest April 2nd, 2010. 6.4% ABV. 60 IBU's. Clear bright pretty rich thin amber color. Mild earthy hop front. Cloying malty caramel doughy pine mellow sweet body. Cloying NWPA hop end. (4.0 / 5.0)

Deschutes Brewery--Red Chair NWPA--Northwest Pale Ale--Witness the subtle aromatic seduction of the debut Northwest Pale Ale. Another slap at brewing conventions--2011 12 oz. Bottle. 6.40% ABV. 60 IBU's. (4.25 / 5.0) Pale Ale--IPA? Thick pour. Thin thin lace white head. Clear bright deep amber red hint color. Malty lightly toasted sweet floral hop front. Smooth rich sweetbread doughy juicy hop infused soft caramel fruit body. Smooth refreshing rich balanced hop spice end. Delicious doughy Hoppy Pale Ale. Sampled 1/9/2011. 6-Pack purchased for $6.50 at PCC--Fremont, Seattle on 1/6/2011

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 04:50:29 | More by philbertk

gatornation

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 0z bottle best buy 04/11

A-a beautiful golden copper color with afresh 1 finger head that reveals nice clinging lacing as it slowly recedes

S-smell is floral hops and malts with citrus and pine needle smells and baked bread

T-follows the nose with a nice balance of hops and floral notes up front then balanced out with sweet caramel malts and toffee

M-is crisp and pure its fresh and well carbonated with bursts of hops and malts in a nicely balanced brew

D- is very high this really reminds me of an ipa..it tastes and drinks like one its very smooth and creamy well made delicious

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 22:25:23 | More by gatornation

brentk56

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a distinct burnt orange tone; the three fingered head displays great retention and leaves dots of foam on the side of the pint glass

Smell: Pithy/piney with undertones of bread and toffee

Taste: A complex range of malt flavors (from bread to toffee, with a bit of toastiness) leads the flavor parade, followed by stone fruit; by mid-palate, the pith and pine become assertive and build, after the swallow, with a minty tone in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A really solid pale ale that would verge on IPA territory had it been brewed in other parts of the country

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 19:32:09 | More by brentk56

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Red Chair NWPA, best before April 11th. Served in a Sam Adams Perfect Pint.

Color: light copper/straw. Thick, foamy, rocky off-white head, awesome lacing. Bubbles rising slowly from the bottom of the glass.

Smell has serious presence. There are lovely citrus notes but they don't overpower the bready smells. Very floral, flowers and sweetgrass. Lemon and orange zest.

Taste is pleasant and unique for a PA. The citrus hops are present but they don't overwhelm the pallet, instead the mix with the bready malts and cling to the sides of your mouth. Aftertaste is a short grapefruit flurry, then hop bitterness on your way out. Maybe a piney/resiny aftertaste as well.

There is a toasted feel to this beer, both the taste and smell.

Creamy, Biscuity mouthfeel. Dry. Finishes like an IPA, bitter hop bite.

Couldn't drink a lot of this in one sitting. Good beer though.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 16:03:39 | More by Scotchboy

Wasatch

Utah

3.85/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Best Buy: 3/31/11

Pours a very nice clean/clear amber color, nice carbonation, nice thick creamy one-finger plus off-white head, with lots of nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is mostly malty, with a touch of hops, and caramel. The taste is malty, sweet, slightly hoppy, with a nice touch of caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, a nice APA.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 22:06:25 | More by Wasatch

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours and orange color with a white head. The aroma is bready malt with some orange citrus, grassy and earthy hops. The flavor is bready and toffee malt with some grassy and citrus hops to balance out the flavor. Low bitterness. The beer is very well balanced. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 23:38:49 | More by Mora2000

dubinsky

California

4.75/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Beautifully clear amber/copper color with a one finger fluffy ivory colored head with good retention. Lacing is very spotty.

S - Huge bouquet of citrus and orange with a strong malt backbone. Pine is very subtle in the background.

T - Very tasty. I have loved this beer since i first tried it. This bottle is a bit old, brewed in April, and i feel the hops have lost their potency, but i still really enjoy this beer. It was better fresh, but aged fairly well. Orange and citrus with a nice pine bite. I find the malts more prevalent now than i did when i drank the first five bottles of my six pack.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

D - This review comes a bit late, as its almost 5 months old, but i cant help but love this beer. I hope its brewed again. A winner in my book. Very drinkable. So drinkable that i didnt want to drink the last one.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2010 03:16:01 | More by dubinsky