Armory XPA - Deschutes Brewery

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.74/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Served in a willibecher at Firkin.

I missed out on Firkin's Deschutes tap takeover, but I was able to grab some of the remnants. This one pours a clear amber topped by a finger of off-cream-white foam. The nose comprises musty pine, very light mint, mixed greens, and mild caramel. The taste brings in more of the same, with more pine and some grass for the sake of it. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, a tasty little XPA, something I might actually buy a six-pack of were it available in that format.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2013 00:04:11 | More by TMoney2591

vinny21bal

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Great session beer like the Mirror pond. Had on tap at Niche for the Deschutes dinner and this one seemed to be the favorite even over the Red Chair. It is a hard beer to come by unless you live by the brewery. Good citrus notes but not over whelming. I hate to use the word simple as it sounds boring. But it is a simple great little beer. Something you could have a couple of and be very happy.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 19:13:37 | More by vinny21bal

TheSixthRing

California

3.66/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Had on-tap at Final Gravity in Roseville, CA

Appearance - A semi-clear, rust orange in color, served up with a white finger width head. Fair retention. Leaves a fine layer of microbubbles covers the surface, and a nice, sticky sheet of lacing around the glass.

Smell - Moderate aroma, consisting of sweet, bready and deep caramel malt, while lesser notes of citrus comes through nicely.

Taste - Follows the nose. Strong bread and caramel malt character backed by a solid citrus undertone. Light lemon pith bitterness lingers in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Light in body; almost watery around the edges. Moderate carbonation. Goes down easy enough, but this is the weakest aspect of the beer.

Overall - Drinks very, very similar to their Red Chair NWPA, minus the brilliant mouthfeel of the latter, and with a hair more citrus bitterness in the finish. Good, but not a unique release, nor is it on the level of it's NWPA counterpart.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2013 19:28:31 | More by TheSixthRing

Philousa

California

2.76/5  rDev -25%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.75

Imbibed on tap at Original Gravity during their Deschutes tap takeover, 2/11/13.

Pours a golden amber, slightly bending the style a bit here. White one finger head settles to a one bubble layer clinging to the glass. Not much lacing because of this. Aroma is hop forward with citrus and pine. I get slightly doughy biscuit with a swirl. Flavor is similar to aroma except the barley comes through more and there is an undeniable sweetness. The feel is thick, which reminds me of honey all too much, as it grates on you after a whole. Finish is balanced. I'd like to have a pale ale to be refreshing, not syrupy.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 17:02:42 | More by Philousa

beertunes

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a clean, clear light golden amber color with just a quarter-inch of white head that low retention and decent lacing.

The aroma was hop forward, mostly floral, with some citrus, and had a nice earthy malt foundation. On the tongue, the malts were present at the front and the early middle, while the hops took over the middle to the end. Bitey citrus hop flavors were prominent on the dry finish.

The body was about what you want in this style, fuller than light, yet lighter than full for the style. Drinkability was good, I could easily have a few of these. Overall, a nice take on the style. I'm not sure what makes this an "X Pale Ale", it's not overly pale in color, and not extra alcoholic. Whatevs, still another nice brew from the crew in Bend. Worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2013 23:53:16 | More by beertunes

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.33/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the Portland pub today.

Brewed with a blend of Citra, Cascade and Centennial hops, this beer is a copper-amber colored pour, with a dense, creamy, off-white head with nice retention and lacing. The nose is decent. The bready/biscuity malt backbone is apparent, along with the rather inharmonious blend of Citra brightness/tropical fruit and the chalky Cascade hop aromas. Some floral character is noticeable as well. Unlike the previous reviewer, I was blessed not to have a diacetyl bomb. The palate is similar. Medium in body with more malt character than I care for in my IPAs, this has a blend of mild chalky Cascade bitterness and moderate hop flavor, with the Citra and Centennial coming through quite well. The malt character is mildly sweet, but too caramel-heavy for my liking. Bitterness is medium low, leaving a finish that's rather uncharacterful. Mildly drying on the finish, this beer is moderately carbonated and is decent on the palate, this is a rather inoffensiveIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 05:03:20 | More by DefenCorps

harrymel

Washington

1.63/5  rDev -55.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

on tap at PDX pub

pours dark copper with a sheet of light tan foam. Smells like cardboard, a hint of anise seed and some resin - not impressed. Flavor is hearty malts with some diacetyl butter bomb flavors. I'm so confused by this beer - not up to Deschutes standard any day of the week, particularly on a style they've mastered in the past. The body is smooth with fine carb and an off dry finish. I could live without this one. Hope my taster was off on this one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2012 03:15:27 | More by harrymel

vkv822

Oregon

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

on-tap @ the Portland pub.
taster glass.
from notes.

Amber-orange with a foamy off-white head.

Grapefruit and lightly resiny, floral pine notes, light malt backing.

Medium body, fairly active carbonation.

An enjoyable APA, though nothing truly memorable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 08:24:55 | More by vkv822

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a lighter amber color with good carbonation leaving a nice white cap and some bubbles, little bit of lacing

S: A fruit and lower bouquet

T: First thing I noticed was a taste of juicy fruit bubblegum, some floral notes, perhaps some Crystal malts

M: Light body, well carbonated.

O: A good balanced APA, not overly West Coast.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2011 16:04:00 | More by barleywinefiend

Wetpaperbag

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- dark amber reddish color with very little head.

S- grapefruity, piny, fruity and kinda earthy.

T- nutty yet hoppy with a solid zing of hops but something robust and earthy.

M- solid medium body. Given this is a grower a bit more carbonation wouldn't hurt.

D- solid beer easy drinking and this grower is going down.

Serving type: growler

07-08-2010 05:01:50 | More by Wetpaperbag