Chainbreaker White IPA - Deschutes Brewery

jschwanke84

Oregon

2.08/5  rDev -43.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

Poured from bottle.

It's a good concept and a few home brewers can pull it off, but they have to know how to make a good weissebier first, and Deschutes does not. This beer tastes like either a botched weissebier or a skunked IPA, I can't decide which. Perhaps it's an unholy union of both. The aroma matches the flavor. Good as neither an IPA nor a weissebier, Deschutes Chainbreaker needs to go back to the bike shop in which it was conceived for a complete overhaul.

I had high hopes for this and was very intrigued when I first saw it on the shelves, but it quickly disappointed. For how great most of Deschutes' brews are, this beer was a huge let down for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:08:47 | More by jschwanke84

Durtdiggler

Illinois

2.2/5  rDev -40.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured into snifter glass. Nice yellow hue, big head with a lot of retention. Beer is clear and inviting and that's where it ends.

Aroma. Big banana peel estery with hop resin and wheat malt. Funky.

Taste is like a Belgian blonde cross IPA. Just tasted wrong to me.

Didn't get much past beyond the mouthfeel and dumped it.

Probably not my style and I appreciate the willingness to be creative but I could not get through this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 01:22:11 | More by Durtdiggler

stcules

Italy

2.7/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Green gold appearance, scarce white foam, not long standing, too.
Orange peel and chamomile in the smell, then som citrus and lemony.
In the mouth again strong chamomile, white flowers. Then again orange peel and stinging hop.
In the aftertaste a strong green pepper, and a spiciness, even too strong.
Meh.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 20:01:40 | More by stcules

klkatz

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

interesting smell... not too pleasant... malty, minty, lemony,

looks thick... almost non transparent... orangy white (if that makes any sense)

the taste leaves a lot to be desired.. i'm not a fan of when breweries attempt to mix styles and don't quite get the balance... i'm not sure what this is supposed to be...
it's clean and watery.. not much taste - you're smelling a hef, but tasting something totally different...

i'm going to offer this one to my wife...

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 01:30:37 | More by klkatz

hardy008

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hazy pale yellow with a 3 finger foamy white head, with decent retention and spotty lacing. The aroma has lemon, yeast, coriander, and a small amount of biscuit malt.

The taste has light sweetness and light bitterness. The lemon, coriander, yeast, pepper, and biscuit malt combine to make this a well balanced beer, but all of the flavors are lighter than I expected them to be.

Light bodied with fizzy carbonation. Not much aftertaste, and finishes somewhat dry. Basically this is a middle of the road Belgian IPA. Decent, but not memorable.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 00:41:29 | More by hardy008

kojevergas

California

3/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on-draught into a New Belgium stem-goblet. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one and a half finger beige colour head of decent cream, nice thickness, and good retention. Colour is a pale semitransparent yellow. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Straw, lemon grass, lemon, floral hops, and clean fragrant pale malts. Pleasant and appealing. A mild strength aroma.

T: Clean malts, lemon, floral hops, hints of other more vague citrus notes, and some cream. Simple, but clean and balanced. Enjoyable but lacking the subtlety and complexity I expect from Deschutes. Well built for what it is.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A bit undercarbonated. Too light and fleeting.

Dr: Drinkable but underwhelming, especially considering the brewery. I like it, but not enough to get it again. Deschutes does far better brews.

High C

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 20:50:43 | More by kojevergas

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a cloudy straw/white color with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Patchy webbed lacing and very low carbonation.

N: Orange zest, clove, coriander, lemon, wheat and some Belgian yeastiness.

T: Lemongrass, wheat and some doughy bread upfront. Mid-palate is full of bread and Belgian yeast. Finishes wheaty with hints of coriander and orange zest.

M: Light bodied, smooth and crisp.

O: The wheat and lemon really dominate the flavor profile. This is a rather simple beer. I'm not very impressed. It seems the "White IPA" is a failed style.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 00:43:13 | More by justintcoons

GoldHorde

Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

"White IPA?", when I saw the 6-pack. I immediately surmised it must be a wheat base - and so it was. While not a lover of wheat beers I was intrigued enough to pick it up because a friend who was a wheat beer fan was coming over to help me dig a 20" deep trench 25' feet thru my backyard to replace wiring to the garage.

The lower score I give will reflect my bias against wheat beer - too "sweet-sour, Belgianish" for my taste - but I will be honest for the style. All of the bellringers that set the mark of good wheat beer (look, mouthfeel and all that) were there. Yet my main complaint here is, "Where's the hops?!" - after all it is supposed to be an IPA. I expect some hop kick/slap here - but got none.

My wheat beer friend liked a lot - but this was after 3 hours of digging a trench - so take that with a grain of salt. I've only had two wheat beers that surprised me pleasantly - this is average and I don't see any reason for it to have the IPA moniker.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:53:37 | More by GoldHorde

HalfFull

California

3.13/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured as requested into a pint glass. That being with a finishing swirl and yeast dump as one would a Hefe. Shows a hazy lemon with a thin white cap and offering moderate retention and lace.

Nose of lemon zest and some peppery/clove spice. Perhaps some noble hops contribute to a citrus character that seems a bit forced or artificial. Does expand to offer more balance and depth with warming.

Odd lemon notes present on the aroma carry forward to the palate and yield a touch of that 'lemon pledge' flavor found occasionally in brews such as this. Offers a long citric finish but a bit lacking in body and bitterness for a self proclaimed IPA, white or otherwise.

Feel is decent but again a bit light for an IPA, yet not really unbefitting of a white one.

Overall this beer stars off as a spiced witbier yet without the yeast notes. As it warms it offers a garlicky yeast aroma with good agitation. Otherwise the lemon and spice crowd out such things. A decent beer though the IPA moniker seems a bit brazen.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 04:53:08 | More by HalfFull

beertunes

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

White IPA? OK, lets try it. Served in bubble pint glass. Poured a cloudy, hazy yellow color with about a half-inch of white head that had OK retention and lots of sticky, clingy lacing.

The aroma had a very nice pine hop scent at the front, with some floral notes behind that, and a bit of yeasty spice around the edges. Just a bit of grain showed up in the background. The hops weren't as bold on the tongue. The yeast-spice blended with the floral notes fairly evenly, with the slight grain tastes playing a deep supporting role.

The body was decent, not heavy nor crisp, and had good effervescence. Drinkability was good, but I can't see myself having more than one at a time. Overall, a fairly decent beer, but one that didn't really trip my trigger. Maybe this combo of of hops and Belgiany yeast just isn't my thing. Certainly worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2012 20:05:56 | More by beertunes

beagle75

Iowa

3.15/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Hazy, pale yellow color with over one finger of white foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass.

S: Carbon dioxide overwhelms and dilutes delicate qualities of green plant stems, cloves, and peppery yeast.

T: Begins dry, with very light malt, a trace of bright estery fruit, lemon rind, and aggressive carbonic acidity. Peppery phenolics are mild in the middle where wheat becomes apparent. Herbaceous and lemony flavors mark the barely-bitter finish.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, creamy and acidic on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: While this beer fills a gap in Deschutes' line-up, it is hardly an IPA of any qualification--white or otherwise. Most similar to wit beer, it presents qualities both appropriate and experimental to that style. Austere hops replace traditional seasonings, giving a decidedly herbaceous theme.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 20:24:49 | More by beagle75

nsabo

Washington

3.2/5  rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a “white ipa:” there are notes of spice, but the hops do most of the talking here. SN’s rye-ipa is a tastier seasonal ipa, and its rye gives it a stronger spice than this has. Chainbreaker ain’t bad. I feel like with ipas, it’s easy to notice right away how simple and one-dimensional a lot of them are. This isn’t one of them, it’d be great hot-day beer, but it’s nothing particularly exciting. I suppose it excites me only because it’s not generic ipa crap like a lot of the competition.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 03:13:11 | More by nsabo

lstokes

Illinois

3.24/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

This looks pretty good on the pour--a light, hazy yellow with very active bubbles and an impressive two finger head which leaves strong lacing. Unfortunately, the smell is very grassy and grainy, and the taste is very sweet. Lemon, wheat, lemon. There's some lingering bitterness from the hops, but mostly this tastes like a wheat beer without the coriander spice/yeast. I'm mostly just getting sweetness along with a zippy carbonation--it's an okay beer, but probably not something I would try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 02:21:06 | More by lstokes

dsprainman

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Been a WHILE since I did a review. Picked up a six pack of this at the store, lets give it a try.
A- Looks like a stereotypical belgian wit. The fizzy head doesn't stay long, but there is lacing.
S- Hint's of hops and belgian yeast, but also some citrus smells.
T- Pretty bland, some hops and citrus flavors.
M- Almost fizzy, light and tingly.
O- A nice spring/ summer sipper. Might not fit the IPA moniker, but it is refreshing and tasty. Also, Bottle says 5.6% ABV rather that the 5.1 noted above.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 05:40:48 | More by dsprainman

steeb

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Golden and hazy with a white frothy head that dissipates slowly.

S: Belgain yeast aromatics, i mostly get green apple and some tropical fruits.

T: Somewhat like a wit, not much hop bitterness coming through just some flavor at the end.

M: Great mouthfeel, but not for an ipa. I prefer my ipas on the dry side.

O: This was a delightful drinkable beer. Probably one of the better interpretations of a white ipa ive had. But there are just some things id like to see different to make this one a home run for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 19:35:24 | More by steeb

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into tulip

Pours a pale slightly hazed straw golden color. Soft white head dissolves into wispy film, leaving a little lacing on the glass.

Citrusy hops and lemon peel in the nose. Slight Belgian yeast funk as well with hints of spice and cracked black pepper.

Decent bitterness up front with lemony citrus hops. Touches of pine with some juiciness. Biscuity malt backbone followed by Belgian yeast. Spicy notes with pepper and faint funk. Finishes bitter and dry.

Medium body, decent carbonation, dry and lingering. A decent, sessionable Belgian take on the IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 04:44:54 | More by xnicknj

mfavoino

Washington

3.3/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle says best by 6/29/12.

Appearance: Pours a bright and very hazy yellow. One finger of head diminishes rapidly. Little lacing on the glass.

Smell: Smells funky with a strong yeasty aroma. Wheat and light lemon scent round this one out. Hop aromas are noticeably absent.

Taste: Sweet with a heavy dose of wheat and lemon flavor. Crisp and spicy remind me of a Belgian witbier. Hop presence is minimal.

Mouthfeel: Light and easy to drink. A beer to drink on a warm day.

Overall: While I liked the sound of it, this beer didn't seem to choose a direction to go in as far as style goes. It felt like a not fully integrated mixture of APA, witbier, and hefe at times. Still is worth a go and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 03:03:30 | More by mfavoino

denver10

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy dirty yellow with a white head, that doesn't stick around for too long. A nice sweet and fruity aroma - lemons and clementine -, some pepper, with just a touch of some tartness to it. Interesting. Flavor follows suit quite well, very bright while also being sweet lemon and clementine on top of a wheat underbelly. Not much bitterness. A nice crisp mouthfeel. Overall, pretty good beer. However, I am not a wheat fan and after about halfway through the bottle I find that wheat malt starts to begin creeping up on me. Good beer objectivelly, not quite for me subjectivelly.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:52:22 | More by denver10

Moose90

Colorado

3.34/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Best by 2/09/13

12oz bottle poured into tulip glass

Poured from a bottle into a tulip

A – Pours a bright hazy yellow with a big fluffy bright white head. The head settles and leaves lacing down the glass.

S – Lemon, coriander. Belgian yeast. Bright yeasty goodness, a little soapy but not in a bad way.

T – Nice and fruity, primarily lemon and orange, some grapefruit. A bit of light bready malt comes through. There is a nice bitterness from the hops, though this is hardly a hoppy beer.

M – Light-Medium body, very well carbonated. Finish is dry and fairly long lasting. This is certainly refreshing.

O – I like this take on the style, it's got good character and complexities to it. Nice crisp and refreshing, with a hint of a hop kick. This is a solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 22:51:05 | More by Moose90

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.35/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pale orange, mild head to it. Good aroma of citrus, hops, light belgianesque yeast without the clove (my favorite way).

Taste, mildly hoppy, kind of lacking in that department, can't figure out what kind of beer it wants to be, seems like a hodgepodge of stuff with nothing winning. Almost like wheat was a 10% part of the malt bill. More like a belgian pale I guess than an American anything. Bitterness was enjoyable in it, that was just right.

I think if they upped the hops, this would work. Cool in theory, decent in reality.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 17:21:17 | More by Beerandraiderfan

snaotheus

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Pours pale slightly cloudy yellow with a white fluffy head. Smell is lightly spiced and moderately hopped.

Taste is primarily Belgian yeasty, lightly hopped. Sort of bland, actually, though not bad. Maybe just muted. It's not super cold, though.

Mouthfeel is light. Overall, it's a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 04:23:14 | More by snaotheus

seagullbeer

California

3.35/5  rDev -9%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Stoked to see the corner store stocking a deschutes I hadn't tried. Overall an enjoyable light easy drinking beer with a good bit of flavor. I wasn't sure what to expect from the term "white ipa" but it reminds me a lot of a hefe. IPA+deschutes had me thinkin something more hoppy but after switching my mindset I started to enjoy it.

A- Light yellow, bit o cloudy
S- Sweet Plantains and lemons
T- Bitter sweet, hoppy 7UP minus sugar
M- Lightish, like water down a window

Not the beer I thought I was buying but probably would be excellent if I was sitting in the sun.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 02:00:06 | More by seagullbeer

dc87

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A - pours a beautiful cloudy yellow with a 1/2 finger head

S - yeast/lemon

T - a quietly hopped up wheat beer. Bright and citrusy, but disappointingly underwhelming. Bitter aftertaste which quickly fades

M - Pleasant - crisp, clean, light carbonation

O - A fresh, drinkable summer session beer, with a slightly weak and underwhelming flavour

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:50:24 | More by dc87

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.36/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

All those bicycle enthusiasts in the City must be pleased with another bike-referencing brew on the shelves. Anyway, this stuff pours a lightly-hazy pale straw topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises light wheat, leek, and light lemongrass. The taste brings in more of the same, though the leek is thankfully absent, replaced by a good dose of lemon zest, light coriander and grass. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, a nice little beer, but one that seems more like a slightly grassy wit than an actual BIPA. It ain't bad, but it's pretty forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 03:21:20 | More by TMoney2591

smakawhat

Maryland

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. Ah how I love Deschutes, been wanting this for sometime now, let's see if she measures up. oops should have went for maybe a tulip.. ah so here we are..

A real green yellow and unfiltered like appearance. Thick and shocking bright white head, with a shiny glowing top and speckled lacing. I can't believe how green this is.

Nose is quite buttery diacetyl forward, although there's some fruit sense and dry airy yeast. This is weird one on the nose, it's kind of interesting, but sort of... well odd.

Palate hits with a very good malt backbone, and mild citrus/tropical fruit. It's hard to pinpoint this fruit angle though, sort of a mellow melon if I could say. Kind of gets into pineapple territory flavor wise a bit. Luckily the butter sense from the nose is completely non-existent on the palate.

Overall, I am just not feeling this one. Very different, but sort of not working out for me, and I just don't feel like wanting this again either.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 23:28:38 | More by smakawhat