Chainbreaker White IPA - Deschutes Brewery

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy straw color with a white head. Really dank, hoppy nose. Very citrusy, floral aroma, mild pine, an some wheat and bread. A hint of tropical fruit and grass. Flavor has a light tropical fruit note, citrus, grapefruit peel, and very faint bread malt. A little bit of wheat flavor, very citric, and just very light and refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 20:00:30 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Churchkey. Pours a hazy straw-yellow with a good white head and some nice lacing on the way down. The nose carries some light witbier spice alongside nice American hops. Beautiful notes of citrus and tropical fruits come through alongside a nice backbone of wheat. Flavor has a nice body with good wheat presence and a nice Cascade and Citra punch. Extremely drinkable. Light body with good carbonation and a moderate bitterness. Excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2012 19:10:13 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: The cloudy goldenstraw liquid arrives with a modest cap on tap; not much in the way of lacing

Smell: Bubblegum and citrus

Taste: Bready, with bubblegum and citrusy flavors arriving by mid-palate (lemon and orange pith/peel); a yeasty Belgian character builds, after the swallow; the finish has a pronounced lemony character

Mouthfeel: Medium body with spritzy carbonation

Overall: A refreshing summer beer; nicely balanced between the two underlying styles

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 15:47:03 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Churchill’s Pub & Grille in San Marcos, CA.

Pours a slightly hazy yellow with a foamy bone colored head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, citrus fruit, citrus zest, spices, and yeast. Taste is much the same with a slightly soapy flavor as well. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is drinkable but it smells better than it tastes in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 01:33:19 | More by UCLABrewN84

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.36/5  rDev -8.9%
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

drabmuh

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Churchkey, solid beer, seriously. Really enjoyed it. Beer served in a tumbler of sorts. Beer is yellow with a thick white haze, nice head, good retention, nice carbonation, some lacing, looks good.

Aroma is hoppy, grassy, earthy hops. Mild citrus.

Beer is medium to light in body and hoppy, moderately bitter on the finish a nice beer to the end. I'd have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2012 01:07:42 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$2 pints at Sycamore in Columbia, MO for their Chainbreaker rollout.

A - Poured a cloudy, yellow color with golden highlights. A two-finger, rocky, white head of foam left sudsy patches of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled fruity and yeasty with a touch of wheat.

T - Good fruity bite from the Belgian yeast. Nice cracked wheat flavor with citrus notes.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - They've really combined an American wheat beer and a Belgian IPA. Really cool.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 03:13:13 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy light pale yellow in color (almost like a Berliner Weissbier) and has some fine particles floating in suspension near the bottom and no visible carbonation. It poured with a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are light aromas of peppery spices in the nose along with some hints of lemon citrus.
T: Like the smell, the taste has initial flavors of lemon citrus and is followed by hints of peppery spices that linger into the finish.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink but doesn't seem to fit into any particular style-it is more like a witbier ans less like a Belgian IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 03:12:12 | More by metter98

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.71/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

BBD 3-14-13. Had this on tap before & it didn't really thrill me, let's hop for better in the bottled version

Pours an effervescent pale straw color with a pinky of pearl white head. Slight hazing, above average head retention & lacing

S: Coriander, lemongrass, white pepper, faint tartness

T: Follows the nose, a touch of peppery yeastyness & some wheat-breadyness & lemon tartness up front. White pepper & faint grapefruit peels as this warms, slight yeasty/peppery bite. Finishes semi-crisp, citrussy & with little white pepper & wheat tartness

MF: Light/medium bodied, slight carbonation, good balance

Fairly refreshing, I could do this in warm weather, but otherwise I could take it or leave it. More like a Wit/IPA hybrid to me

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 03:57:31 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.1/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, best by 12/14/12,

A: Pours a cloudy light gold, looks like a witbier. Big frothy white head, limited lace.

S: Coriander and orange, grassy hops.

T: Good upfront spice flavour, lots of coriander. Earthy hops with some grapefruit. A nice balance with flavours.

M: Medium-bodied, crisp, juicy, nice aftertaste.

O: White IPAs are one of my new favourite up and coming styles and it seems Deschutes has pioneered this. Like a mini Conflux No. 2, real good flavours, great price, I like it.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 04:28:06 | More by Halcyondays

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A yankee pint in Kona, Hawaii, watching the boats in the near distance out front of the patio.

This beer pours a clear pale golden straw colour, with one finger of creamy white head, which stays there, like it was told to, until manual intervention breaks the spell, to allow some fragmented webbed lace to appear, as well as to let me drink the damned thing. Nice persistent rising effervescence, too.

It smells of yeasty pale grain, some soft floral citrus hops, and a bit of metallic booze. The taste is bitter pine and citrus rind hops, somewhat musty florals, a middling pale grainy malt, and a waning earthy yeast.

The carbonation is a bit frizzy, but settles rather quickly, the body an even medium weight, and more or less smooth. It finishes on the sweet side, the grainy malt and seemingly neutered citrus hops ringing things out.

An agreeable enough Belgian IPA, one bereft of the lofty booze of the norm, though the hops do show too little resolve towards the end, leaving me wanting more - unfortunately, of something else.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2012 03:47:13 | More by biboergosum

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
Best before 4/26/13
A- This beer pours a hazy pale lemon yellow body with a thick white head that sticks to the glass with each sip. There is a gentle carbonation that glides out of the hazy body to the surface.

S- The paper green hops has some pithy unripe tropical fruit aromas and a club soda yeast ester in the finish.

T- The bright wit yeast flavor has some orange zest and bread dough qualities with a green citrus pith hint and some dry coriander spice in the finish. There is some tropical fruit notes in the hops that linger for a short bit after the finish. There is some tangerine sweetness in the orange zest as it opens u and some club soda flavor in the yeast character.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel and a gentle little fizz with no alcohol heat.

O- This beer is a nice bright hoppy beer with lots of depth both in the hops and in the yeast/spice characteristics that support it, but at the same time it is very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 15:23:45 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date. Being a "Wit" in a way the yeast was decanted in the glass.

LOOK: Turbid, yellow straw, nice head

SMELL: Fresh herbs, fruity, citric, yeast, bready, spice, hoppy

TASTE: Smooth, bitty, bitter, spicy, dry, yeast, fruity, citrus pith, bready, nutty, medicinal herbs, chalky finish

I love the whole concept of the style, sort of a mish-mash of styles but it works and works here as well. Worth a getting a sixer of it IMO.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 03:20:00 | More by Jason

mdfb79

New York

4.1/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 06/07/12 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in Washington, DC.

a - Pours a clear pale yellow color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of citrus hops, pale malts, floral hops, light fruit, a tiny bit of spice. Very nice and hoppy.

t - Tastes of floral hops, citrus hops, herbal and earthy notes, fruity malts, and pale malts. Again, quite nice.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Very easy to drink, and no bitterness.

o - Overall a really nice, easy drinking Belgian IPA. Some nice floral and citrus hops to it, and no bitterness at all. Would love to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 19:38:29 | More by mdfb79

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap @ the Deschutes Brewery & Public House (Portland, OR) on 9/5/11. Served in a 10oz footed Pils glass.

Pours a hazy grapefruit color in the glass, topped with roughly a ½ finger cap of bright-white head. This retains with some rich edges, leaving back a decent amount of spotty lace down the sides of the glass. The aroma smells fresh and floral feeling, with notes of bubblegum and spice. There is a distinct grapefruit character to this as well, while the whole thing is backed in the nose by a firm crispness from that combo of wheat and Pils malt.

The taste has a crisp bitter twang on the palate of wheat character and fresh bitter fruit. Spice and resins have some strength as well and stretch into the finish, with pepper and lingering musty accents hanging a bit on the tongue. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a firm crispness the whole way through the feel. While the alcohol is naturally hid at only 5%, this feels like it could use a little more presence to help pop that bitterness here a bit more.

This was interesting. Almost like a cross between an APA, IPL, and Whitbier at times, which neither of these sides really stepping up and taking control of the overall experience. I’m glad that I gave this try, as it certainly had a unique spin on a couple of different styles but this ultimately didn’t leave a huge impression on me.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2011 18:54:54 | More by Kegatron

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
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

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Deschutes, Portland, OR

Clear yellow-orange liquid with a small, fizzy, white head; minimal lacing. Citrus and fresh hops in the nose, light notes of spice and funk. Crackery malts on the tongue, citrus and piney hops, acidic wheat profile, and spicy yeast. Good for the style. Light-medium body and easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2012 10:14:52 | More by Rifugium

kojevergas

California

3/5  rDev -18.7%
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

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.73/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: White with a light yellowish hue, good retention & lace.

S: Lots of lemon with hints of grapefruit & pine. Smells like an IPA.

T: This 'style' is often muddled, but the flavours here are really complimentary. It's a great wheat beer, without the spice, lemon is upfront, with some underlying grapefruit and pine. Solid bitterness.

M: Well-attenuated, light to moderate body has a crisp, dry finish.

O: Maybe it's just a fruity IPA with a bunch of wheat thrown in, but it really works.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2013 22:52:36 | More by Derek

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 6'er tonight at the 16th St. Albertsons... Paid about $8.50... Poured into a tall goblet... 2 finger white head has great retention and lacing... the brew is hazed pale yellow... maybe a touch darker than a standard witbier, but I could be imagining things.

Nose is I guess what I was expecting... a citrus hopped witbier... slight lemon note and maybe some orange peel.... Coriander? I think, but it may get lost in the light hoppiness.

Definitely getting coriander on the palate... the spicing brings this back into the witbier realm for me... barely enough bitterness to put this in IPA land... light hoppiness mid palate and on to the finish... a bit of yeasty phenols .. with warmth, the wheat comes out a bit more and adds a nice layer of complexity..

Body is light/medium with a good carbonation.. very very drinkable.

4/3.5/3.5/3.5/4.5

This brew should not be released so early... this is a summer brew.... a summer stunner... and should be in cans ;-)

I rarely buy witbiers as most domestic examples seem to balanced toward the spices or are too light body... this brew is perfect for summer sipping and lawn work.... I will make sure my wife (who loves wits) gets a bottle or two... I bet she has a new favorite.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 06:48:34 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

3.69/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

This is definitely some crazy stuff, and it's well worth trying just for the sake of an unusual flavor mix. This is one of the palest beers I've seen, almost greenish. Pronounced lemony aroma. Well-mannered foam and plenty of spritz on the tongue.

This tastes more like a Witbier dosed up with some hops and more citrus. The interesting tartness is almost in the range of some sours, but it lacks the vinegar edge. Quite lemon-lime flavored with an enduring sharpness. Maybe they just use a lot of orange peel, and the hops do the rest. The hops are listed as Bravo, Citra, Centennial, and Cascade. Thoroughly fascinating brew, but I don't need more than one for the forseeable future. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Baron's Marketplace in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 05:52:58 | More by mactrail

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My first thought, is this beer looks like a Wit. Matte colored head about one finger in thickness. Thin layer of foam last for most of twelve ounces. Hazey yet bright banana peel and hay color. Little bubbling.

Hoppy citrus, a little clove, bubblegum, and banana all take up space in this aroma. Smells like a Wit with American hops. Cool!

Dry, chalky palate with a good body. Dry bananas and sweet, lightly toasted wheat intermingle with citrusy and earthy hop flavors. This beer is great and easy and fun to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 14:45:49 | More by scruffwhor

stcules

Italy

2.7/5  rDev -26.8%
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

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz thanks to tenderbranson69 for sharing this -enjoyed chilled in a pint.

The color is very pale golden with light haze and thick white cream with average bead, good lace and retention. The smell is very mild wheat with a light tinge of citrus peel and other fruit/spice esters that don't really distinguish themselves exactly. The feel is light and spiced with slight tanginess with a moderate carbonation and creaminess level with light body.

The taste is gently malty with subtle spiced tinge with moderately lemony hop flavor with slight citrus tanginess and achieves a sort of lemon-pepper type combo with gentle toasted wheat taste in the background. I think this is a quality ale with more emphasis on the wheat than the IPA of the hybrid which is refreshing and nicely spiced with high drinkability -a quality offering from Deschutes, I wouldn't expect any less.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 18:21:59 | More by Slatetank

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.23/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by July 19, 2012.

Gorgeous hazy straw yellow colour with a big billowy head of foam.

It smells all sorts of good... spicy and hoppy with plenty of coriander and light mixed with lemon citrus.

The taste follows suit; nice coriander and light peppery notes with strong backing of lemon citrus with a hint of honey like sweetness.

This is a very tasty and refreshing brew that delivers a lot of taste and has a nice smooth mouthfeel. I like!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 15:03:07 | More by Bitterbill