Deschutes Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale

From Deschutes Brewery – What makes this copper colored beauty so wildly popular?  As a debut Northwest Pale Ale, it’s an adventure all its own.  It has a plush body with satiny caramel flavors derived from seven varieties of malt.  Yet, despite it all, it remains a hop-forward ale with that distinctive citrusy punch.  Just minus any mouth-puckering bitterness.

Deschutes Brewery – Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale – 12 oz. bottle poured into a pint gass. 6.4% abv.

Appearance: Pours a dark, clear amber with no head. The slight gathering of bubbles at the tops leaves a webby lacing behind.

Aroma: Pine, light citrus rind, and sweet malt.

Taste: Grapefruit and pine hop bitterness, burnt caramel malts. Starts fairly sweet and fruity and finishes bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and medium carbonation level.

Overall: This beer didn’t knock my socks off, and from reading the marketing speak on the bottle, the beer wasn’t intended to.