There are some Breweries that just get it. Deschutes Brewery out of Bend, OR is one such brewery. Their Black Butte Porter is always solid, and their Obsidian Stout is one of my favorite used motor oil-looking beers. Deschutes’ Red Chair IPA is another strong effort from the boys in Bend. Clocking in at just 6.4% ABV and 55 IBUs, Red Chair doesn’t quite have the bite and snap that I look for in an IPA, but makes up for it with a smooth and taste and finish that isn’t one bit surprising from such a solid Brewery.

Pouring a smooth amber color that is rather transparent for an IPA, the Red Chair formed a good two-finger head that lingered for quite awhile. Even the smell of red chair somehow meets this beer. The fruit comes right to the front, and though the bottle says it’s a “Courageous take on the traditional IPA,” Red Chair’s initial short-blast of hops gets rounded out quickly by the flourish of fruit. But come now, no IPA should be settling for such a low ABV and IBU count. I want hops and a solid slap on first taste. Again, as the bottle notes, they replaced the bitterness present with something like Bell’s Two Hearted and kicked it to the curb in favor of a flowery and slippery finish.

Is this a particularly courageous beer? Not particularly. But for $4 in a 1 pint, 6 oz. bottle, this tame IPA makes for a fairly decent session beer for anyone looking to jump from amber ale territory to something a bit crisper. Settle into that red chair out back and take in the Oregon sunset. Or the Alabama. Or wherever. Red Chair will fit the mood.

Here is what Deschutes has to say about Red Chair

Red Chair IPA is named after the oldest operating lift at Mt. Bachelor, a classic old school double that locals flock to on fresh powder mornings. This beer has been wildly popular with our pub regulars, who always seem to know when we have hit on something special.

This IPA is a bright copper beauty with a solid head and perfect lacing that typifies Deschutes ales. It has a plush body with satiny caramel flavors derived from seven varieties of malt. Despite all of this, Red Chair is still a hop forward ale, but not in the way many have gotten used to. You will find no cloying, mouth puckering bitterness here. In its place a straight up succulent citrus punch to the nose.