Deschutes Chasin’ Freshies Limited Release Fresh Hop IPA

 Deschutes Chasin’ Freshies Limited Release Fresh Hop IPA.

6.5% ABV, 50 IBU, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon.

Yes, I saved my last fresh hop IPA until January, what of it? 

Clear, bright green hue, slim ivory head. 

In the nose: grapefruit and lemon, with a trace of tropical, slice of stone fruit, trickle of piney, drops of dank. 

In the mouth: blast of bitterness up front, followed by a splash of sweet. Hop flavors play smooth and gentle on the palate. Medium bodied, fresh, delicious, a joy to drink. Bitterness lingers on. Just the way I like it. 

I’ll get some more, if I see any. 

Crafted with Idaho 7 Hops

From fresh picked to fridge ready, seize the hop harvest season with this fresh and juicy IPA featuring aromas of tangerine, apricot and papaya paired with pine resin.

Deschutes The Abyss Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Reserve Series

 Deschutes The Abyss Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Reserve Series.

11.7 % ABV. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR. 

Absolute ebony. Terminal opacity. Rich tan head rests above.

In the nose: Boom. There's the bourbon, there's the barrel. Charcoal, smoke, molasses. Deep rivers of chocolate. I could sniff this for days. 

In the mouth: richness and hugeness, together at last. Full bodied, deep, swimming in chocolate, molasses, espresso. Slightly sweet, a touch of  bitter, altogether deep, vast, abyssmal. This is the sort of beer that I love to climb into and stay with for a very long time. Luxuriate and meditate. Dip me in and cover me up. Let it all roll over and surround me. Let in seep in every corner and satisfy my soul. I want to live in it, not just drink it. I need it to surround me, capture me, give me strength. It makes me say all kinds of meaningless, archly poetic kind of pretentious crap that most folks encourage in their rock lyrics but mock in their beer descriptions. 

All that aside, this is about as good as it gets.

Oh, wait, no, it would be better with marshmallows. Yeah, add marshmallows. And cookies! Throw in some cookies. And what else? Oh, this crap I scraped off of my shoe, that would be tasty, let's throw that in ....ooo, yeah, ...um, needs more...shoelace! Get it nice and lacey, oh, yeah....my old leather belt! That would add some texture, sure...oh, we're on a roll, now! 

Brewed with black strap molasses, licorice and dry-spiced with both cherry bark and vanilla beans. In addition, 50 percent of the beer was aged in oak bourbon, oak wine and new American oak barrels

Deschutes Cherries Jubelale Barrel-aged Imperial Winter Warmer

Deschutes Cherries Jubelale Barrel-aged Imperial Winter Warmer.

9.2 % ABV, Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR.

In the eye: Dark reddish brown, thoroughly opaque, slim brownish head. 

In the nose: Cherries on top of this one, with bourbon barrel flavors just below. Some vanilla and spice, a whiff of chocolate. 

In the mouth: Cherry's in charge again. The original beer is way below, takes of the barrel mingle a little. Slight tart flavor to match the sweet. Full-bodied, long malty finish. Getting very wine-like, with chocolate, spice, and a hint of smoke.

I kind of like it. 

Barrel-aged imperial winter warmer. Cherries and vanilla beans added.

Deschutes Chasin' Freshies Fresh Hop IPA 2021: Collaboration with Bitburger

Deschutes Chasin' Freshies Fresh Hop IPA 2021: Collaboration with Bitburger. Crafted with Triumph + Cashmere Hops. 

6 % ABV, 50 IBU, Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR. 

Clear, with a slight chill haze, bright golden, slim white head. 

In the nose: Bold, citrus and pine, with a slice of tropical on the side. Fresh and grassy. 

In the mouth: More fresh and lively hoppiness graces the palate. Low bitterness. Soft-ish, light bodied, easy drinking. Waves of citrusy flavors, lemon, orange, as well as other, as yet unidentified fruits, pass over the tongue and down the throat. 

This is not a surprising outcome for a collaboration with a German brewer known for its pilsner. It's not what I look for in a fresh hop IPA, when I really want to enjoy an American IPA with bolder hop expression. But this is what it is, and it is good, no matter how much I want it to be something else. 

From fresh picked to fridge ready, seize the day with every sip of this fresh hop IPA featuring notes of honeydew melon and tropical passionfruit.

Deschutes Symphonic Chronic West Coast India Pale Ale IPA

Deschutes Symphonic Chronic West Coast India Pale Ale IPA. Limited Release. 

7.2 % ABV. 41 IBU. Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR. 

Here we have the final bottle from a Deschutes IPACK (how do you pronounce that? IPA C-K? I-Pack? I.P. ACK?). Guzzled down the first eleven with wild abandon, as I do, saved this one for the Nib. Here come some notes: 

But, first: West Coast IPA! West Coast IPA! Rah, rah, RAH!!!!!

Lightly hazed, bright orange coloring, slim white head. 

In the nose: Pungent, overripe citrus, orange, tangerine, a hint of grapefruit, with a powerful punch of pine. Citrus bomb in the nose!

In the mouth: Intense hop bitterness from the start, met with juicy malt, and abundant hop flavors on the palate. Hops are popping. They're swimming all over the place, spreading deliciousness. Medium bodied, long bitter, hoppy finish, an absolute delight. This successfully mimics the West Coast IPA style, to a point, and the effort is appreciated. 

Mosaic LupoMax, Strata, Simcoe, Chinook and Nugget hops orchestrate an everlasting symphony of dank and tropical tones--creating a new take on the classic West Coast IPA. Encore!

Deschutes Squeezy Rider West Coast IPA India Pale Ale

Deschutes Squeezy Rider West Coast IPA India Pale Ale.

7 % ABV, 47 IBU, Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR. 

Once again. I'm having the last can from the 6-pack, several weeks after I finished the fifth one. I drank the first five with such wild abandon, way back in early March, I'm sure it was a terrific beer. Now, to find out for sure. Let's take some notes!

Clear, bright golden tones, slim white head. 

In the nose: Big citrus: orange, lemon/lime, grapefruit. Piney on the side. Nice. 

In the mouth: Burst of bitterness on the palate at first sip, turning juicy, ending dry. Citrus explosion. Medium bodied, long, bitter finish. On all levels, pleasant and appropriately drinkable. Quite delicious. 

But it's not really a West Coast IPA, it fails where the bitterness should be higher, mouthfeel drier, not so sweet and tropical. This is kind of a mutant hybrid version. I still like it, but it doesn't merit the nomenclature. 

Big tropical fruit punch aroma, light dank, and melon paired with clean, light malt character. Hop and yeast-driven fruity sweetness balanced with a bitterness that is laid back, leaving you care-less about IBU's.

Deschutes Royal Fresh Imperial IPA

 Deschutes Royal Fresh Imperial IPA.

9% ABV, 70 IBU. Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR. 

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head. 

In the nose: Expressive fruit, citrus and stone, sweetness supreme, touch of bitter. 

In the mouth: Massive mouth, big time bitterness, hops launch an assault upon the palate. Juicy, and turning hot. Alcohol rises. Candied fruit. Apricots and oranges, pineapple and tangerine. Medium bodied, long bitter finish. It's a big ol' hop bomb. Big and boozy, just the way I like 'em. 

Get a taste of hop royalty with this juicy juggernaut featuring big, tropical hop flavors and a deceptively smooth finish. 7 hop additions across 6 points of the brewhouse and fermentation add 5lbs/barrel of hops to this majestic brew. 

Deschutes Handup IPA

Deschutes Handup IPA.
6.5 % ABV. 65 IBU.
Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR.

Here's another one from a sampler pack, which I have been turning to more and more often. Others in the pack included such standbys as Black Butte porter, Obsidian stout, and Fresh Squeezed IPA, all of them always enjoyable. So, I had 11 bottles to down before I got to the one I needed to review.

Lightly hazed, bright yellow, slim white head atop.

In the nose: Citrus and pine play it nice and cool.

In the mouth: Blast of bitterness up front, waves of citrusy hop flavor (Amarillo, Azacca, & Centennial), lemon, orange, splash of grapefruit, ending on the dry side. Nice and crisp and lively.
Medium bodied, light malt flavors, a hop explosion. Slightly prickly, deliciously bitter.

IPA just the way I like it.

West coast IPA with light malt character, bright hop flavor and aroma. Grab a hoppy trackside Handup IPA and keep cranking across citrusy fields of floral hop flavor and tropical aromas to a crisp, dry finish.

Deschutes Only Slightly Exaggerated IPA

Deschutes Only Slightly Exaggerated India Pale Ale. In Collaboration with Travel Oregon.
Packaged on 8/12/19. 50 IBU. 6 % ABV.
Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR.

Crystal clear, bright golden tones, slim white head.

In the nose: Big citrus twist, intense lemon and lime, slightly tart.

In the mouth: Bold and bright citrus hop flavors burst onto the palate. Juicy malt. Brisk bitterness. Lemon and lime aplenty. Zesty and fresh. Light in body and expertly quaffable. Good beer and you can drink it.

Wild skies. Whimsical waters. Paradise found. Impossibly aromatic with a slightly exaggerated tropical hop profile, this enchanting IPA is, like Oregon itself, truly extraordinary.

Malt 2 Row, Wheat, Munich, CaraHell

Hops Sabro, Amarillo, Triskel, 431

A collaboration with Travel Oregon that captures the magic of Oregon like a whimsical fairy tale in a bottle. Explore a realm of unreal splendor, where tropical hops bloom amidst evergreen rainforests and light flavors of coconut come tumbling down clear alpine streams, descending into the dreamy depths of citrus zest.

I can't believe people get paid to write shit like that. Maybe that was the part that "Travel Oregon" collaborated on.

Deschutes Li'l Squeezy Juicy Ale

Deschutes Li'l Squeezy Juicy Ale.
5% ABV. 40 IBU.
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR.

It's interesting how trends and their adherents lead the way. You may notice that the label of this can does not refer to the beer inside as a pale ale, but as a "juicy ale." It's not an IPA, which is the style that the juicy lovers are chasing, but they perhaps wouldn't pick up on the pale style. Just call it "juicy ale" and you've got 'em. But, wait, it's not a "hazy"? Alright, juicy is close enough.

Clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: soft and citrus. Pinch of lemon.

In the mouth: Bracing bitterness first greets the palate, then swiftly fades back. Juicy malt texture. Easy squeeze, lemon peasy. Nice and drinkable, with a lasting hop bitterness. You know, I'm a little surprised by this. It's a pale ale version of Fresh Squeezed IPA, but I didn't think it would be so darned tasty. Well, why would I think that, Deschutes rarely misses.

Brewer Notes
Refreshingly juicy. Effortlessly drinkable. Freshly Squeezed. No fruit was harmed in the making of this beer. Malt 2-Row, Munich, C15, Golden Naked Oats
Hops Nugget, Citra, Azacca, El Dorado, Chinook
Alc. 5.0% IBU. 40

Kick back with a breezy blend of juicy hops and delicate malt character that’s dripping with fresh citrus flavors and zesty aroma. Lil’ Squeezy is gluten-reduced which means we took that gluten out!  Check out our report to learn how many parts per million in that can you’re holding.

Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale

It's spring, at last! The calendar says so, the thermometer says so, as do the robins and the dwindling snow. (There's still some remnants around of the towering snowbanks.) And yet...and yet...there's a prediction of snow for the middle of the week. Sigh. Why do I live here, again?

So, let's think about summertime, sweet summertime, as I take my first notes on Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale. 5 % ABV. 35 IBU. Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR.

Clear, golden/amber-toned, slim white head rings the top.

In the nose: Moderately hopped, nice and citrusy. Slightly sweet, with a malty/grainy touch. Intriguing.

Going in for the taste, I can't recall if this one, which I've had on tap before, but never a bottle, is a pale ale, or a golden ale, or what exactly. I'm thinking the latter. Let's drink. (I may be wrong, having seen it classified as pale ale.)

In the mouth: Floods the palate playfully, awash with flashes of bitter and sweet. Hop bitterness keeps time with malt, but never lingers too long. A spritz of citrus and pine, balanced by grain. Quenching, refreshing, flavorful. Tasty stuff to treat the tongue. Good beer and you can drink it.

This clever golden-hued ale pours remarkably crisp and clean. A bright malt body complements a refreshing hop profile led by bold additions of Amarillo hops. Find some shade, sit back and enjoy this taste of summer.

Deschutes Fresh Haze IPA

Deschutes Fresh Haze IPA. 6.5% ABV, 45 IBU. Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR.

So, Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA is very popular. And hazy IPAs are tres chic, non? So, it makes perfect sense, right? Let's find out.

Hazy...lightly hazy...I can still somewhat see my hand on the other side....amber/golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: Aggressive citrus, loud grapefruit, big and bold. Just what you'd expect out of Fresh Squeezed, or anything bearing the name.

In the mouth: Juicy citrus hop flavors from the very beginning. Dripping with orange and grapefruit, all up and down the palate. Light, crisp, refreshing, with minimal malt. Citrusy goodness explodes through the senses again, and again. Hard not to like this.


A hazy twist on your main squeeze, this juice bomb explodes with notes of orange citrus sweetness and a soft malt body.

And also: Introducing Fresh Haze IPA, our newest IPA is hazy with a chance of obsession. The flavor explodes in your mouth with notes of orange citrus sweetness and a soft malt body. Carrying both citrus and tropical fruit from Mandarina, Amarillo and Simcoe hops…OJ for days.

Deschutes Brandy Barrel Abyss

Deschutes Brandy Barrel Abyss. Imperial Stout brewed with black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark, and whole vanilla beans, 100% aged in brandy barrels for 12 months. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR. 13.3% ABV.

Complete blackness in the glass, with a tight ring of toasted brown foam on top.

In the nose: Chocolate, caramel, smoke, ash, anise. Roots and bark. Molasses, tobacco and leather. Dirty boots and coffee and soot. Campfire cocoa. Whoa.

In the mouth: Starts dark, rich, chocolatey and dense, and only gets muckier from there. Sweet, boozy, complex as heck. So many things lurking on the palate, getting it messy. Almost an overload. Alcohol hangs high in this one, though I don't get this distinct flavor of brandy in it. All the incredible flavors keep coming back, sip after glorious sip.  Damn. That is to say, Day-yum. And, mmm, hmm.

Crazy indulgent, crazy delicious. Goes well beyond anything else. I'm gazing straight into that Abyss. It gazes back. We're cool.

To celebrate the 11th anniversary of The Abyss we’ve bottled a 100% Brandy barrel-aged version for you to enjoy. This is a remarkably limited release so if you see it, grab a snifter on tap and a bottle (or two)!

Released December 2016

I am glad that I grabbed it when I saw it, but not entirely if it was worth $30-some. Almost. The brandy character wasn't as commanding. Despite what the brewer said:

Warm, smooth, sweet dried fruit and vanilla complement a commanding Brandy character.

Deschutes Swivelhead Red India Style Red Ale

Deschutes Swivelhead Red. 70 IBU. 6.5% ABV.

Clear, crimson coloring, slim off-white head.

In the nose: lively, grassy hop notes. Piney, then malty.

In the mouth: Sweet malt starts it off, quickly met with hops. Low bitterness, high flavor. Grassy, herbal hop notes lay long on the palate. Caramel/toffee malt flavors dominate. This is interesting. And  tasty. Good IRA and you can drink it.

From the label: "Profile: A head turning IRA with herbal hop aroma and smooth caramel maltiness."

Deschutes Pacific Wonderland Lager

Deschutes Pacific Wonderland Lager. 5.5% ABV. 40 IBU. Deschutes Brewing, Bend, Oregon.

Lightly hazed, bright golden appearance, lush, large snow-white layer of foam.

In the nose: fresh, zesty, clean and hoppy. Slightly floral. Good ol' lager-y smells.

In the mouth: Crisp and clean, with a good hop profile, starting slightly fruity and ending dry. Light bodied. Spicy and citrus-y all over the flavor of this.

Supreme consumability. This is my kind of lager.

Deschutes Sagefight Imerial IPA

Deschutes Sagefight Imperial IPA. 8% ABV. 75 IBU. Bend, Oregon.

Clouded amber coloring, long lasting white head. Looking great.

Aromatics: very distinct, more lemon and lime than anything else, plus plenty of spice. That's where the sage is coming through. It's an unusual element in a beer, and really stands out. Nice.

In the mouth: Before I imbibe, I want to quote this from the website gobbledygook: Citrusy hops go head to head with resinous sage and juniper in a flavor battle royale.

Why not more? Malt Pale, Crystal, Munich
Hops Millennium, Bravo, Amarillo, Centennial
Other Sage, Juniper Berries Cert.
Alc. 8% IBU. 75
Available September – February.

The main event for hopheads has arrived! In the right corner we have lively botanicals hailing from the high desert; in the left, heavyweight citrus hops are looking for a knockout. Get ready to take a punch and keep on swinging with this bold Imperial IPA brewed with sage and juniper berries that’s best shared with those in your corner.

Huh? What? Okay, I guess. 

Anyway, back to In the Mouth: Sage and spice hits first, with hops following after. Malt lays low, leaving this to be all about the hops and those interesting adjuncts. Piney, resinous notes and super citrusy stuff does battle with the extra, unexpected ingredients. In addition to sage, also juniper berries, so there. It's a weird one, but I like it. Tasty, refreshing, bitter and odd, all at once. I said "tasty", right? Well, it is. 

Deschutes Hop Slice Session IPA

Deschutes Hop Slice Session IPA, India Pale Ale brewed with Meyer lemons. 4.5% ABV. 45 IBU.

Clear, bright golden coloring, slim, but staying creamy white head.

Aroma: fresh, zesty, lemony. Not a trace of bitterness.

In the mouth: here it comes, a nice blast of bitter hoppiness that fades after a moment. Lightish body. Refreshing and tasty. Lemon-y? Yeah. Easy-drinking? Sure, you bet. A good one for summer.

I'm not thrilled with this one, but I don't think it's meant to thrill. Just to be emptied down your throat, then guzzled
again and again. Nothing wrong with that, as long as it tastes good.

Deschutes Pinedrops India Pale Ale

Deschutes Pinedrops IPA. 6.5% ABV. 70 IBU. Let's drink it.

Clear, bright golden hue, lush and lasting head, pure snowy white, leaving lace.

Bursts of citrus and sunshine in the nose. Beautiful floral notes, lemon and lime, and, yeah, some pine tones, too.

In the mouth, a blast of bitterness that coats the palate, then softly takes a bow and slides back. Bold, bitter and brilliant. Crisp and delicious. Oh, this is good. I will drink this over and over again.

There's only the slightest bit of gobbledygook on the packaging: " Hints of pine and spruce. Clean malt and a crisp finish." That's all you need to know. And the clean malt really makes this one shine, for sure.

I demand to know more, so I went on the inter webs. Hops: Northern Brewer, Equinox, Centennial, Chinook, Nugget. Malt: Pilsner, pale, munich, carapils, crystal. All the right ingredients (comment mine). More info: "Available Year-Round. This lively IPA delivers a crisp and light malt body with ample citrus and pine notes from Chinook and Equinox hops. Inspired by the aromas and silence we experience when exploring the scenic pine forests just up the road from our brewhouse."

As I said, I'll return to this one whenever I get the chance.

Deschutes Zarabanda Saison

Deschutes Zarabanda, Ale with lemon verbena, pink peppercorn, sumac and dried lime. What? Huh? What did I get myself into?

Best by: ? Can't read it.

Crafted in collaboration with renowned chef Jose' Andres.

Appearance: clouded, straw yellow color, slim and soon-gone white head.

Aroma: Spices and lemon zest. A little peppery, Belgian yeast.

Taste: Nice and citrus-y, neatly spicy, lean-bodied. Classic farmhouse ale flavor. Spice and lemon rises up in intensity, but remains low-key and pleasant. A little spice, a touch of sweet, and a hit of sour, here and there. Refreshing and terrifically drinkable.

What's a Zarabanda, though? Maybe the label will tell me…"We looked to acclaimed chef Jose Andres to help us create a Spanish take on the farmhouse style saison. The addition of lemon verbena, pink peppercorn, sumac, and dried lime infuse the chefs distinctive flavors into the brew--an ale purposefully crafted to complement all your culinary endeavors. Or to be savored by itself."

Well, I still don't know what a Zarabanda is, no thanks to Mr. Label Copy. (I've since discovered that it is the name of a Spanish dance.) Yes, it's a tasty saison, if heavy on the lemon and lime, but nothing too special. I can't think of whether Deschutes has made a beer quite like this, so I'm glad I tried it, and glad it was only $4.99.

Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale (given a fair shake at last, with apologies)

Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon. Crafted for Explorers Everywhere Since 1988. 5% alc./vol. Best by 02/19/15.

Time to re-discover this beer for reasons I'll get into after the notes.

Appearance: clear, copper-toned, with a large and lasting, lace-leaving head of creamy foam. Looks just about perfect.

Aroma: soft and slightly sweet at first, with a growing bitterness. Unfolding esters of citrus fruits and pine, matched with caramel malt character.

Taste: Snappy hop bite up front that lasts and lasts. Body is clean and malty, leaning toward medium in heft, with a lingering hoppy finish. Beautiful bittersweet hop kiss continues throughout, sliding back down the throat, lasting well into the next venture between lip and cup. Well-balanced and definitely drinkable. A classic Pacific northwest session pale ale. Just about right on.

So, end of notes. And now, this. I may have mentioned my efforts to tie up loose ends. Meaning: closing in on beers I haven't covered here yet, which I definitely should. Looking at the list of Deschutes beers here, I noticed the glaring omission of Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and bought a single bottle at Lake Wine & Spirits. Next, I checked on BeerAdvocate, for I was certain that I'd taken notes on a bottle before. And here's what I found, from January, 2003, 12 years ago.

"Tiny head, near violet in color. Aroma: loads of fruitiness: strawberry, melons, raspberry, very tasty. Finish is swift, though, and body is weak. I'm becoming bored very quickly. Hops don't provide much spark on the palate, feels a little flat. Maybe it's supposed to , but I feel a bit let down.
I did like Black Butte Porter, and Obsidian Stout, but this one did little for me."

How very green was my palate then, how immature my judgment. Now, I wonder how I got the bottle, for it was before I began trading. Did I bring it back from my visit to Portland in the fall of 2002, or did I take notes while there? I don't recall at all.

But wait, there's more. I added this addendum to it in 2010, it seems: "(P.S., Seven years later, I'm a little embarrassed with this review. Now that it's becoming prevalent in my hometown market, I intend to review a freshly tapped pint someday soon.)"

I don't remember exactly when Deschutes arrived in our market, but I did tap some kegs of Mirror Pond at the Blue Nile quickly afterward. And I never fulfilled that promise from the apology, until now, this one, though, from a bottle.  I've certainly enjoyed every pint I've had locally for the past 4 or 5 years. Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking, this is an quality pale ale.

Neck label reads: "Bottle conditioned to keep your beer fresh and enhance the flavors our brewers intended. This may leave a fine layer of yeast in the bottom of the bottle." Wait, there's more. "A distinct hop nose and deft balance made this pale ale an instant classic. It is aromatically complex, multi-layered and unmistakably honest. Your handy compass of "right" when exploring beer."