Bear Republic APEX

On tap at Barley’s Smokehouse. Semi-opaque amber pour with a medium beige head. Lots of orange in the nose with some sweet malt. Orange flavor up front, giving way to sweet malt and hoppy bitter finish with a bit of spiciness.

On tap at Bulldog. Huge citrusy, caramel nose. Both are extremely well defined and stand out massively in their own right. Big piney start, then comes a thick malty caramel mouth with citrusy notes hitting the back of the mouth. Everything just stand out here so well. Where as an English bitter is about sutbley, but hops and malt playing specific parts this is about in your face with everything being there. Lasting piney, citrusy finish. Yummmmmm. If you want to know West Coast IPAs, this is a great example.

On tap @ Stone - Pours a clear amber color with a thin off white head. Nice lacing. Aroma is very floral. Flavor is lightly sweetened fruity esters and a good bit of floral and pine hops. Smooth and easy drinking. Medium body. A very good beer.

Aroma came on as strictly pine, seems to be the trend lately, to have a very concentrated sharp hop aroma, flavor is again sharp spicey hopping with a distinct but very meek sweet caramel backing. Definitely for hopheads only, drinkable enough for a couple at a sitting

Piney, floral smell from this clear golden hop bomb. Taste is hoppy, but sweet...almost as if those hops were dipped in some sort of sticky syrup. A biting bitter finish with elements of raspberry and a peppery spicy feel. Not sure that I totally enjoyed all of this, but it must have been interesting at least because i remember drinking at least 2 pints in one sitting.

I needed a hop bomb and this delivered. On tap at Sugar Maple in Milwaukee. Aroma is super hoppy with citrus taking the lead over pine trees. I’ve noticed there’s almost a house aroma/flavor of pine with everything these guys do. Bitter citrus and pine with just the faintest asprin finish. Caramel malts all in between. I’d love to try this one again.

On cask at DOLA 09. Pours a clear orange with a soapy white head. Aroma of citrus and hops. Somewhat buttery. Bitter citrus fruit flavors with caramel malts. The bitter and sweet have a strange balance that is kind of off. Odd, but not necessarily bad.

Draft at Sunset Grill. Poured a clear medium orange color. The head was off white and left a tenacious sheet of lace on the glass. Citrusy nose, particularly distinct orange. Medium bodied and slightly sweet with mild to moderate bitterness. Similar to the nose, there was a distinct orange flavor which was supported by a pleasant malty caramel note.