Bear Republic APEX

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Healdsburg, California USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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Citrus on the nose, grapefruit and orange are predominant. Amber beer with a gigantic creamy head. Flavors of caramel malts, a touch of fruity sweetness and gritty citrus hops. The hops and malt combine to make a pretty fruity libation. The texture is gritty, chewy, and it is more sweet than hoppy.

GABF 2005: Clean golden hue with good lace. The nose detected some citric fruit, piney, dusty yeast, and butterscotch esters. The taste was pineapple and fresh hops with a bready background and metallic finish. The feel is firm, crisp, and dry. While it was enjoyable and refreshing enough, I still felt it was missed that spark. Surprised to find out it is a IIIPA and 8% ABV, I didn’t detect that.

Draft at the Concordia Ale House. Cloudy medium bright orangeish amber. Thick, creamy, tannish head. Nice fruity nose, almost sharp like a bold marmalade. Creamy medium body. Fruits (oranges and grapefruits) come back for the mid-palate. Nice resiny bite at the finish. Clean and tidy and delicious. No doubt I could drink the bejeebus out of this one. Looks like it has been reborn at some point, new recipe or something, getting more love recently. Don’t fear the Apex.

I had this at the Day of the Living Ales 2009, GI Wrigleyville. The aroma was perfumey with the blending of floral scents, grapefruit and pine, and a sweet light maltiness. The malt was stronger, light but caramelly, in the flavor, but the hops were stronger yet. It also had a hit of heat from the alcohol. Dry, hot finish with a smack of bitterness.

Tasted at the 5th Annual Bistro 2XIPA Fest. Medium orange color. Small head. Aroma is malty, orange and floral. Lots of buttery flavors. A medium bodied Imperial IPA. Malts are fruity and sweet. A touch of orange and grapefruit. Lots of buttery flavors. Hops are piney, citrusy and grapefruity. Touch of alcohol bite/oiliness. Nice balance. Smooth taste. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. OK, but a slight off taste.

Clear golden orange with a fizzy white head. Big grapefruit and pine aroma and taste with butterscotch dominant and a slightly soapy over hopped taste.

On tap at Bistro DIPA Fest. This amber ale poured with a decent off-white head and a malty aroma. There is a mellow caramel malt base enhanced by significant hop bitterness.

Tap at Capones. Pours a nice somewhat clear orangey amber with a nice massive lasting whtie sticky head- good palce as well. Aroma is very fresh- tons of PNW hops- fresh this years batch of Columbus- piney gritty, sappy, and almost has a raw weed- very skunky in a good way with hints of mint to the hops. Flavor is also packed with citrus and piney hops with hints of mint and week, very raw, slight earth, ok caramel sweetness just for a backbone, but the mid palate and finish are just a shit ton of raw hoppy bitterness that has some serious power to it- very resinous. Awesome.

Draught:   Copper hued amber, lively carbonation, moderate white head, frothy, nice lacing.   Bright citrusy aroma, some hops as well.   Not much on the aroma says IIPA to me, in terms of malts or sweetness.   Strong citrusy hops up front, minor sweetness, balanced with a bit more bitterness.   This one seems like a nice robust IPA, but lacks depth and body.   Needs more umph in my book.   As is, a very nice 1½ IPA.   Strong citrusy and resiny finish.

Draught at Capone’s: Aroma of hops, citrus, grapefruit, light toasted malts, pine, and apricot. Poured amber orange in color with a tiny white head. Lightly hazy. Slightly sparkling. Good lacing. Flavor is light to medium bitter. Tastes of hops, apricot, grapefruit, pine and a bit of orange. Medium body. Dry texture. Average carbonation. Hoppy, piney, bitter finish.