Bear Republic Crazy Ivan

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Ale
Healdsburg, California USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Belgian yeast infused Ale seem to still be all the West Coast rage. Medium bitterness and Belgian flavors produce a unique amber bodied ale. Explaining to customers that the beer is a "West Coast Belgian style Ale with a Russian sounding name" is sure a mouthful.

On tap at Pap. Pours clear dark amber with a one finger beige head. The nose is light spice, malt and citrus. The taste is caramel, citrus, spice and pine. Medium prickly mouthfeel. Different brew.

On tap at R&H NY
Aromastrong hoppy feel , sweet caramel matts , clean finish. Easy going aroma.7+
Appearance amber with light haze , medium top.
Flavor and Palate : medium bodied , leafy hops. All this package is smooth easy going and drinkable. Solid bitter ale.

My first beer to warm up before the great Three Floyds event at the Brickskeller earlier this summer. Slight clove aroma with medium hop taste. I like Bear Republic’s beers a lot.

on draft at cap ale WE. orangey hue with average head and some lacing. Belgian yeast character is strong on the nose, along with floral hops and some citrus accents. hops are stronger in the taste, with great spruce-like evergreen notes and a pungent, peppery quality. dry finish with a nice, bitter fade.

Churchkey 10oz ($5): Pours a brownish color without very much head; no lacing is left afterwards. Caramel, floral hops, Belgian yeast (but not too overt). Beer has a sufficient amount of hops and definitely falls in with the Belgian IPA crowd of beers. The Belgian yeast in the taste is not as strong as other examples of the style (Raging Bitch for instance). In a sense, it veers more to the IPA than the BA. Still though, a very interesting beer, with all the flavors done right, though I should add that this was by far not the best offering from Bear Republic that I have encountered.

On draft at Capones. Pours a clear coppery amber with a medium sized white head. Aroma of floral hops, faint citrus and lemon tea. Taste of floral hops, honey lemon tea, light pine and citrus.

On tap at the Fort Worth Gingerman. Dark reddish pour with an off-white head. Aroma is caramel, pine hops, and a little sweetness. Taste is sweet fruit up front with a bitter hop, caramel finish.

Tap at Gman courtesy of Fratto. Clear heavy rust color. Light ring of head. Hops on the nose, leafy and mossy though. Flavor is fruity and leafy hops. Wet mouthfeel with soothing earth elements. Not spicy but present.

Draft at Lure’s Annapolis. Dark amber with a nicely laced head. The aroma is nicely blended caramel malt with a hint of grassy hops. This drinks with a similarly well balanced concoction of a warming almost milky alcoholic malt base topped with a just bitter enough hop flourish. Excellent. (#3942, 7/13/2010).