Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA

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

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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This beer poured a nice amber cold color and formed a huge foamy white head htat left circular lace as is slowly, very slowy subsided. Some steady carbonation is also present to account for this. An aroma of malt, hops and some burnt caramel present. A flavor of malt, hops and caramel. A slight burnt aspect and bitterness to the finish. Slightly sweeter than most IPAs I drink, but a good beer.

Nice IPA, well balanced and drinkable, the alcohol is not present in taste. Full malt background and very nice clean hop taste. Will have to buy this one again. Not my favorite, but not bad....

Racer 5 pours with a great hop aroma. What an attractive beer,golden, amber color with a dense head it just screams Drink Me!Well carbonated with a medium body. Very hoppy but with a nice balance. I really enjoyed this beer. favorites.

UPDATED: MAR 26, 2010
Re-rate March 26th, 2010
Had from 750ml bottle. Pours a beautiful clear orange hue with a substantial white head which dissipates slowly and leaves behind ample lacing. Aromas of citrus and pine, definitely a hoppy beer. Taste is all hops - bitter, piney, and floral. A wonderful IPA which finishes slightly bitter and without any alcohol aftertaste. Re-rate of 3.7 (original rating of 3.6, aroma increased from 6 to 7 on re-rate).

Had on tap at O’Brien’s on March 20th, 2003 - Celebrating the end of Finals!!
The beer pours with a nice amber/brown appearance and has a great smell of hops and a slight sweetness. The initial taste is hops, hops and more hops - but damn, is it good. A slightly bitter/acidic aftertaste, but nothing bad at all. A great, hoppy beer. Recommended.

This beer is a "hopheads" delight! Nice amber pour. Overwhelming floral aroma. Intitially bitter, bitter palate, bitter burps! Did I say hoppy?

UPDATED: DEC 1, 2003 I can't forgive myself for not choosing the Racer X over this at the RAF'03!!! I know I'll run into this one sooner or later, but will probably never see the X again! The Racer 5 is a hophead's dream come true with bright brass color and grassy, rindy hops from start to finish. Not much malt to speak of. Pretty strong alcohol burn on the way down to my belly!

UPDATED: SEP 13, 2012 Extremely hoppy aroma. Malt is basically liquid hops. Slightly fruity, but overall just very very hoppy. Smooth finish, I just wish there was a little more complexity in the malt, because the hop balance was great. Re-Rate, 9/12: Citrus and hops combine on the nose. There’s subtle grapefruit and tropical fruit through the creamy texture but this really does showcase a healthy combination of fresh hops through the finish, ending on a somewhat metallic note. Still would like to see more going on underneath the strong hop component, but this is much better than my initial rating (3.4).

Great copper/golden color. Good head with a pronounced hoppy aroma. Slightly complex with sweet hop, citrius and lingering pine overtones. When your done with your first tilt your your glass and pour another 4.

UPDATED: JAN 31, 2003 Nice shiny copper body with a good head. The aroma is sweet and citricly hoppy. The flavor is nicely malty with a lightly sweet breadiness that makes me want more of this. The problem comes in the hops that, while nicely bitter, lack a certain zing and has a slightly medicinal quality. Man, I hope I can manage to figure out this malt profile and the one in Anchor Liberty for my own homebrew when I start next week.

UPDATED: MAR 23, 2004 Dark golden color, with a dense off white head. Floral and citric hops aromas, with just a touch of malt. As it warms the alcohol come out and distracts. Not as heavy as it appears. Seem to lack something. Not over the top hops, not deep and malty, hangs out in the middle and doesn't meld together. As it warms farther the alcohol really comes out and takes over with the acidic bitterness.