Bear Republic Racer 5

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

Pours a very pale yellow-orange, with a small ephemeral head that leaves lace. One of the palest pale ales I’ve ever had, to tell you the truth. I believe that this bottle is pretty fresh and the aroma is outstanding, with heavy West Coast hops - oranges and citron flower aromas come on very strong. Very balanced flavors, a little malt sweetness with a citric, almost sour bitterness. Body is light and refreshing and hop resins seem to coat your mouth, with long-lingering tastes and aromas. This one is an excellent IPA -- not my favorite (I’ve only had it twice), but damn close.

Many thanks to BA TexIndy for this bomber of Racer 5 from our recent trade. The pour was clear pale, and the head atop was large and retained well, as is typically the case with IPAs. The smell was quite strongly hoppy for a single IPA. The alluring smell of grapefruit and apricot just begged me to take the first sip. As I did it, a spicy and generously bitter taste tingled my tongue as the ample carbonation amplified it. Following this was the malt, but it was not candy sweet like some other beers of this strength, but more caramelized, drippy, and soft. The aftertaste was salty and citric. The hop oils coated every part of the tongue after each swallow, leaving a long drawn out tingly aftertaste. Mouthfeel was medium full and quenching. One of the most pleasing beers to drink if you are ever drawn towards hops like I am. All I can say is the following:

I pledge allegiance to the checkered flag of Racer 5 and to the Bear Republic for which it stands, one brewer underdog, independent, with deliciousness and hops for all.

Light to medium amber, with lotsa floaters, and a huge head. Sweet grapefuit aroma, just like a damn good IPA should have. Flavor is piney and grapefuity, and kinda sweet... but finished with that bitter hop, making this one helluva beer.

22 oz bomber: oh man this beer has such a nice head. pours a nice de3ep golden color with some floating sediment in the bottle. oh man smells so creamy, piney and very hoppy. real nice. my friend kate said "the head looks like "whipped cream" and i agree. has a thick, smoooth sticky mouth feel. tastes buttery, and hoppy/happy. so nice. a great cali ipa. california has THE best beers in the world.

first off lumpy is wrong. orange tinted tan with a fat sticky cream head. candy hop aroma that has citrus notes reminiscent of orange chewing gum. malt flavor mixes great with the strong hop presence. great citrus caramel flavor. finish is superb, sweet lingers and a piney sugar daddy flavor remains. a surprisingly clean and fresh mouthfeel for something with so much sweetness.

Almost luminating deep orange coloured beer with a very creamy and fluffy slight yellow-white froth. Aroma is one and all refreshing hops, it is like putting your head in a bag with fresh hop bells. It is really an explosion of hops, pine needles, grapefruits, Alp-flowers and dry malts. Taste is dry and has a mild roundness, also touches of peach-pits and and bitter orange-skin. The afthertaste is long, complex and mineral. A true hop-booster with a female elegance. This is a real hop sensation.

Bomber. Pours a light orangish amber with some slight haze and a small white head. Aroma is bursting with citrus: tangerine and grapfruit with some slight earthy hop notes. Some background sweet malt made its way into the nose as well. Flavor is of hops hops hops. Citrussy, floral, and grassy with a mild fruity ester profile. Pleasant full bitterness from the hops with minimal astringency in the dry finish from the high hopping rate. Caramel sweet malt flavor to complement. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth. For a regular IPA, I have not had better. Refreshing, easy to drink and yet wonderfully complex and interesting.

Delicious. Pouring a deep amber color with a frothy white head that coats your glass as you drink, the strong aroma of citric (grapefruit, mainly) hoppiness dives into your nose. (Well, mine, at least.) It’s got a great malt flavoring beneath the heavy, bitter hopping. Nice, dry finish. This is a brewery worth following.