Bear Republic XP Pale Ale

22oz. Pours a lovely dark golden orange color with an orange head. Nose is quite lovely! Relatively aromatic with some serious sweet malt and grapefruit action. Body is even more complex, showing well-balanced hop attributes (bitter citrus, sweet citrus, pine) with a nice little dash of spearmint. Body is almost perfect, light but possibly just a bit too soft. This was a great surprise, I could see myself coming back to this one.

Pours an orange/amber with a smalish off-white head that dissipates fast but leaves decent lacing. Nose of malt with a sweet grape almost white wine like quality. Taste is a nice balance of malt and hop with notes of grape and apple. Finish is of that hoppy variety rather common in good American ales. A tasty and enjoyable brew.

Listed on the tasting menu as Special XP Ale. I assume this is the same thing! Well balanced between malt and hop, but the intense hop presence is a dead giveaway as to the priorities of this brewer. As with several of their beers, this one is a hop lovers dream. Smooth and drinkable, a bitter finish, citrus, pine, grapefruit, and everything nice. Love it.

Bomber. Thanks to zythum for the trade. Pours a copper color with a thick off-white head which produces lots of lacing. Aroma is floral and herbal. This is a very well balanced Pale Ale with malts and hops. The malts are bready and a little caramel with hops that are floral and citrusy. Light bitterness towards the finish. Solid. Thanks again zythum!

Bomber at Jerry’s. Copper with big, foamy off-white head / Nose of citrus and melon / Light to medium body, lively, fine carbonation, with dry hops dominating malts, and with good, biting finish / Flavors of burnt sugar and dry hops with notes of orange and melon / Very nice, with less of a fruit profile than most APAs.