Bear Republic Brewery Co
Reviewed by RD
7.0% ABV
This may be the best IPA I've ever had...if not its pretty close!
Colour: This renowned IPA poured a clear pale gold with a great level of carbonation and a brief but foamy white top.
Nose: The first thing that struck me was fresh and smooth hops. This was followed by bready biscuit malt, with hints of butterscotch and popcorn. Sweet and buttery but balanced beautifully by Chinook, Cascade, Columbus and Centennial hops.
Taste: Bags of sweet malt stroll in, make its presence know before giving way to a concise burst of citrus, but more like pineapple and candied tangerine than the tart grapefruit you usually find in IPA. The hop profile is brief but poignant, full of C-Hops, fresh and crisp. It doesn’t attack like some hoppy beers do, its restrained and easy on the palate. A lively spurt of carbonation keeps it lively and tight. The flavours then roll on to an after taste that is of sweet American pale and crystal malt.
Overall Experience: I’ve heard lots about this IPA recently, Mark Dredge professed his love for it saying it had surpassed both Elder and Younger of the revered Pliny legacy. So I was expecting something special. I was expecting a bigger hop punch with chewy resinous hops, but this was so controlled and smooth. I could drink a bottle or two of this every night of the week. Its one of those beers that when you start drinking you want to quaff a four pack because its so darn tasty. But at the same time you want to savor it because it’s so well crafted and you know it’s going to be a while until you get another.
This is a very special beer and I’ll go along with Mr. Pencil and Spoon and say I preferred this to Pliny the Elder. Both are excellent beers but this pips it due to the level of drinkablity.
This is a gold standard beer in anybody’s book. Only one problem, I’m going to spend every moment of every day searching and hoping for my next encounter with Racer 5.
This beer is delicious. Where others kick and punch, this is just a real treat and definitely one you could drink every day. I had a few pints of this in California, including straight from the tank at their brewpub, and can confirm that it bottles very well too.
For me this beats Pliny the Elder because it's more fruity and balanced. Of course, Pliny is still very nice! And welcome to my world of spending every moment looking for more Racer 5! I wonder if The Rake have any more…
Incidentally, I have also had Racer X, Racer 50 and Racer 11 and all of these are fantastic too. Bear Republic rock.
Do you know what, when I tried this at the GABF I think I must have had total tastebud burnout (perhaps due to judging Belgian Strong Out of Category Wood-Aged & Rauchbier in the afternoon) so when I retried it at the Rake I was thrilled that I suddenly got what the fuss was about.
Racer X is also one hell of a beer, and responsible for me floating through Newark airport in a slightly drunken daze and sleeping the whole flight home!
The brewer also looks like a young Lemmie from Motorhead, worth props alone one feels!