Red Racer Classic Pale Ale - Central City Brewing

AaronS

4.85/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I created an account here just so I could rate this beer. It is amazing. It's very hard to find in Chicago but I seek it out regularly.

I found a regular pint glass doesn't do anything for it. I prefer to use a Guinness glass. Huge firm, sticky head like a marshmallow.

This is hands down my favorite IPA. Smooth hops with a fresh, tangy, yet soft bite.

The can design is a thing of beauty as well.

Seek this out and try it.

Serving type: can

Serving type: can

07-26-2012 15:30:02 | More by AaronS

Noxious26

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.68/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

355ml can poured in a pint glass. Purchased from Willow Park in Regina.

Light copper to dark orange in colour. Off white head is 1/4 inch on the pour and recedes to a few islands and a thin ring around the edge. Moderate streams of carbonation and delicate lacing down the sides.

Aroma is a big punch of citrus accented by sweet caramel. Yummy juicy fruit gum with hints of grapefruit.

Citrus throughout. Sweet and mellow with hints of caramel at the start. Drier and a hoppier citrus finish.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Very smooth and easy to drink.

One of the best APAs that I've ever had. This is only the second Central City brew that I've had but colour me impressed. Wish I had more access to these terrific beers!

Serving type: can

07-05-2012 03:01:44 | More by Noxious26

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured with a moderate-sized, white foamy head that had pretty good lasting power. Body is dark copper and clear.

S: Nice aroma with a moderate, ctirusy hop presence that fits perfectly for the style... enough malt to help balance.

T: Again, while the malt presence is sufficient for the style, it's obviously the hops that come out ahead... but don't be mistaken, this beer is not an IPA, and it knows it. The bitterness is firm but not overpowering, and the citrusy hop flavor is perfectly balanced.

M: Moderate-light bodied, moderate carbonation.

D: One of the best American Pale Ales I've had... some APAs are too light on the hops, while others seem to want to be IPAs. CC's APA is right on the money.

Serving type: can

10-14-2010 17:45:05 | More by berley31

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Never get tired of these red racer cans.

Appearance. Deep golden straw with a hint of red and a finger of off-white, bubbly head that lasts a while.

Taste. Bitter pink grapefruit rind and a little grass. Nice roasty caramel malt. Quite dry with a little tangy citrus and some lasting bitterness. Really well balanced while showcasing the citrusy hops.

Mouthfeel. Good strong but smooth carbonation. Perfect lighter body that is exemplary for the style.

Drinkability. A fantastic drinker. Could burn through a few of these with no trouble.

Serving type: can

03-02-2011 00:43:34 | More by Rutager

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz can into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright gold color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick on the glass.

S: The aroma contains floral hops, caramelized malts and some citrus.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of citrus and caramel that are followed by a hearty but not too heavy malt character. Then a strong but not over-powering hops presence comes in to provide a very good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, mild kick, very good representation of style, this is a very nice beer worth drinking for a whole evening.

Serving type: can

03-22-2011 03:13:58 | More by TheManiacalOne

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Have enjoyed this several times but somehow never reviewed it
A - clear rich golden, two fingers of head dissipated slowly leaving random lacing
S - grapefruit juice, orange zest, biscuity and spicy, very inviting
T - punget grapefruit and orange hop flavours with some light perfumes, biscuity grainy malt with light peppery nots
M - light body, initially juicy moving to a pleasant balanced bitter
O - super flavourful and sessionable, Central City has yet to dissapoint

Serving type: can

03-04-2012 06:23:44 | More by joemcgrath27

sukwonee

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 2 finger head, not much lacing, light-to-medium orange body, some bubbles

S: Citrus, lemon

T: Refreshing! (and hoppy). I get lots and lots of citrus and lemon and hoppy bitterness. Finishes with a bit of malt and more bitterness.

M: Good amount of carbonation, light to medium body.

O: I liked this brew quite a bit. I would have given a 4.5 overall if it had a bit more, but I don't seem to get other fruits other than lemon and some bitter citrus. Different for sure.

Serving type: can

05-04-2012 06:29:55 | More by sukwonee

wagenvolks

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Woo-hoo! 3 new cans in one night thanks to xnicknj & the Nice Cans II BIF!

Excited to try the little cousin of Red Racer IPA, and the Pale pours like it should: sticky, albeit thin cap of spittle-white foam atop a translucent body the color of tangerine flesh. Speaking of citrus, the aroma exudes fresh grapefruit juice. BIG notes of orange peel and more grapefruit--all else 'Pale Ales' in comparison. Puns aside, there's a hint of pale malts and some spicy Band-Aid phenolics that keep this beer from a perfect rating in the aroma department.

The flavor switches from grapefruit to mandarin orange--but it's a welcome change for sure. Big, flavorful hop notes literally ooze citrus juices. A bit soapy, though, as the phenolics become more present as RRPA warms. Very nice palate presentation, as the finish packs in some herbal bitterness that clashes with traces of caramel maltiness. Mouthfeel is snazzy and biting with carbonation ripping through the medium body. Makes the tongue wake up and take notice! Me gusta. Great beer, get at this if you 'can'.

Serving type: can

10-16-2010 05:08:16 | More by wagenvolks

Hornet2003

British Columbia (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured a very yellow, almost lemon-skin colour. A little less amber than I'm used to. I guess it looks like a lager, really. Nice fluffy head, but it doesn't hang around long.

Smell: Quite the hoppy nose on this one. Grassy and citrus are the predominant aromas, but there's some roastiness and a bit of a sweet sugary smell as well.

Taste: Great! Way hoppier than your average CDN pale ale. The hops are pleasant, bitter, and definitely at the forefront. There is, however, a lot of malt to balance it out.

Mouthfeel: Nice carbonation. Not too over the top with the oily hoppiness, but with bitterness that hits where it should. The maltiness nicely tempers the bitterness with a solid sweetness.

Drinkability: Off the charts. Low-ish alcohol content and the bold, strong flavours make this a great relaxation session beer.

Overall: I'm glad we can get this in cans now all over the lower mainland. No skunk to be found. Also of note is the cool artwork on the can. Kind of a retro feel. This is definitely the best bang for the buck APA in BC.

Serving type: can

07-22-2008 21:14:43 | More by Hornet2003

billybob

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured a one finger head and fair lace. aroma is nice with fresh pine and floral notes. fruity, citrus, and pine in that order hits your taste buds. tint of grape fruit but not bitter tasting. medium mouthfeel and carbonation holds fairly well. would buy it agian.

Serving type: can

12-26-2009 21:47:50 | More by billybob

EskimoDave

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bright copper with rocky white head which leaves all kinds of lacing.
Light sweet malt dominated with pine and a little bit of citrus poking through.
Smooth caramel with pine dancing in the back of your mouth.
Very smooth, a fuller body than most pale ales. A small bitter, clean, and fairly dry finish.
A quality Pale Ale, very drinkable. Good price too.

Serving type: can

03-07-2010 21:52:58 | More by EskimoDave

drabmuh

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer served cold in my St. B goblet. Beer is dark yellow and slightly hazy. Pours nice with a thick head of small and medium bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate. Looks fine.

Aroma is mild and malty with some hops. Its pretty good smelling for a pale ale.

Beer is medium bodied, really nice creamy mouthfeel with decent levels of carbonation in the mouth. Mild sweetness up front clean finish in the back. Moderate bitterness, highly drinkable. A really good little pale ale.

Serving type: can

08-02-2010 00:36:10 | More by drabmuh

malloyca

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful appearance; very clear and golden amber in color, minimal head when poured from the can into a pint glass. Grain and fresh bread aromas, with faint hints of citrus and hops in the background. The grain and biscuit aromas carry through in the flavor, again with a faint hop backbone. This is very well balanced and has a great mouth-feel. The restraint and balance of the flavors make this ideal session beer. It would also be great with most all types of food.

Serving type: can

08-06-2010 13:43:39 | More by malloyca

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear golden-yellow, fluffy white head, good retention & lacing.

S: Big Pacific Northwest aroma (Nectarine, tangerine, pine, grass); tropical fruit & toffee.

T: Tangerine, nectarine, floral (almost soapy), grapefruit rind, pine, grass, candied pineapple, slight toffee sweetness, decent bitterness.

M: Moderate body, carbonation is a little high, light hop acidity.

D: Good for a hop fix! (definitely a 4.5; a session ale for the hop head)

Serving type: can

12-20-2008 19:05:52 | More by Derek

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pour - medium golden in color, bubbly goodness with a very thick, fluffy head that leaves tons of lacing on the inside of the glass. Good stuff!

Aroma - good amount of hoppy goodness in the nose. Citrus combines nicely with the malt back to this pale ale. All is as it should be. Spot on for an American, or Canadian as it may be, Pale Ale (APA).

Taste - lemon and orange citrus flavors, floral hoppiness and a good deal of malt sweetness to even things out quite well. Nothing fancy as far as taste goes but this is one very drinkable pale ale in a can. Plenty of fresh hop flavor packed into this one.

Overall - I'd have to say it win's out over Dale's Pale Ale in my opinion. It's more balanced and just has a certain quality to it that really does it for me. Easy drinking and portable. Perfect for any outdoor adventure.

Would I buy more of it? - yes, for sure. Although, I might be supplementing with their IPA!

Serving type: can

12-05-2009 05:17:54 | More by indiapaleale

flagmantho

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz can into a clear mug.

Appearance: clear golden hue with a little touch of haze. Pours a thick finger of frothy ivory foam head which is nicely attractive.

Smell: lightly fruity hop aroma with notes of grapefruit and pineapple. Nicely tropical and refreshing; I like it a lot.

Taste: bright hops throughout but not terribly strong, which is true to style. Hop flavors remain fruity and citrusy; malt is a little biscuity and bready; an interesting combo that seems to be working well.

Mouthfeel: light-medium body with a good carbonation and concomitant creaminess. Quite good for the style.

Overall: this is a well-composed beer with a good theme. The fruitiness of the hops and the light dryness of the malt play together well to make this a very refreshing thirst quencher. I'd definitely go for this beer again.

Serving type: can

09-06-2011 00:44:38 | More by flagmantho

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Serving Type - 355ml can poured into a small pint glass.

Appearance - Pours a hazy golden-hazel colour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head which fades slowly leaving behind some quality lacing along the sides of the glass.

Smell - Citrus hops and coriander strike me immediately. There's also a heavy presence of wet grass. There is a light malt character as well, but it's comparably subdued.

Taste - Grassy and citrus hops right away, which linger until towards the middle. Citrus seems to be predominantly grapefruit. A decent amount of bitterness is present from mid drink and lingers for a while after the finish. Like the nose, there is a small amount of roasted malts in there somewhere.

Mouthfeel - Medium body and low carbonation make for a dry finish. Nothing noteworthy.

Overall - 4/5

Serving type: can

06-17-2013 02:40:17 | More by IdeaSpeeder

ludachris

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden amber hue with one finger of paper white head that dissipates rather quickly but leaves a good amount of spider leg lace.

Somewhat reminiscent of their IPA, the nose is very citrus-forward. The notes of grapefruit seem to branch off into two directions; one being candied and sweet, and the other being more raw and rhiney, with the former being slightly prominent. Lemon zest and bready malts can also be detected in the mix, making for a great smelling APA.

A bitter kick from the grapefruit hits the back of the palate with an added lemony twist as it progresses. Sour peach candy and the sweeter side of the grapefruit assert themselves in the end, over a bready malt backbone with the latter proving to be the lasting note in the finish.

Mouthfeel is clean, crisp, and quite refreshing, partly due to the flavourful citrus presence.

I'd place this in the top three APA's I've had thus far. I'm infatuated with the citrus character that is quite pronounced in both their IPA and APA. If only they had this stuff readily available in Ontario. Buy it if you see it.

Serving type: can

04-29-2010 21:14:03 | More by ludachris

vtfan77

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Light gold with an orange tinge. The head seemed pretty decent at first but I blinked and it was gone, having dissipated into a splotchy ring of lace in a matter of seconds.

S- Nice mingling of crisp, citrusy hops and rich cereal grains with a touch of caramel.

T- The hops come through stronger in the taste with a good dose of tart grapefruit. The malt provides a substantial backing but the hops are front and center, more so than I expected in a regular pale ale. The malt character is dry and bready and the beer never gets too sweet, finishing dry with a moderate bitterness.

M- On the light side of medium-bodied and rather crisp with a good dose of carbonation.

D- Quite good. The alcohol is reasonable and the mouthfeel and taste make this a good candidate for quaffing on a warm day. I could have several of these.

I got this by mistake, thinking it was the IPA. I was a bit disappointed at first, but then I tasted it and was pleasantly surprised. I don't usually go for pale ales (too pedestrian for my prejudiced tastes, I suppose) but this one was quite good, especially on a hot summer day. I could see getting this again. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 21:05:08 | More by vtfan77

kirkpjr

Alabama

4.08/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a SA perfect pint.

A: Pours a sunshine pale yellow with 1 1/2 fingers of head. Small spotted lacing.

S: Orange rinds and floral hops. Light and subtle, yet still noticeable juicy if that makes sense. Very crisp.

T: Strong orange flavor with a light bitterness. Slight breadiness flavor but otherwise little to no malt. Highly drinkable APA.

M: Moderate carbonation and light in body. Crisp and light.

D: Could drink several of these in a sitting. This is one of the better APAs I've had.

Serving type: can

11-01-2010 01:17:47 | More by kirkpjr

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Always looking for good canned craft offerings... I like red racer ipa, so this was an easy decision when I saw a 6 pack for $9.99!!!

Poured into pint glass.
Dark yellow color-- almost like a dull gold. Almost white head hits about 1.5 fingers and has average retention and lacing.
Smells nice. Not blowing my mind, but certainly not offensive in any way! The beer has some malty sweetness up front with an earthy hop note kicking in the back end and dragging along some citrus as well.

The taste is right in line with the nose. The beer is relatively mild in terms of flavor, but that only helps make it insanely drinkable. This is a beer I will buy to bring out golfing or on the water. I could drink this all day-- due in part to a medium-light body and plenty of carbonation.

The bitterness is perfect, the beer is well balanced, and that results in a solid beer that I plan on buying again.

Serving type: can

04-23-2011 22:12:27 | More by AleWatcher

DrewShal9

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: golden amber with a 2 finger white head and tiny bubbles constantly fizzing to the top
S: smells slightly metallic with a tropical fruit note
T: slight grapefruitburst finishing with peach, pineapple, lemon, and a hint of bready malt
M: tiny bubbles constantly punching the tastebuds with flavor. Very light.
O: a decent brew. Should've waited for the can to get colder but I could see this as a staple in my fridge. At 5%, very sessionable and would be a perfect summer beer.

Serving type: can

09-23-2011 06:40:21 | More by DrewShal9

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cool to see this beer in cans and in private stores in Vancouver. Came as part of mixed six pack with the wheat and the lager as well.

Nice dark gold colour with good head. Hop nose with some cereal. The beer is a solid APA with a decent amount of hops ( not as hoppy as Blue Buck from Phillips but hoppier than Whistler). the beer has a slight sweetness to it but the finish is good with a nice balance. This is one my go to session beers for this summer.

Serving type: can

04-24-2008 22:27:29 | More by canucklehead

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark golden body with a fluffy white head, which leaves decent lacing as it slowly recedes. A surprising amount of citrus in the aroma get me thinking about IPA, but the taste tells a different story. The citrus is far less prominent, and a nice bready malt body comes to the fore. There is a pleasant bitterness also, but its not as dominant as it would be in an IPA. Medium-light body, with prickly carbonation accentuating the bittering.

This is a very solid pale ale, with great balance. Nice and drinkable - I could imagine sessioning this in warmer weather.

Serving type: can

12-01-2008 16:23:47 | More by bobsy

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355 ml can brought back from Vancouver.
Blue-green background, with a cute redhead flying downhill on her red racer bicycle. The wind is blowing up her red skirt exposing white nylons and garter, but enough about the picture...
Pours clear golden color, tight white head, good retention and nice lacing. Lots of hops in the aroma, citru, pine, grass. Some fruity flavors, but lots of hoppy bite, grapefruit, pine resin, nice amount of bitterness. Lots of malt to balance and hold everything together. Medium body, good carbonation. Wasn't sure what to expect, but was pleasantly suprised. Good hop flavor.

Serving type: can

03-28-2009 05:15:00 | More by BigBry