Red Racer Classic Pale Ale - Central City Brewing

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Can at Volo, fresh batch. Lightcolour with some white head. Carbonation is right there.Very drinkable, an understated but enjoyable bitterness. Drying. Some citrus. Hits the style, but is not up to the best American pales.Neutal aroma. I want less caramel and carbonation, more hop taste.

Serving type: can

12-30-2009 23:21:21 | More by northyorksammy

womencantsail

California

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The pour is a cloudy burnt orange color with two finger's worth of rocky white head that leaves some great lacing.

S: Mildly sweet citrus hops up front, mostly oranges, a light sweetness to the malt, and a fair amount of bread character. Pretty much what you expect from a pale ale.

T: Maybe leaning a bit more toward the bread side of things with a slight sweetness of caramel. The hops are again mostly orange flavored with a bit of an earthy spice note in there as well. The bitterness is fairly mild.

M: The body is medium with a moderate carbonation. Decent, but nothing to write home about.

D: I think the IPA is probably a bit better. I liked this one a fair amount, and it works well as your standard pale ale.

Serving type: can

10-13-2010 02:10:33 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up this can at Julio's. Served in a Hill Farmstead wine glass.

Pours a very clear light copper color with a good white head. Nice bit of lacing on the way down. The nose brings some light bread and caramel without too much in the way of balancing hops This does remind me a bit of baby Red Racer IPA, so it makes sense. Flavor adds some more hops with a bit of floral and citrus notes plus some bread crust. Feel is fairly bitter with a medium body. Drinks pretty well, but not nearly as good as the IPA.

Serving type: can

03-15-2011 02:59:58 | More by Thorpe429

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

No date info on the bottom of the can...though there normally is...odd... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear pale-ish brass topped by plenty of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises dry pine needles, dusty toffee, and mild biscuit. Separately, those wouldn't be all that great, but, somehow, together, everything works out decently enough. The taste holds notes of depressed pine needles, light mint, light menthol, and a touch of watered-down tea. Man, this just doesn't taste all that good to me... The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly oily feel. Overall, I hope this is just an old can (impossible for me to tell...), but, if it's not, this stuff just ain't very good at all.

Serving type: can

10-10-2012 04:44:12 | More by TMoney2591

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

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

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another from the Central City summer mixed pack, 2010, courtesy the Merrit, BC guv'ment store.

This beer pours a clear pale copper hue, with two fingers of soapy light beige head, which leaves a wall of sticky webbed lace around the glass. It smells of biscuit, caramel, and bready malt, with some sedate citrus hops. The taste is biscuity caramel malt, and pine, leafy, and citrus hops rendering a broad hop spectrum of flavours. The carbonation is moderate, the body on the light side, and smooth, with a slight tangy citrus-esqe edge. It finishes dry and crisp, almost evoking a barren island feeling, for some reason.

A nice crisp, grainy, and hoppy, but not overly so, pale ale. No one will mistake this for an IPA, it leaves that to its big brother. To each their own.

Serving type: can

07-11-2010 03:54:24 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 12 oz can from Al's of Hampden.

A: The APA has a head on it! The first pour generated over three fingers of craggy, mountainous foam that laces all around the glass. Underneath the wondrous foam, golden amber ale sits. Translucent the ale is. The second pour was much more restrained than the first.

S: The nose is plenty biscuity with a nice streak of herbal citrus running through it. The hops stand out more than I was expecting.

T: The biscuity bread stands out, sweet with a grainy cookie flavor. Hops linger around, but not with the force that the nose indicates. The sweet biscuity flavors run rampant, by far the dominating aspect of the beer.

M: The mouthfeel seems to miss for me, focusing on the biscuity flavors at the expense of the hops. This is my second downer; sure hope that the IPA lives up to the hype.

D: An average pale ale. Not my first choice but not my last.

Serving type: can

07-24-2010 01:52:43 | More by akorsak

smcolw

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Good two-finger head. Leaves an initial ring of lace. Light amber color and crystal clear.

Slightly toasted malt aroma. Good balancing hop that makes for an overall attractive smell.

The only detraction I can fin is the below average body. Otherwise, this is a solid pale ale offering. Good pale malt flavors without any raw grain flavors. The hop is judicious, not overwhelming. The aftertaste is lasts without being a bitter bomb. A good day-by-day pale ale.

Serving type: can

11-15-2009 22:45:59 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to ybnorml for this one.

Pours a nice dark golden yellow color, nice carbonation, nice creamy one-finger off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some hop note, very slight citrus. The taste is malty, with some hop notes, and some citrus. Medium body. Drinkable, not a bad APA at all, worth a shot.

Serving type: can

09-03-2010 00:22:40 | More by Wasatch

mdfb79

New York

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

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

a - Pours a golden color with high carbonation and 2-3 inches of white head.

s - Smells of bready malts, citrus, and smooth caramel malts.

t - Tastes of orange, bready malts, wheat, and faded citrus hops.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Pretty smooth.

d - An ok pale ale but a little bland in the smell and taste. Very easy to drink but not sure I'd really want to buy again. I prefer their IPA much better.

Serving type: can

06-14-2010 23:14:47 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had the IPA and it was great. Now on to the pale to see how it compares. Pales are very hit or miss with me usually, either they made a great pale ale, or it just doesn't do it for me. Well, here's hoping. And the can really makes things great.

A: Pours a nice 1 finger perfectly white frothy big-bubbled head that fades quickly. Brilliantly clear amber pale orange color that lets you see all the little bubbles rising to the top.

N: A nice but light malt aroma dominates due to the lack of much else. A light crisp ale like aroma quenches my thirst before I even tasted it. A light hop aroma with some citrus and possibly lemongrass comes through as well.

T: Its got a pale malt (mariss otter) taste to start, then followed with some light hops that bring some citrus, juicy fruits, slight pine, and a little floral tastes. Pretty light tasting overall. Some light refreshing qualities and some fruit, I think some apricot.

M: Pretty light, crisp and refreshing, a medium body overall, pretty high on the carbonation.

F: Finishes pretty dry and bitter. The bitterness really shines through at the end and accompanies some sticky malt tastes. Some more citrus and earthy hop flavors linger on the tongue. It keeps me burping with its copious carbonation, reminding me that there really were some hops in there.

Final thoughts: Its OK, not close to as good as the IPA. Somewhat light to start, but the hop flavor, bitterness, and stickiness really overpower at the end. It tries to be two different beers, starting with a light mild crisp tasting semi floral and citrus hoppy pale, then it turns into a much stronger sticky hoppy, bitter, and slightly earthy pale. I almost feel it should have found it's niche and gone with it, but crosses too many thresholds and doesn't hold either one really well. It started as a great spring or summer drinker and finished with a fall beer. With that said, its still a beer I would love to pile up for a trip and drink lots of it, especially with the can, and might even pass for a session beer.

Serving type: can

10-22-2009 23:49:15 | More by jlindros

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a clear golden copper, with 2+ big fingers of foamy bright-white head. Retains with a rich layer of froth, which leaves a hugely creamy cascade of sticky lacing behind that just coats the sides of the glass. Wow, this has a really robust look to it. The aroma is floral, peppery, and even a touch piney in the nose, with some earthy smelling citrus and the sweetness of the malts giving this a bit of tang in the back. This is overall very floral though, with that aspect of it helping carry the flavors up in the nose.

Hops are fairly aggressive here in the taste, with some biting spice and resins being present, along with a splash of bitter grapefruit and citrus rind. There's just a tinge of outlying malt sweetness to this but the profile is really coming off as mostly bitter with a steady drying finish. The mouthfeel is lighter-medium bodied, with a sharp creaminess to the carbonation yet the oiliness from the hops still gives this a certain amount of slickness in the mouth and helps keep the drinkibility of this decent.

A solid Pale Ale for the most part but I though that this was actually a bit too earthy and hoppy at times. I like my APAs like the next guy but a touch more sweetness would have been welcomed. Worth a look.

Serving type: can

04-10-2010 22:01:28 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a 6 of this at the liquor store, 355 ml can.

Pours a clear golden amber, very thick rocky head forms, slightly off white, lots of lace chunks on the glass, solid ring. Smell is nice, citrusy, mango, grapefruit, light fruitiness, caramel and biscuity malts, bread, sourdough almost, nice. Taste is good, quite malty although a bit undefined, dry toast and biscuit, lightly floral, decent bitterness but not a lot going on. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with low carbonation, nice drinkable beer. Aroma is nice but the flavour let me down a bit, still good stuff.

Serving type: can

08-25-2009 17:00:21 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazy dark golden orange color with golden yellowish banana like hues when held to a light source and a 1.5 finger frothy white head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Sporadic rings and spots of soapy lacing left behind.

Toasty malt aroma with hints of caramel and toffee along with a pleasant earthy and sweet citrus hop presence. I'm picking up pine needle as well as some pineapple, grapefruit and lemon peel. The hop notes are there but the English barley/malt notes dominate here.

Medium bodied and much more hop forward than the aroma suggest. There is a good amount of bitterness with hints of earthy pine needle but this is balanced by slight sweet citrus and the malt backbone. Dry throughout and only slightly sweet with hints of grapefruit and lemon peel. The malt backbone provides balance but is a tad too strong for my liking. Dry finish. Overall this beer is very well balanced, flavorful and pretty quaffable. One of the better examples of an APA(if you like them hoppy).

Serving type: can

01-10-2011 04:38:53 | More by corby112

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear, pale amber with a rocky, bright white cap. Clumpy lace, good head retention. Nice combination of malt and hops in the nose. Fruity aroma, mild grapefruit, citrus, biscuit, bit of caramel. Comparable flavour with a solid bitterness carrying through the finish. Lingering hops. Medium to light bodied and a bit dry, plenty of carbonation but it stayed fairly soft. Solid pale ale, nice balance of malt and hops that doesn't stray into IPA territory and makes for an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: can

05-08-2010 21:15:06 | More by DrJay

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

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

Yay, Red Racy is back and still in a CAN! The last time I was with our full-bodied lass, she and her Schwinn Flyer were bringing me a Lager. Now, she also has a Pale Ale and a few seasonals, plus she has not given up on her skirt. I have even convinced the Old Lady of the importance of stockings, a garter belt and a skirt, which she has agreed to on occasion. Love craft beer in a CAN!

From the CAN: "Red Racer Classic Pale Ale is hand-crafted in small batches using Mariss Otter barley from England and hops from Washington's Yakima valley. This big and bold pale ale has a citrusy aroma and a full, malty body, giving it a distinctive character that will inspire the beer connoisseur in all of us. A good choice paired with any favourite meal. 'Cheers!'"

I got an easy two fingers' worth of eggshell-white head from the pour. The color was a deep orangish-amber with NE-quality clarity. The CAN got it right as far as the nose was concerned - full-on grapefruit! Mouthfeel was medium with a crisp hop bite on the tongue. Finish initially remained hoppy but gave way to a lingering malty sweetness, striking a nice balance. This definitely goes into my cooler! Welcome back, Red Racy!

Serving type: can

05-21-2010 02:06:39 | More by woodychandler

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

scruffwhor

Illinois

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

Good golden copper color with nice bubbling and an off-white head of two fingers. The head retains to a nice layer of foam and leaves some lacing too.

The aroma has a sweet orange and lime aroma with just a little cereal grain. Bitter and a little sweet, very enticing aroma.

The taste is also sweet citric from the start to the middle, and fades a little on the finish. The finish has more hop bitterness and some delicate toasty characteristics.

Great session beer with a bubbly, resiny palate.

Serving type: can

05-29-2011 03:33:25 | More by scruffwhor

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I enjoyed this one chilled from the can w/ Octopus87 -poured into a small duvel tulip and a tulip pint.

A - A golden pale color with amber hues and bone white cream of about an inch. The clarity is translucent and lace clings in a webbing and sticks well. The retention is also good for the head hangs in the whole time.

S - The nose is strong pine hop scents w/ earthy herbal accent and mild malt aroma - pretty good aroma if only one real aroma

M- The feel has moderate carbonation and moderate bitterness w/ light astringent and slight spice with a dry finish

T - The taste is slightly bitter up front with less hop flavor than bitterness and mild pine in the taste. The spice quality carries over from the feel with gentle grassy character and very mild malt flavor which is only noticeable in the finish slightly

D - Not a bad Pale, but I consider it middling for the style - it lacks the malt presence and balance you might expect from an american pale ale - just ok drinkability for me

Serving type: can

09-05-2010 17:41:58 | More by Slatetank

smakawhat

Maryland

2.85/5  rDev -24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass. UPDATE can reading of M2509 is WAY OLD! I will re-review this in the future for sure when I can.

A pale and muddy orange light amber body, with a good thick white head, three fingers deep, with a good cap and retention. Some sticky qualities in the head but a rather hazy and muddy appearance.

Nose is full of movie theater diacetyl popcorn. I smell nothing else going on here. I kind of want to get some salt and spread this, but still not feeling it. I would like something else, but sorry as much as this isn't really off putting you should deliver something else for my senses.

Taste is much improved, but hardly anything to brag about. Orange fruit somewhat, with a light body palate with some wet like juice quality. However, the body is quite thin with hardly a malt backbone to carry anything forward. Hop angle, non existent.

Overall, really loved the IPA Central City, but this is not getting it done at all. In short a wet buttery forgetful mess.

Serving type: can

08-14-2012 02:47:59 | More by smakawhat

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

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

355ml can poured into pint glass may5 2010

A clear light golden with a decent amount of carbonation floating up to a two finger head that has pretty good retention and leaves a few partial rings of lace

S like the can says a fair bit of citrus with a little sweet malt

T again citrus with a good amount of malt to balance things out a bit, it's a little earthy rather enjoyable

M good carbonation and it's thick enough to please

D not lacking in any area and I could drink a large number of them in a sitting so that says something

another thank you to Moniker for this one, a solid beer good all around. I found out today that this will be in Alberta next week along with the IPA that I loved so let the good times roll

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2010 01:54:34 | More by wordemupg

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

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz. can served in a standard pint glass. Poured a translucent golden orange with a loose, half inch bright white head. Head quickly disperses into a thin cap with some spots and strands of lacing revealed during the session. Light nose - a faint hops presence as well as some citrus. Taste consistent with nose with addition of some bready/caramel notes and a light, lingering hops bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium-light and carbonated at a level just shy of being overly assertive. A pleasant and drinkable APA, but does not merit a $12 per 6-pack price tab. Still worth trying if you have the opportunity to do so.

Serving type: can

05-02-2010 20:17:34 | More by Jwale73

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