Apex - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Pizza Plant Transit, post-extreme beer fest. Alcohol aroma, golden colour, lots of white lace, some white head. Medium mouthfeel. 100+ IBU, and really tasty,with juicy fruit there, but somewhat of a palate shredder. Good drinkability. Average for style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2010 19:58:16 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I really liked this one. I had been trying to get a hold of it forever and really was stoked when I finally saw it cross my path in a recent BIF. Nice growler that I kept cold and decided to open up last night. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 04/21/2009.



The pour was very nice. Rich dark amber color with a nice light head of white on top that reached a height of around two and a half inches before settling back down to earth and leaving tons of sticky lace all along the sides of the glass. Really nice aroma here, lots of fresh hops, orange and grapefruit and blending in perfectly here, really very well done. Bright with not a lot of malt balancing it out, this was a hopheads IPA for sure. Smooth, clean, crisp, and refreshing taste, I was thoroughly impressed with the way this one went down. Nice and dry in the finish left a long lingering flavor of pineapple on the tongue that just begged me to go back for another sip. Great medium feel and a smooth profile led to the most supreme session ability.



Overall an outstanding IPA that I am thrilled to be able to try. I would have no issue at all with being able to go back and get this one again any day. Really very well done and a tremendous asset to their lineup.

Serving type: growler

04-22-2009 23:26:03 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On-tap at Toronado SD

A: The pour is a slightly hazy golden amber color with a thin white head on top.

S: The nose has plenty of fresh grapefruit and other citrus hops. There is a bit of pine and a touch of sweet malt.

T: The hops provide a real fruity character to the beer with lots of grapefruit and pineapple but do not think this is a sweet IPA. There is a ton of bitter, resinous, piney hop flavor as well.

M: The body is medium to full with a moderate carbonation.

D: This is actually one of the better DIPAs I've had. A fantastic amount of bitterness along with almost no alcohol presence.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2010 17:59:47 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Churchkey DC in March 2010.

A: Pours a somewhat-dark copper with some orange tints to it. Nice off-white head and a bit of lacing.

S: Very nice. Lots of floral and citrus hops with a tad bit of caramel sweetness in the background.

T: Lots of hop bitterness. Nothing too overpowering or extraordinary, but certainly not balanced. Citrus and floral hops shine through with a bit of an herbal zest in the background. Some caramel malt in the background.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation and only a hint of alcohol.

D: Very drinkable. My glass was gone way too fast. Another great (D)IPA coming from the folks in Healdsburg.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2010 11:01:09 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap for the 4th Annual LA Beer Week Beer Festival at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a clear golden orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus zest, and some dank, earthy, and herbal hop aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight onion flavor on the finish. There is a medium herbal hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer but it’s quite dank.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 03:24:27 | More by UCLABrewN84

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a tumbler at The Tribes.

The Accidental Highway to Hell Tour continues! This stop pours a clear light amber topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises lime, caramel, orange zest, lemon zest, menthol, and balsa. The taste holds notes of pine, lime, dark toffee, brown sugar, light booze, caramel, and light menthol. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation, a syrupy feel, and a sticky finish. Overall, I think this could have been a pretty damn fine DIPA, but it just comes off as boozy and hastily hopped (meaning it was overdone with little thought to how it was being overdone...if that makes sense...). Shame, really...

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2011 04:45:43 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a beautiful dark golden amber color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great! It has a solid malt bill of pale and Carapils malts along with a tremendous hop nose. It's explodes with citrus hops that are so fresh smelling. The taste is good. It has a rich, malty flavor that boasts of pale and Carapils malts. The hop character is outstanding. It's quite bitter with a residual hop taste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a very tastey beer. It tastes like a lot of DIPAs', but I'm not complaining.

Serving type: growler

04-19-2009 02:04:25 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'm a little shocked this isn't on the top 50 for American Double / Imperial IPAs anymore, let's see if I can do anything about that, served in an Imperial Pint glass at a local beer bar.

Beer is amber with a soft white head of small and medium bubbles, some lacing, moderate carbonation.

Strong hoppy aroma, earthy, pine, some fruit, smells awesome.

Beer is medium in body and strong throughout, decent moderate bitterness nicely balanced with the hop flavors on the midpalate, the lead off is a medium body with a mild malt presence, overall a great great DIPA and I would totally have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2011 02:08:39 | More by drabmuh

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.93/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap 8/28/07 at British Beer Company in Walpole, MA, served in an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a murky orange-brown color, with a large foamy off-white head that fades very slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is very hoppy with a good background of citrus and caramelized malt.

T: The taste is very well-balanced with your typical West Coast IPA flavors of hops citrus and caramel. The hops presence is very strong and ends up winning out. The malt character is hearty but not too sweet. The after-taste is hoppy with a touch of sweetness.

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

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not very filling, nice kick, excellent representation of style and perfect example of a West Coast hop bomb, this is a perfect beer to stick with and drink a lot of, I enjoyed it a great deal. I'm hopes Bear Republic starts bottling this one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2007 21:23:43 | More by TheManiacalOne

Halcyondays

California

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours amber with a light white head, thick concentric rings of lace stick with each sip, great head retention.

S: Hop juice, lupulin, pine forest, cedar, not a striking smell, but enjoyable.

T: Very good flavour. Pine and cedar oil blast through initially, but the almost barleywine type malt holds its own, adding sweetness and light notes of burnt toast and treacle/toffee. Interesting mango, papaya on the back end. Normally I don't really like my DIPAs to have a ton of malt, but there was great balance here and it really worked.

M: Full of hop resin, chewy, sticky with malt, but never cloying.

D: I really liked this beer from Bear Republic, fantastic, better than Racer X as far as their DIPAs go, but certainly rarer. A must try for any hophead.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2009 22:11:49 | More by Halcyondays

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 1 L swingtop growler filled at Al's of Hampden earlier this afternoon.

A: The DIPA is lighter than I expected, a dirty golden straw color that is unafraid of its yellows. A thick head, over three fingers on first pour from the growler, is lacing prodigiously.

S: The nose is vegetal, leafy hops that turn citrusy near the finish. Pepper and orange rind, a bit of pineapple, some other stray fruits. No, that last one is not a complete sentence. As the DIPA warms, fresher fruits emerge, more citrus.

T: The first few sips are rather dull, a bit of hops, some grains. After that, the hops become more assertive, orange and pineapple and grapefruit, some rind and fresh pepper, even some berries. Near the end of each sip, a sweet blast (the source for my berries comment) bring the ale's bitterness to a screeching halt. The sweetness is filling, completely replacing the bitterness for a spell. Citrus bitterness does return though, a bitter finish to the ale.

M: The hoppy sweetness throws me for a loop, a full flavor that I don't taste in most IPAs or DIPAs. Not nearly as bitter as you'd expect, there is a nice orange peel blast near the end of each sip.

D: The ale doesn't feel like 8%, at least through 1/3 of the growler. The sweetness of the hops is surprising, something that I didn't expect from a Bear Republic DIPA.

Serving type: growler

04-17-2010 20:44:49 | More by akorsak

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly fogged orange amber brown with a creme head. Damn that is one fine looking beer. Nose is piney citrus tones. Flavor is a bit bright. Vibrant citrus leaning on an orange-ish edge. Very balanced even though it's quite distinct. Feel is good on carbonation and the liquid is slick and smooth. Extremely easy to drink. Interesting to try this right after the Mach 10. Opposite ends of the hop spectrum. One earthy. One piney citrus. Both damn good. A sign of brewing prowess.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2008 18:47:09 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a golden orange color with good carbonation and a nioce white cap leaving a lot of bubbles and lacing

S: Grapefruit, pine and tropical fruits

T: Pine, caramel, hint of toasted grains and oven roasted breadiness, maybe even a slight hint of rye bread. Tropical fruits also mke a huge presence

M: Sticky, sweet, medium body, pretty oily and slick

O: Good

Serving type: growler

06-23-2011 23:23:56 | More by barleywinefiend

jlindros

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tap at Armsby Abbey

Creamy bubbly smaller head lacing, clear golden peach orange color.

Nose hop fruit, tropical fruit, light chewy hops and touch of citrus, touch of malt sweetness.

Taste some chewy hops, more bittering hops than taste, light fruit, touch of tropical, light pine and earthy hops, some malts, chewy semi sweet malts, very light creamy herbal hop taste, touch of peach and tangerine. Finishes still semi sweet, lingering bitterness and little sticky.

Mouth is abit heavier bodied, decent carb.

Overall not bad, Nose is great, taste falls off a bit with the hop flavors, if the tropical fruit and citrus carried through on the taste out would have been great. Little sticky in the finish as well.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2011 13:16:12 | More by jlindros

Billolick

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Oohfaaa this is the good stuff....happy to enjoy this on tap at the Blind Tiger in NYC this evening. Pours semi cloudy orangy amber, under a fluffy light tan head that leave plenty of ringed and splotchy lace. Nose is all about the citrus and resiny hops. On the tongue and in the mouth, the hop crunch here is outstanding and unmistakable, one sip and the brain says high quality DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2008 01:33:26 | More by Billolick

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appears a orange tons light amber with a small white cap that quickly fades into a mild head and hearty collar. Scattered streaks of lacing are left around the glass. Smell is of huge citrus, pine, herbs, and white grapes
Taste is of the aromas with more of a caramel and orange creamsickle flavor pulling through.
Mouthfel is medium bodied, chewy, syrupy, bitter yet balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2010 15:52:04 | More by weeare138

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Capones.

Pours a clear orange, some light reddish hues, thick and very rocky off white head forms, tons of lacing sticks to the glass, great retention, looks real nice. Smell is hoppy, tons of citrus and floral, grapefruit, caramel malt, pine, biscuits, very raw hop aroma, very nice, with enough maltiness to keep it balanced. Taste is lightly sweet at first, caramel and toast, big hoppy middle, tons of grapefruit and pineapple, some floral, pine, very malty, perfectly balanced, solid bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Pretty awesome stuff, amazingly balanced and super hopped up.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2009 20:18:12 | More by Viggo

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orange and copper, not a lot of carbonation with this one. Lots of piney feel to the aroma.

More pine, grapefruit and apricot even in the taste. Standard heft for a bear republic beer, even a little biscuity. Malt & hops take turns on the palate. Mouthfeel throughout continues this exchange. A bit more alcohol that would think, but not excessive for what the abv is. Super tangy.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2010 17:39:16 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Was initially disappointed when I was unable to get Racer X on tap at the brewpub, but have to confess I was quickly mollified once this was placed in front of me.

The beer pours the proto-typical light orange peach color with very good head retention and lacing. On the nose, this beer is all DIPA. One gets a blast of pine and citrus, with perhaps a touch of underlying lime and ginger. The flavors on the palate replicate the nose, with hoppy bitterness overtaking the sweet maltiness on the finish. This is a very hoppy DIPA! Mouthfeel is medium bodied and drinkability is fair. The abv. is fairly well disguised, though you can tell this is a big beer.

Perhaps not quite as excellent as the Racer X, but it would run a close second. This is a very solid DIPA from BR.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2008 13:28:04 | More by johnmichaelsen

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Transcribed from undated notes.

This was presented to me with a thick, fluffy finger-and-a-half of eggshell-white head that laid atop the beer like a soft blanket. Color was a deep amber with NE-quality clarity. Nose was pine-y, resinous, like sniffing glue, kiddies! Get a whiff or huff of this bad actor. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full with a great hops presence just rolling around on the tongue. I had just been reading an article on Fat Artie Lange and his heroin addiction, causing me to think about my own Hops Monkey. I LOOOVE when that little f**ker stops screeching and climbs down off of my back. This was one of those instances. Is there some way to mainline this beer? Finish was an afterthought as I was in Hops Heaven.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2010 01:28:30 | More by woodychandler

HopHead84

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

01/16/2011

On tap at Churchill's.

A: Golden orange in the snifter and glistening in the light of the pub. 

S: Excellent aroma. Big orange and peach notes, which are fucking excellent, with backing grapefruit. Some caramel malt in there providing balance. Slightly floral.

T: Big hop flavor with minimal bitterness. Notes of orange, peach, apricot, and grapefruit are present. Caramel malt provides just enough sweetness. A little astringency and a touch of alcohol in the finish.

M: Medium body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is dry and sticky.

Overall: A great beer, this must be a fresh keg as it's brimming with hops. I don't recall liking this all that much when I first had it, but this is awesome.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 02:36:16 | More by HopHead84

largadeer

Kentucky

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

Draft at Rose and Crown. Honey colored with a frothy bone-colored head. The aroma has a big candied pine character, fresh and lightly sweet. Citrusy undertones come out with a few swirls; grapefruit, orange, pineapple. Resiny pine and citrus hit the palate first; the mid-palate brings the pine character back to the forefront. There's a touch of crackery malt, but this is dry from front to back and strongly bitter in the finish. Delicious stuff, a quality DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2010 15:39:14 | More by largadeer

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Al's of Hampden - served chilled in a standard pint.

A - Brilliant sunny golden with amber highlights -lighter than most of its ilk, but still attractive with very good clarity and a hypnotizing swirling carbonation trail of miniscule bubbles leading up to a semi-rocky pale, white cap. The carbonation rises steadily in a more than moderate pace indicating high effervescence. There is a covering of lace on the inside of the glass which is a thin even film and the bead is tiny. The retention is good holding for a while.

S - The smell is a mix of esters - some mild pine and floral w/ herbal aromas dominating- the smell has a resinous scent w/ sweet bitter notes and there is a citrus quality like lemon rind w/ a malty scent in the background

M - The ale has sharp carbonation very effervescent combined w/ dry overall texture and bitter hop acidity w/ mild malt to cushion the intense mouth coating hop oils w/ citrusy bright bitter and acidic effect on the palate

T - The flavor is satisfying with great hop flavor which is more on the citrus/herbal end w/ very mellow orange and some rind both orange and lemon w/ sweet grassy notes. The mild sweet malt plays into the grassy aspect w/ a light vegetal tinge and mellow spice notes. The citrusy impact gives a light peppery tinge as the beer is swallowed w/ piney resinous bite which hangs on well after the IIPA has left the palate

D - I really enjoyed this - refreshingly high effevescent combined with intense hop packed flavor and clean fermentation w/out an overkill of bitterness - everything falls into place and works well in the mix w/ pine and mild spiciness making for a refreshing Imperial IPA which has no alchohol flavor and it is over 8% abv. I think you will be pleased if you enjoy a dry bitter west coast style Imperial IPA - so happy I tried this, outstanding!

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2010 14:23:41 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap, brouwers

from notes

appearance: clear golden-copper body, creamy white froth with nice webbed lacing

smell: some nice floral hops, citrus zest, touch of sweet doughy malt

taste: straddling the line between west coast IPA and DIPA - this IPA was brewed for the outstanding (or unfortunately, only so i've been told at this point) bar in portland. strong floral notes, grapefruit, blossomed flowers, tangerine, doughy caramel malt.

mouthfeel: fairly light, oily

overall: solid IPA - nothing spectacular, but a nice offering from a brewery that tends to nail this style

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2012 03:44:13 | More by dirtylou

Tone

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, copper color. 3/4 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong citrus hops, slight sweet malt, and a hint of roasted malt. Fits the style of an American Double / Imperial IPA. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes strongly of citrus hops, slight sweet malt, hint of pale malt, and hint of floral hops. Overall, great appearance, strong body, but not well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 21:35:19 | More by Tone