Racer 5 India Pale Ale - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Dantes

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Package: 1 pint, 6 oz. (22oz.) crowned, brown bomber. Brightly colored label instantly calls to mind a favored childhood cartoon, “Speed Racer.” (Yes, I’ve bought the DVD’s). A shadowy checkered flag backs the red and yellow letters spelling out “Racer 5.” Label describes this as an “...aggressive styled India Pale Ale.” Also specifically marked as “bottle-conditioned.” No date, but this was from a new shipment. 7% ABV.

Cost: $3.49 at Finger Lakes Beverage

Presentation: Shaker pint glass at ~45º (as recommended on label).

Appearance: As noted by so many others, this is a lovely IPA, with a burnished amber body a bit darker than most IPA’s and a voluminous (2-3 finger), dry, barely off-white head which reached a self-sustaining ¾” layer. Very interesting body, which seemed to fall somewhere between Hop Wallop and Two-Hearted Ale. It exhibited fine brown flecks in a colloidal suspension much like Hop Wallop (though the particles were much finer) and a light, luminous haze that was a touch less conspicuous than Two-Hearted.

Smell: Freshly hoppy with a pillow of rich malt, promising nice flavor balance. Still, a touch sharper from the bottle than from draught. I find that most IPA’s fall into two categories: the harsh, medicinal ones, and the floral, fruity ones. Thankfully, this is one of the latter. BR’s website tells me that this is hopped with Columbus and Cascade. Well, whatever it is, the hops palette plays beautifully off the malts.

Taste: The first thought that comes to mind is of balance. The bright hops are followed as closely by the sweet malts as Racer X followed Speed (or Schumacher followed Alonso last weekend at Imola). One of the rare beers that lives up to its hype. The finish is medium-to-long with a caramel sweetness that softens the aggressive hops. There was the slightest touch of medicinal sourness that I’ve only noticed in bottles and not the draught.

Mouthfeel: Almost approaches a double IPA in its sensation of heft and viscosity (a characteristic I like), which prevents the hops from becoming too brittle. The very fine carbonation is excellent, providing an almost draught-like consistency.

Drinkability: Comes close to defining drinkability, despite its relatively high ABV. Joins draught Masala Mama and Celebration, Brutal Bitter (at least the earliest versions I’ve had), and Two Hearted (again the better earlier version) at the top of the IPA pyramid for me.

Backwash: After the disappointing Bear Republic XP, it was nice to confirm my draught experience of Racer 5 with a very good bottle sample. I understand that this has reached the East Coast for the most part (except New Jersey). All of my purchases were either from The Chapter House (draught) or Finger Lakes Beverage (bottles) in Ithaca.

NB: The bottles all exhibited a slight medicinal hint, not present on draught. Score the draught ~0.25 higher overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2005 21:18:57 | More by Dantes

PlinyBeMiney

California

3.5/5  rDev -17.1%

05-21-2013 07:17:22 | More by PlinyBeMiney

bambam2517

Arizona

3.61/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass after dinner, served at 45F.

A - Flat golden-blonde pour leaves almost nothing up top, looks lethargic and watery honestly. Lots of snowy unfiltered goodness though.

S - Mostly floral, some caramel sugar, a little hop pineyness.

T -Sweet honey citrus backed up by some hop bitterness.

M - Not at all unpleasant but pretty unremarkable. It just one of those.

O - Dialed back in every respect from my experiences in IPAs, I think that is exactly against the grain of West Coast IPAs in general. Not a fan. Heres one for people who say "I love IPAS, just dont like the hoppy tasting ones". What?

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 04:35:18 | More by bambam2517

bigpoppa67

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-21-2013 03:36:27 | More by bigpoppa67

tbryan5

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-20-2013 23:57:31 | More by tbryan5

Illos

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-20-2013 21:04:29 | More by Illos

jbeervt

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-20-2013 19:17:07 | More by jbeervt

tipfortap

New York

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%

05-20-2013 17:09:58 | More by tipfortap

Hopophant

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-20-2013 17:09:43 | More by Hopophant

mcaulifww

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -17.1%

05-20-2013 13:17:49 | More by mcaulifww

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-20-2013 01:46:27 | More by Ctrauty

SpongeRuiner

Michigan

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-20-2013 00:54:08 | More by SpongeRuiner

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-19-2013 23:19:12 | More by drgonzo2k2

bcuz7

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-19-2013 22:08:51 | More by bcuz7

Vigilante

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-19-2013 20:17:17 | More by Vigilante

socon67

New York

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Orange pour with a tan foam head that retained. Some csrbonation is visibile. Sticky lacing runs down the glass.

S - Scents of tangerine and mango plus a floral blend of hops. There is a slight smell of pine cones.

T - A rather complex IPA with a clean taste. Done very traditional in the "west coast" style with strong notes of citrus fruits and a sharp bitterness that finishes much smoother than you'd think. Mellow hop resin and gentle grain notes.

M - Balance is noce on this. Easy finish and very drinkable. Tartness and bitter notes to do overwhelm the palate and transition nicely.

O - Really classic take on the style and hard ot go wrong with one. I paired this with a peppery griled steak and it enhanced the experience.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 17:04:17 | More by socon67

ShawnMH

Indiana

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-19-2013 15:44:16 | More by ShawnMH

smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-19-2013 02:20:39 | More by smooth_aleing

Glen0matiC

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-19-2013 01:50:20 | More by Glen0matiC

HedleyLamar

California

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%

05-19-2013 00:56:10 | More by HedleyLamar

TheDoak

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-19-2013 00:25:43 | More by TheDoak

alanv

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-18-2013 21:34:39 | More by alanv

jono0101

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-18-2013 15:54:48 | More by jono0101

Boilerfood

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-18-2013 15:47:01 | More by Boilerfood

civicm87

New York

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-18-2013 15:17:03 | More by civicm87