Racer 5 India Pale Ale - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

joehop67

Alabama

4.4/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

As I love APAs and IPAs this one took hold immediately. I love the crisp bitter taste and the notes of underlying citrus. Don't get me wrong, I hate fruit in my beer, but it's somehow impossible to describe this brew without noting the taste of underlying citrus.
A most enjoyable mouth feel, smooth and inviting. I drank one and then another on tap and then I bought a 22oz. bottle the next day to try. I'll try to update after I get into that.
Overall, an extremely pleasurable experience for a self-proclaimed hop-head. I would definitely recommend this if you can find it on tap.
Pretty good kick at 7%, be careful if you are driving.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-14-2009 02:28:32 | More by joehop67

Immortale25

Florida

4.29/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Funky Buddha Brewing snifter. No freshness date.

A- Pours a medium amber color with a 1/4 inch white head that soon fades to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a small patch of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing clings to the side of the glass leaving a thick ring behind.

S- Incredibly sharp, zesty hop aroma. A bit of malt sweetness too with a hop fume that cuts like a knife. Very unique and enticing.

T- Flavor follows suit with more citrusy sharpness and juicy grapefruit notes. The bitterness has a very tangy attack which sort of complements the somewhat high alcohol presence. Decent malt backbone provides just the right amount of sweetness to back up the brightness of the hops.

M- Big bites of hops all the way through, actually more stinging but in a great way. Medium carbonation and a body that's just a tad on the lighter side.

O- An excellent and unique IPA that I always love to drink. Has that west coast citrus bomb aspect to it but in a way that's still different and remarkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 03:13:40 | More by Immortale25

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At River City Saloon, Sacramento, CA:

Into a pint glass:

A: somewhat hazy orange/brown colored body, film of a white somewhat foamy head, some light foamy lacing, body is too hazy for any carbonation to be seen rising

S: strong citrus/pine hops up front, decent backing by the malts as it warms

T: bittersweet and balanced all throughout, decent hops to malts well-welcomed aftertaste, dry finish

M: medium, sessionable, carbonation is adequate for the style and for me, slightly dry and crisp

O: I`m glad I`m finLly able to try this as I would have this again

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2013 01:29:20 | More by kangarooAdam59

apants007

New York

3.25/5  rDev -23%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

poured form a bottle into a pint glass.

a: clear reddish amber. light head goes away pretty quick.

s: a little orange, some hoppy burn. not much.

t: more of the orange. nice blend of bitterness. tastes nice without leaving too much to think about. kinda like a dirty orange crush.

mf: decent carbonation. thick but not syrupy. again pretty good. not great.

not going to be my beer of choice. not mad at it but not super excited about it either.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 04:14:36 | More by apants007

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.19/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Radiant coppery appearance under a billowy cloud like head, this IPA looks like poster boy.

Big notes of grapefruit and tangerines blend with a pine and malt aroma.

The taste is special with grapefruit, orange and tangerines taking the forefront. Mostly pine ends the sip with little to no malt base.

Overall, for a stock IPA and not a double, this packs a great deal into a little glass.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2013 14:01:22 | More by KYGunner

davidsumner

Virginia

3.51/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poor - the poor produces tons of head, which initially settles down into a very generous two and a half finger head which then eventually settles into a thick half finger liner. Color is medium gold, a little hazy with particles. Light lacing.

Nose - a light nose for me. Nothing stands out for me. Lemon, Citrus, Malt.

Taste - For me the malt is the main player in the taste. Biscuity, Clove, Pepper; roasted malts. The hop for me is more evident in the bitterness rather then the taste. The finish has a good amount of bitterness to it witch stays on the back and sides of the tongue and in the back of the mouth and throat.

All and all, not my kind of IPA. Too West Coast. I don't personally like Malt dominant IPA's. They steer me towards an EPA or Strong Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 18:05:44 | More by davidsumner

CodyOebel

Texas

5/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Perfect 5 for Racer 5.

Pours an orange amber as an IPA should. 5/5

Smells like hops, some sweet grassy tones, and I fingered the beer, lace is minimum. 5/5 for IPA smell. Not over hopped. Just PERFECT !!!

mouthfull is fizzy, carbonated, full breadth, and solid yet lightweight. It's a great beer 5/5

Taste is absolutely balanced. I've drank overly hopped IPA's, and this one is not overly hopped. It's strong hop presence is there. Much like cascade hops used strongly in the near end of the boiling process. The taste is piney, a light malt, bitter-sweet, and after taste is bitter hops, slightly acidic in a good way, leaving the lips slippery with a nice malt surface. When a little more warm I get a black pepper after taste. It has some nice complexity for an IPA 5/5

Overall I bought this beer at Trader Joe's a pint for 3.99$ One glass in and I'm buzzing good yet not over whelmed, or wanting to take a dive on the couch for a nap. The price and quality of this beer make it another game winner. I have tasted much more expensive IPA's and this matches or defeats them. I am not at all an IPA lover, but the occassional IPA drinker, and WOW I am impressed. I would suggest and buy this beer for friends and family who understand a little about beers, and could appreciate the price point, quality, and solid IPA Bear Republic produces with this liquid pleasure.

Thank you for reading my review.
Relax, have a home brew, and prosit !

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 19:44:09 | More by CodyOebel

mtomlins

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Racer has a nice straw/hay color and pours to a white, cloudy (almost creamy) head. As the head falls, it leaves nice lacing on the glass. The beer is a bit hazy/cloudy, but as it is bottle conditioned, this is to be expected.

S: Racer has a big nose. Up front there is sweet fruit and citrus (oranges and a touch of grapefruit) with a touch of pine there as well.

T: Sweet malt and a blast of hops, bitter on the tongue but not overly. There is plenty of citrus and lots of juicy fruit. Racer finishes long and dry and begs another sample! Excellent balance and highly drinkable.

M: Full and round, smooth.

O: An awesome beer! A beautiful nose, sweet, fruity and a touch piney. It tastes fantastic, sweet and malty, hoppy, juicy, bitter and long. What impresses me the most is how balanced the beer is.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 13:11:01 | More by mtomlins

dar482

New York

4.46/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

The color has a rich orange color and lots of carbonation.

The aroma has a nice juicy citrus, grapefruit and malt sweetness.

The flavor has a hoppy freshness with grapefruit, orange, pine, and then it finish with a bitter dry finish.

The body and malt backbone stand out for this beer. It's very well crafted with its drinkability. The refreshing grapefruit just keeps wanting you to drink more and more.

I'm re-reviewing this because I didn't care for this beer at all. Having this for the second time fresh on tap, this was fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2013 22:59:57 | More by dar482

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I've wanted to take this classic on for some time now...and I wasn't disappointed! Wow, I love the look of this beer! It makes me feel like I better buckle up! Everything about the look is bad ass, but the unfiltered snow globe in the glass is awesome! Smell and taste don't knock you out of your chair, but the feel is "Stone Ruination like", palate wrecker! This feels like a DIPA!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 03:03:40 | More by DenverHopHead

patre_tim

China

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Golden with a very slight orange tinge and very little cloudiness, low carbonation, a finger of off white slight sandy beach tinge, fades to a foam that lingers.

S: Floral, fruity, caramel, pine, hot red pepper, black licorice.

T: White grape fruit with lots of pith, pine, caramel, licorce, hot red pepper, follows nose really well. The alcohol is well hidden, with a little burning presence of it on the back of the tongue.

M: Medium thick body, somewhat bready and syrupy, but smooth finnish, little bitter grapefruit pith linger, little carbonation but enough to smooth it out.

O: A delicious representation of this style. Reminds me a lot of a double IPA, perhaps due to its weight in body and taste and alcohol, but its not quite there at a double. Would go well with spicy food, or enjoyed as I am on a hot day in Kunming China.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 13:51:35 | More by patre_tim

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

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

snaotheus

Washington

4.06/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a large mug. One of those beers that I've had many times, but never reviewed. The fact that I've had it many times says more about it than my review will.

Pours golden with an orange tinge, respectable pale head, clear, fair amount of carbonation. Smell is powerful, sweet and floral, smellable from arm's reach. Honey and citrus.

Taste is refreshing, not overpowering in any given direction. Some pine bitterness. More of the honeysuckle.

Mouthfeel is slightly dry, smooth. Overall, this is a quite good beer, which should only be turned down if there's an excellent option.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 03:38:56 | More by snaotheus

earthling

California

4.71/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Racer 5 must be consumed as fresh as possible. It's a classic dry-hopped California IPA with loads of citrus hop aroma. It has a strong bitterness, though it's well balanced with a pretty heavy malt. It's at hoppier end of IPAs, though it isn't going to blow your head off. A great regular drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2013 18:36:21 | More by earthling

Benish

Wisconsin

4.11/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into snifter glass. It presented a light amber color with a quarter inch thick white head. Did not dissipate quickly. Moderate lacings around the glass.

Aroma: It smelled primarily pine and mango immediately after pouring. I covered the glass and just swirled lightly. The smell of pine greatly amplified! Also some notes of pineapple.

Taste: Tangy at first, I tasted pine, citrus, orange rind, and some subtle spiciness. It started out sweet and finished with some bitterness. This beer was not overpowering and is very easy drinking. While the beer start to reach room temperature (I can't drink a bomber that fast) it became a bit more mellow and maybe tad bit lighter on the flavor. Best to drink chilled.

Overall a great beer. I think I had my expectations a little too high considering the ratings it received on BA. However I'm glad to try this. Each IPA is often different in its own way, just like this one is different. This is worth trying BUT if it's not distributed to your state, there are plenty of other IPA's just as good if not better. If you do have one, pop open the bottle, relax, and enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 02:53:50 | More by Benish

RickS95

Indiana

4.23/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22 ounce bomber

A bit lighter than I expected and clearer than I thought it would be. Apricot colored pour with a smallish head. Still enough goodness that light doesn't shine right through, but lacking in head. Slight, thin lace.

Very pleasant West Coast smell. Lots of citrus, peach and pineapple, and a bit of pine. Fairly classic for the style.

Taste follows the lead of the smell with peach, pineapple and pine having a party. A biscuit backdrop.

A quick shot of sweet followed by acidic citrus and bitter hops. Medium bodied, the fairly moderate alcohol is muted by everything else going on. A bitter, citric, oily finish.

I'm really happy with this. We don't get Bear Republic anywhere near home and this didn't disappoint my excitement. An easy drinker for the style, good taste and nice alcohol. A very solid American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 03:16:34 | More by RickS95

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.18/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bomber pours a hazed gold color with a stubborn white head that sticks around for a long while and leaves sheets of lace. I cant believe I have not reviewed this one before.

Nose is piney hops and bready, crackery malt. More of an 'old school' hop aroma than the newer, tropical IPAs. Still smells like a beer that can stand the test of time.

Ohhh, yea...thats nice. This beer never fails to impress. Soft malts are so understated and just honeyed graham cracker deliciousness. Hops have a modest bitterness but plenty of leafy-pine hoppiness. BR did this one up right when they designed this recipe. Solid IPA that is drinkable by the gallon.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:14:45 | More by twiggamortis420

tectactoe

Michigan

4.29/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This one has eluded me for a long time, mainly because I couldn't find a fresh bottle. Finally got one last week, looking forward to finally trying this one. Pours almost a completely opaque, bright amber and light copper color. Big eggshell head builds up nice and foamy-like, leaving lots of chunky lace on the glass nearly all the way down. Awesome looking IPA.

The nose is quiet at first, but I believe I served this one to myself a little too cold. Once it warmed up, the aroma came out strong; big-time citric hops immediately send your senses into a frenzy. Plentiful grapefruit and dense orange peel, thick layers of pine needles, with a light perfume-like characteristic that lingers about. The citrus is sweet, mildly bitter, and potent; the hops are humongous in character - sticky, oily, and brash... this is one goddamn wet and hoppy IPA. Not quite reaching "dank" status, but the piney hops have a largely resinous aroma.

Malt? Not too much. It's certainly underplayed on the nose, but that's to be expected. I take one sip and I'm strapped in for the hop-coaster. Big, wet, pine-encrusted hops glide across my palate and smack my taste buds - powerful and bitter without being too harsh or abrasive. Large, white-pepper sprinkled grapefruit peels and other various citrus rinds coat every corner of my mouth. Couple that with the thick and dense resins and hop oils, you've got yourself a sticky-delicious IPA.

Lots of pine in the finish with a nudge of bitterness that grazes the palate without completely raping it. It's actually quite mellow, really, and becomes even more mellow with time. Warming also brings out a large floral and perfume character that wasn't as evident before. Just like with many other IPAs, the malts coming in much more handy in the flavor than the aroma - biscuity and bready, the malts here perform a very nice balancing act with the aggressive hop profile, something I love to see. Fresh aftertaste with pines, oils, bread, and orange peels. The mouth feel is slick, clean, snappy, and lively; medium bodied with plenty of carbonation.

Wow, I can't believe this stuff went under my nose for such a long time, it really is a delicious IPA. Very good perception of extreme hoppiness while maintaining a great balance with the malt that keeps this beer drinkable as all hell. Goes down like a champ - and it helps that the 7% ABV goes primarily unnoticed. Delicious stuff, no joke.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 16:11:58 | More by tectactoe

Schoonerorlater

California

4.65/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

a- a cloudy, orange golden brown. nice head with a lovely trail of lace

s- citrus and pine. vanilla and caramel. hint of clove

t-hop bomber! starts off with the grapefruit and lime, pine. Heads for the sweet flavors of vanilla and caramel and finishes off with a nicey bready malt backbone.

m- medium feel. refreshing and crisp.

o- the hops have risen!! hallelujah! seriously fantastic IPA, inspiring and a "I'll be back for another" type of beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:11:07 | More by Schoonerorlater

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.21/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from bottle into a snifter glass

Appearance – The beer pours a medium golden amber color with a mall white head. The head has a decent level of retention, fading over time to leave a nice level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma of the brew is good with a nice mix of caramel malt and some lighter sweet fruit aromas. Mixed with these are some smells of a resinous pine and citrus hop giving it a west coast IPA nose.

Taste – The taste begins with flavors of some tropical fruits mixed with a caramel malt and bready backbone. As the flavors advance, the tongue is initially meet with some flavors of a grapefruit hop nature. These hit fairly strong and abruptly giving a hopped citrusy taste to the brew even with the sweeter fruit and malty flavors. With the advent of a sudden resinous pine hop taste and a bit of earthy hop also coming to the tongue later in the taste, when all is said and done a bitter hopped up flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is smooth and creamy with a carbonation level that is on the higher side. The medium body baths the tongue in all the hop and malt flavors really allowing them to be sensed by the taste buds. The carbonation level being slightly high adds a good exciting tingling feel to counterbalance some of the bitter that the hop leaves, making for a rather enjoyable feel overall.

Overall – This was a nice smooth but yet still well hoped brew. A good go to.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 06:06:07 | More by Darkmagus82

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Sudsy soapy foam. Golden in color. Very nice lacing and foam.

Smell: Floral soap...a bit too soapy, but still enjoyable.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Medicinal hops and chamomile. A very subdued DIPA flavor, but quite enjoyable. Goes down clean like a lager, making this easy to drink.

Overall Drinkability: One of the strangest DIPAs I've ever had, but I look forward to having it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2013 00:51:27 | More by tjsdomer2

BeerWizard

Colorado

4.44/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Chimay goblet. Nice carmel-gold color, thin band of bubbles just around the rim, and visible yeast suspension in the body. Looks slightly syrupy and not a lot of effervescence. Thin film of very fine bubbles floating in the middle of the glass. Pretty color and love to see that sediment in there.

Nose has a cidery-apple aroma. Also peaches and apricot. Smell some sweetness as well as the hops, but I get more fruit. Flavor is very forward, malty, hoppy, nice bracing from the alcohol, and a clean finish. Mouthfeel is nice, syrupy, big but focused. Nice!

Overall, this beer is friggin' killer. Nice and balanced but a nice edge from the hops. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:37:11 | More by BeerWizard

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a nice translucent light gold with one full finger of pure white head. The foam settles quickly, leaving a ring of bubbles along the edges of the glass. Good lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is pine with a good malty backbone. Nothing too crazy going on here. It's a bit sweet but has tons of pine scents.

T: It starts out light and refreshing with a great balance of sweet and bitter. It's pretty one dimensional from start to finish. Just a well balanced IPA. In the finish, the sweetness fades and the hoppy bitters take hold of the palate. Solid.

M: Medium bodied beer. It's a well balanced, well carbonated beer that hits the palate, settles, and moves off nicely. Nothing too sticky or coating about it. Nice piney hops remain after the beer is gone.

O: Good beer. Like I have said many times before, it's well balanced. The hops aren't over the top, the malt doesn't make it too sweet. It's just right. This would be a good entry point into the IPA style. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 19:44:25 | More by trxxpaxxs

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Uto Beer, Borough Market, London (355ml, £2.80):
Clear, golden amber colour with foamy white head stopping just under a centimetre tall and holds well.

Light with some nice floral notes and some light citrus hops coming through. There is some light malts and hint of caramel but from the most part the beer smells quite fresh and light with lemongrass right at the finish.

Pine hops and citrus with only a slight bit of bitterness that is nowhere near the amount I was expecting but makes the beer very easy to drink. There is some caramel malts, a touch of sweetness and the lemongrass that featured towards the end of the smell. There is some orange and a moderate bitter finish.

Light medium beer with a light mouthfeel and smooth, citrus infused sip and nice bitterness levels without being overdone. Carbonation is mild to medium with no evidence of alcohol showing.

Great but not quite what I had imagined it to be but not one that disappointed anyway. Very easy to drink with lighter bitterness levels than anticipated but the taste was great and the 7% abv. didn't show at all. The aroma was a little weak but nothing that spoiled the beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 10:54:55 | More by flyingpig