Racer 5 India Pale Ale - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

rabidawg

Georgia

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Golden copper with heavy carbonation. Creamy, sticky white head with clinging sheets of lace. (This is a characteristic that all BR beers I've had tend to possess.)

Smell: Definitely an IPA, with the typical citrus hop notes. Not really that "big"as far as IPAs go, particularly left-coasters.

Taste: Nice citric hops initially, well balanced by the maltiness. A little green in the finish, and quite bitter and drawing at the end. A good IPA, but not one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2004 18:55:00 | More by rabidawg

twilight

Germany

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Yum. Yum. Yum.

I have to gush about beeradvocate turning me on to good beer. The appearance was this golden reddish colour, with hop schmutz floating around the glass. Being a homebrewer, I appreciated this touch, even though it was probably unintentional, and would have settled to the bottom had I kept the bottle in the fridge longer. The smell is slightly sweet with a clean and crisp hop aroma. The taste- yum yum yum- a sweet malt flavor that coats the mouth with a great balance of hops. More hops than in normal beers, but deliciously balanced by the malt. While drinking it, the phrase smooth bitterness popped into my head. This feels full, rich, delicious with light carbonation and a dry hop aftertaste. I love this beer. Can't wait to try more. Am particularly lucky to have found this in NYC. Let's hope my supply doesn't dry up.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2004 00:25:20 | More by twilight

RootedFool

California

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

Purchased a 22 ounce bomber at the North Coast Co-op in Arcata, California.

Pours solid gold with a cloud-white half-inch head. Thick, foamy ring of lace left on the glass.

The nose is an elegant explosion of hops -- pine trees, orange and lemon rinds.

Aggressive hops adroitly come through on the tongue, bordered by some citrus accents, leaving a clean, tart aftertaste. Alcohol is in the taste, too -- well masked by the other flavors -- pleasantly warming the back of my throat.

Mouthfeel is silky yet full-bodied enough to bear the bounty of hops without falling on its ass.

As a big fat hop head, I loved drinking this. I mean, I'm loving it -- not finished the bottle, yet!

Not my favorite of the big and bold IPA's, but it ranks high.

p.s. After some deliberation, I want to add that this tastes a lot like Hop Rod Rye without the rye (also by Bear Republic). I'm thinking of Racer 5 as the delicious, inferior twin.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2004 16:12:21 | More by RootedFool

GreatPondBrewer

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. Bomber. Poured a clear golden color with a frothy, eggshell white head that receded into a ring around the edge of the glass and tons of sticky lace on the sides. Smell was super citrusy coupled with an orange sweetness and other fresh citrus fruits. The taste was brutal in the hop department which smoothed into a very malty profile for the color. As the beer warmed the 7% ABV really takes hold. However, with the adition of the sediment the taste mellows considerably to a grassier flavor with a honey-baked sweetness and the hops took a more subdued floral approach. Quality IPA and glad to have it in the Rochester area.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2004 01:58:40 | More by GreatPondBrewer

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have saved this awesome gift from Boilermaker88 for a special event.. and I need it tonight for luck and comfort. This is the pre-NFC championship beer.

Musty sweet hop flowers with a touch of pine on the tip of my nose. Nice airy white head on the pour with a very filtered golden color look in the glass with a touch of amber color. Initial blast taste-wise of orange rind, sweet malt, pine, and grapefruit juice in the bitter dry finish on the tongue. Fullish soft mouth upfront this then turns dry on on the back of the tongue in the finish. The finish could be slightly better balenced (malt wise).. but that is just me being picky. Overall this is a wonderful ipa that impacts the mouth and tongue with its hop presence. Very good!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2004 03:44:13 | More by frank4sail

ZAP

Minnesota

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

5-25-02 Slightly skunky European hop smell...very frothy creamy head...cloudy light orangish in color...light-to-medum bodied..no skunkiness on taste...strong hops present but very balanced..big grapefruit taste but an adequate malt profile as well...a very good/excellent IPA

1-10-04...excellent citrusy IPA with a great nose and flavor....raised scores slightly after really having an enjoyable second experience..

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2004 05:02:05 | More by ZAP

beerinator

Illinois

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

Appearance: Golden with a hint of caramel amber color. Great head retention.

Aroma: Fanciful enormous citrusy hop aroma. Aroma is very nice. Caramely citrus blend. Candied hops.

Taste: Upfront a bit of maltyness, with a tiny hint of vegital hop flavor. Great mouthfeel. Citrusy hops overpower what little vegital flavor is present. Finish is nice dry and quick. Flavor isn't quite as hoppy as expected from the wonderful aroma. But it's still a great beer.

Notes: Very nice. Should be better from a fresher bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2004 16:46:51 | More by beerinator

saskguy

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The white head went fast, but the bubbles kept showing up.

Has a rich golden colour.

Has a strong hop aroma.

Starts with an agressive hop flavour up front that seems to cover the tounge, then has a hint of sweet malt that finished with a slightly dry roasted flavour.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2004 06:51:30 | More by saskguy

ChappyCubsFan

California

4.4/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the five best IPA's I've ever tasted and a beer that continuously delivers excellent quality. The balance of hops and malt is fantastic. This is what the robust California IPA is all about. I can only think of a few IPA's that rival this one. Unless you've tried one, you have not achieved beer nirvana.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2003 02:26:08 | More by ChappyCubsFan

OatmattStout

Connecticut

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

Great big cream colored fluffy head with really thick lacing that was more like a solid blanket on the side of the glass. Smell was huge with a lot citrus notes and serious piney notes. Taste followed suit with a somewhat lighter malt side and great hop character of sweet citrus and resonous pine with a nice peppery, spicy finish. Very clean and dry. This is a great session IPA cause it's malt body is not over the top and it is not to heavy, although it is bottle conditioned to 7% so you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Like this one alot and will grab it when I can.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2003 19:19:45 | More by OatmattStout

Onceeven

New York

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Phew, this one was something else!
Pungent hop aroma, like smelling fresh hop pellets. Poured a clear copper color, with two finger thick head that slowly dissipated and left an impressive lacing all over the place. Carbonation was minimal.
They must have dry hopped the hell out of this brew. I braced myself for a hop overload, but was surprised to taste a pretty well balanced beer (balanced for an IPA anyway). There is an initial bite, mixed with a bready malt tone, then hops all the way through to the finish. Every sip was an explosion of flavor!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2003 04:43:13 | More by Onceeven

DagFishHead

New York

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clear amber pour. Voluminous, creamy, eggshell-white head hangs in there like meringue on a lemon pie. Thick, creamy spider-web lace.
Smell: Holy hops! Olfactory assault of floral and citrus hops, hop oils, piney, toasty malt in the background with a decent whiff of alcohol and breadiness.
Taste & Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied caramel malt followed by a sharp whack of piney/pitchy hops, clean crisp carbonation at the top, bitter/citrus hops dry to the bone leaving a flowery and oily/acidic hop aftertaste. Better balance than implied by the nose.
Drinkability: A superbly balanced IPA. I'll be looking for this again and again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2003 00:24:26 | More by DagFishHead

francisweizen

Australia

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

An excellent IPA from Bear Republic. This pours out a creamy orangey/peachy colour with a large white head of foam. The aromas are all fresh cut piney/citrusy hops with a nice malt backbone to boot. The taste is a hop explosion with some great bready malts on the finish. The mouthfeel is quite smooth and reminds me of real ale. Bottle conditioned magic, I tell ya. The drinkability is excellent as well. All hail the bear! Why is this stuff SO EASY to get anywhere in NYC, but impossible to get in PA, why....why....why....!?

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2003 15:36:12 | More by francisweizen

Realale

Missouri

4.72/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Clear light copper. Very fine white head settles to a complete cap leaving nice lacing.

Nose is citric hop over a slightly rich biscuity malt. Very well-balanced.

Balance carries through to the palate. Lots of malt, and lots of wonderfully extracted hop flavor. Finish is long, and well-balanced between hop bitterness and malty sweetness.

Very soft beautiful bottle-conditioned mouthfeel really keeps the hop bitterness in check. Simply excellent. Its nice to find an American IPA that has the malt to balance, not just support, the hops.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2003 04:11:48 | More by Realale

goz

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours amber/copper with a large white creamy head that somewhat lasts and leaves a fair amount of lace. Aroma has hints of sweet maltiness, but is dominated with strong citrus hoppiness. Flavor starts with some fine malts, then comes a pile of chewy, juicy, super fresh tasting hops that linger around for a while. Medium-full bodied, slightly acidic, ends pretty dry.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2003 00:48:34 | More by goz

Weissenheimer

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I usually don't go for IPAs unless I have companion food to fend off the hops, but as I take a single taste of this stuff I know that it will be fine on its own. My pint arrives with a small head which soon diminishes to a foamy strip winding its way across a thin film of suds. The beer has a pleasingly mellow, coppery tinge that softens it from amber to something reminiscent of pumpkin. It carries a happy, crisp, moderately hoppy scent.

The taste is amazingly full and round for an IPA. I am very impressed. It has a big, lovely, solid body backing up a hoppiness which brings green, growing things to mind. Its metallic bite is embedded in an overarching rounded taste which protects me from what might otherwise be a harsh experience. Toward the end of the pint I notice a slightly woody element. This beer is not all that complicated but its fullness provides an enjoyable drinking experience.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2003 22:38:44 | More by Weissenheimer

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a big IPA...could be called an Imperial IPA. It pours a bright shiny copper with a medium-sized off-white head and some trails of lace. The aroma is mostly made up of fragrant floral hops, with a hint of sweet malt. The body is fairly full and sweet for the style. Caramel and vanilla wafer come to mind. A big blast of fresh sharp-edged hops jumps out with grapefruit, lemon zest and a faint metallic tang. The warming alcohol mixed with the lush sweetness gives this brew a sort of brandied candy flavor, only a tad more astringent in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2003 02:34:43 | More by BeerResearcher

nomad

Kansas

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a beautiful shade of golden amber, well conditioned by the bottle. Head was thick and tight foam, leaving strips of stain.

Smell was sweet and thin in a nice, clear way: grapefruit with stickly pine, joined by some peach notes and herbal scents. As it warmed it coalesced into a honey-dipped fruit smell. Delectable.

Tasted of grapefruity goodness with a sweetish but appetizing malt backbone. Its big floral flavors were tastier than ever in an IPA. Had some straight fruitiness in time with a mediocre bitterness in the finish. Full-flavored but a little thin in flavor and mouthfeel, the finish detracted a smidge too.

Regardless, a very good West Coast IPA fighting hard against the competition, but is more drinkable than some of those hop-monsters though.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2003 17:33:28 | More by nomad

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Nice ambery copper color, somewhat hazy with little floaty things, hop leaf bits probably, finger high off-white head of thick bubbly froth, fades slowly to a thin haze and a ring which remains present the whole glass. Lace is sticky in large webby sheets. Aroma is oh so nice with lovely hops of piney deepness and citrusy oils with a soft, round caramel maltyness. Straight up IPA nose from the West coast eh, quite nice, could smell it at arms length. Taste has a nice piney sense with a mellowness thats welcoming; increasing citrus of dull orange oil and grapefruit mixed with a touch of woody dryness and a nice even bittering hop bite thats resin filled and quite nice the whole way through. Caramel malts keep a sweeter notion overall on the under side. Feel is solid medium bodied with a nice little creamy smoothness and fluffyness that slides right down. This beer clinched it for me. I love hops!! I've held back on wanting a hop fix, but no longer, I'm going to start hoarding hop heavy beers dammit! This was a very nice IPA! The bomber was gone in no time! And I thank Drewbage1847 for it!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2003 23:53:33 | More by tavernjef

scottum

Vermont

3.98/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pale amber with quite the short head for a slightly hard pour of an IPA. Hops are bitter and citrus tinged. Malts are a bit bready and sweet, but do an admirable job of mellowing the hopster. A very mild taste of the 7% still shows through. Overall a very decent IPA. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2003 18:08:37 | More by scottum

drewbage

California

4.55/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Map Room pint glass.

Beer pours copper orange with a fair haze. Tough soapy and sticky white head hangs onto the glass and

Aroma is piney and deep resin with sticky citrus, sweet orange oils and a light alcohol Grand Marnier like finish.

Flavor starts with a soapy orange bitterness and proceeds through a with a medium malt body with spiced overtones. Finish has a return of the hoppiness this time with more grapefruit and lemon characters.

Overall an excellent example of the style that would drive most of the drinking public running towards the nearest case of Keystone.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2003 07:11:57 | More by drewbage

winomark

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a deep gold with a wispy, off-white head.

Aroma: Hop citrus and spiciness hits hard. Tiny alcohol and malty notes in the back.

Taste: Lots of hop bitterness and dryness is dominant. Malt makes a tiny appearance to offer some balance. A hop-head's dream beer.

Mouthfeel: Dry and crisp, but has good body. A wonderful, hoppy finish.

Drinkability: A great IPA; much better than I remember. Would love to make this one a regular at my house.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2003 15:10:28 | More by winomark

taez555

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a big thick white head with a clear amber body.

The nose was beautiful. Fresh sharp citrus hop. Pepper (not necessarily black), flowers, touches of pine needles, caramel, malt. Basically this is what A.P.A.’s are supposed to smell like.

The taste was nice and creamy. Medium to full bodied. Rich caramel and a big fresh malt taste. Smooth with a high level of bitterness, but balanced perfectly against the malt. The hop flavors, (citrus, pepper, pine, flowers, grapefruit, lime peel) are all present and balanced, but so much more subdued than you might expect from such a big beer.

It ends slightly medicinal but nicely bitter and hoppy.

Overall just an amazing IPA. Very smooth, clean and easy drinking. Lots of big malts, and huge fresh hops, all perfectly balanced and yet so well mellowed it doesn’t overshadow anything else. A must try beer. Yum.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2003 09:30:27 | More by taez555

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

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

Another one of the very fine SoCal IPAs, this one has a great level of hopping that seems perfectly mated to the fine malt base. The clear copper body is covered by a single finger of off white head that laces the glass very abundantly. The aromas are equally well balanced between a fine carmel malt and the lovely floral hops.

The taste of this beer is just great with strong malt and hop presence. The feel is great as well with a nice medium body and a crisp and dry finish. Very good drinkability from this nice brew.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2003 23:46:30 | More by AtLagerHeads

RoyalT

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance – Very clear, thin-looking body with a tremendous, foaming head that laced and pitted my Ruination glass.

Smell – Sharp, piney hops lead the way here. If there’s a malt balance I can’t find it. This one is all about the hops. Very complex, actually, with some floral and citrus notes.

Taste – The taste sees through the promises of the nose. The complex hoppy flavor comes out at the tongue, but not overly sharp. There’s a tremendous smoothness to this ale that reminds me of NW style IPAs.

Mouthfeel – Very smooth and medium-bodied. This one is also exceptionally dry and refreshing.

Drinkability – Clean and distinctive offering of the style. I brought a few more Bear Republics back with me from LA and am looking forward to giving them a try.

Comments - The brewery is located in Healdsburg, home of the CA Wine Country. It's a beer island in a sea of vino, so woulid probably appreciate a beer-lover's visit.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2003 04:19:53 | More by RoyalT