Black Racer - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

jackrodgers77

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

11-20-2012 03:28:42 | More by jackrodgers77

UncleBuccs

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

06-19-2013 03:35:42 | More by UncleBuccs

Massbmx

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

06-17-2013 23:12:36 | More by Massbmx

ChrisMon02

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

06-17-2013 18:53:07 | More by ChrisMon02

ocelot2500

Arizona

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep cola color with an off-white head that leaves little bits of lacing.

Smells of roasted malts with some hoppiness to it.

Tastes of the deep roasted malts with hop notes throughout. Roasted malts lead off with some burnt sugar type notes and a little sweetness. Cocoa notes come through in the middle. Pine and grassy hop notes come through rounding everything out.

Mouth feel is medium with a smooth amount of carbonation.

Overall, I find myself enjoying this.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 01:39:36 | More by ocelot2500

Orange

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-16-2013 07:21:01 | More by Orange

Madskill

California

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-16-2013 05:54:26 | More by Madskill

TLA

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

06-15-2013 16:04:51 | More by TLA

ZombieJester

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

06-15-2013 02:24:33 | More by ZombieJester

MrBuckHigh

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-15-2013 01:47:53 | More by MrBuckHigh

JimmyFlatRock

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-14-2013 21:26:58 | More by JimmyFlatRock

Kendo

New York

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Poured from the bomber into a tumbler-style pint glass. Body is black with a half-finger tannish head. Leaves some splotchy lace behind.

S: Chocolate malt and juicy citrusy hops with a touch of pine. Not terribly strong, but a good nose for this style.

T: Big on roastiness up front - roasted malt, chocolate malt, a touch of charcoal. Finishes with a tannic, woody bitterness. Earthy with some pine needles thrown in. Very bitter in the aftertaste (think pine resin and, if you can imagine aging a beer in pine barrels, I think it might taste like this somewhat). Alcohol was noted early, but after a few sips I got used to it and kind of forgot about it. In a lot of ways, that sums up this beer: I wasn't enamored with it at first, but after a few palate adjustments, it turns out OK.

M: A bit thin/watery. I wonder if a bigger malt foundation would soften that strong bitterness at the finish. Carbonation is light, making this one feel a bit creamy - though its lack of heft keeps it from getting there. Call it medium in heft, but be prepared for an argument, as in many ways it feels lighter.

O: Decent. I've had plenty that are better in this style - which I'm quite fond of - which makes this a bit of a disappointment from a brewery that usually impresses.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 01:40:52 | More by Kendo

KohlbeckM

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-14-2013 01:32:52 | More by KohlbeckM

Fahz

New York

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-14-2013 00:01:22 | More by Fahz

doremite

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

06-13-2013 22:43:25 | More by doremite

Paccamacca

California

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-13-2013 05:02:31 | More by Paccamacca

brureview

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark opaque chocolate in a tulip with a 1 finger head.
A tulip is an excellent glass for this IPA- and most IPAs.

The suggested serving temp is 40-45F- which is too low for most beers, especially IPAs.
Some pale ales can be served at this temp. I served the beer at about 45F.

The aroma was a light vanilla-chocolate from the head. There was grapefruit in the aroma when I opened the bottle, but not in the glass.

The mouth feel is lightly carbonated-less carbonation works well in this IPA.

The taste was coffee with some lemon. It is not strong- I would have preferred a stronger taste, quite good nevertheless. Perhaps this lighter taste contributes to the general balance of the beer- which is very well done.

I especially enjoyed the finish- excellent bitterness- just the right amount with good hoppiness.

Overall, an excellent Black IPA, and very different than other IPAs. It's underrated and mellower than most IPAs. I especially like the balance of hops, bitterness, and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 00:31:56 | More by brureview

AlexChillton

Arizona

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-12-2013 07:06:33 | More by AlexChillton

mkennedy119

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

06-12-2013 03:17:35 | More by mkennedy119

agreenman19

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-12-2013 00:59:54 | More by agreenman19

spoony

Colorado

3.81/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

From a 650 ml bottle (dated April 3, 2013) into a tulip.

A-The brew was poured cool, at 38 degrees, and it poured heavy and syrupy. The color is virtually black and not much light makes it through the center. There is a fat one-finger head of mocha-colored foam that drops a cap quickly, but leaves nice lacing.

S-The smell is very reminiscent of an IPA with citrusy hops (mostly orange, some lemon), floral notes, and pine. A touch of spice, too. Underneath the hops is a milky-chocolate malt note. No char or roast here.

T-The taste is similar to the smell with lots of hoppy citrus flavors and a peppery, orange spice. The milky chocolate fades a bit as the brew warms and some caramel notes come through. A touch of bitterness from both the hops and roasted malts peaks out. Alcohol is well-integrated, but noticeable.

M-The brew feels heavy with fine, long-lasting carbonation.

O-I continue to have a hard time getting into Bear Republic beers. This is an assertive, full-flavored black ale, but something about this beer is off-putting to me. Perhaps it is the hops they use, which are impressive in strength, but balance strangely against the malts, in my opinion? Or perhaps it is the slightly heavy feel? Whatever it is, this beer (like Racer X) just doesn't turn my screws.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 04:31:08 | More by spoony

TychoNDC

New York

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

06-11-2013 03:07:29 | More by TychoNDC

Beaver13

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle. Pours dark brown black with a big creamy tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is roasted chocolate malts with some rye notes.

The flavor is some sweet chocolate malts with a lot of acidic roast bitterness with some pine. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, a decent black IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 06:01:02 | More by Beaver13

azdback

Arizona

4/5  rDev +1.3%

06-10-2013 04:52:07 | More by azdback

Gagnonsux

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

06-10-2013 02:18:21 | More by Gagnonsux