Racer X Double IPA - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a slightly hazy amber-orange with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of grapefruit, pine, grassy, and floral hops with some sweet caramel malts, some bready malts, and a hint of booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of grapefruit, orange, and citrus hops with some bitterness and some sweet caramel malts. Through the middle, some pine and grassy hops come through with some more resiny bitterness and some bready malts. The finish is a mix of grapefruit, pine, and floral hops with some bitterness, some sweet bready malts, and a touch of booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry and bitter finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice big hoppy DIPA with a good hop profile and bitterness throughout.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 04:27:33 | More by ngeunit1

crewfan16

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cracked this open over a long night at work. Thanks again kojevergas for the trade. bottle doesnt seem to have a date on it, but is labeled 2012 vintage. poured into a SA perfect pint

a- pours a ruby gold orange color with barely off white head that falls pretty quickly leaving some nice lacing at the top of the glass. looks like a dipa should.

s- tropical sweetness and some bready malt. not a huge nose for a dipa

t- sweetness initially fades to juicy tropical fruit, a little lemon peel maybe, some bitter piney hops with some sweet malty goodness. finish comes with more hop bitterness. a very balanced dipa, not too huge in the malt or hop aspects, just sort of middle of the road balance. a very tasty beer

m- nice coating mouthfeel. a little oily texture. nice bitter finish. alcohol isnt really present, although at 8.5% i wouldnt expect it to be really huge.

overall, a very nice example of a dipa. like its little brother, it is very balanced in all aspects. too bad I cant get it around here, otherwise it would be a nice brew to grab any time.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 06:49:55 | More by crewfan16

albertjr21

New York

4.38/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2012 poured gently into a snifter yields a clear burnt orange amber under a fairly easily roused foam. Aroma of pungent grassy pine hops lightly stings the nose with a deep inhale. Lush hop flavor fully fills the palate and delivers that imperial bitterness you'd expect from Racer 5's bigger brother. Malt very nicely complements the hops and helps deliver a smooth well-balanced mouth feel.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 03:47:17 | More by albertjr21

mactrail

California

3.58/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a reddish amber in the big Duvel tulip. Moderate carbonation with a decent head. Nice aroma of piney hops.

Seriously hoppy, but not a total hop burnout. Some mellow malt improves the sharp disposition. However, the aftertaste does dial the bitterness all the way up. The saving grace is the pineapple and pear skins fruitiness. Otherwise I have to call it nearly undrinkable, so hop fanatics can take that as a strong recommendation.

For all practical purposes this is an excellent hop concentrate for flavoring less well-endowed brews. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Ibis Market in Mission Hills, SD.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 03:16:40 | More by mactrail

riored4v

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured in to a tulip. Slightly hazy, golden colored body. 1/2 finger head that faded pretty quickly.

Aroma was resiny, citrusy and floral. Good amount of malty sweetness. Slightly caramely. Good balance of hop and sweetness.

Taste was a good amount of resiny hop flavor up front accompanied by floral and citrus hop flavors. Good amount of sweetness cuts down on bitterness. Fairly malty along with some bready and caramel flavors. Finish had a moderate bitterness with grapefruit, floral and resiny, piney bitterness. Good balance.

Mouthfeel was medium body, medium/low carb and a slightly chewy finish that turns dry.

Overall this was a great DIPA. Good balance of hops and malt.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 00:33:50 | More by riored4v

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.23/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a medium coppery amber with a one finger off-white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of grapefruit, citrus and light pine hops and bready malt. Flavor follows with remarkably well integrated malt, citrus and citrus hops. Finishes with citrus rind and herbal hops. While not quite as intense hops as many Western IIPAs, the flavors are so well balanced that this is a pleasure to drink. Medium bodied with a pleasant creaminess. A very enjoyable IPA that I'm really glad to see in bottles.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 04:37:39 | More by LiquidAmber

mpedara429

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Poured out a slightly hazy amber color with two to three fingers of off white head head. A moderate amount of lacing

S: Big smell with grapefruit, lemon, floral notes, biscuit, and tropical fruit.

T: Very similar to the nose. Mostly grapefruit and pine, but the other flavors in the smell come out as well. It has a nice malt backbone for balance, but hop bitterness is definitely prominent.

M: Medium body with medium to high carbonation. It is oily but does not leave a bad aftertaste.

O: A truly amazing representation of the style. One of the best DIPAs I've had. Great balance. Full of flavor. The complexity of this beer is what makes it so great in my mind. The beer has a lot of flavors but none too overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 05:38:37 | More by mpedara429

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed 11/22/12

Note: "Vintage 2012" - a slightly more specific bottling date would be helpful

Appearance: Crystal clear copper color - small, white head, somewhat still - fades to a small, wispy cap, and some nice streaks of lacing

Smell: Oily, resiny, damp citrus and a surprising amount of malt - it's almost like they were going for balance (unexpected!) - grapefruit, orange, tangerine - oily, fleshy, floral, with pith and zest - malty, with lots of caramel malts - lightly toasted, lightly cooked biscuits

Taste: A dull but accurate description of this would be "an imperial Racer 5 with more balance and caramel malts" - oily citrus, damp citrus rinds - some sweet flesh, and some bitter pith - some resiny pine, with a touch of mint - hints of sweet tropical flavors - pale and caramel malts, more caramel than anticipated (or desired) - on the sweet side - high level of bitterness, with a sticky bitter aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Solid medium body, adequately carbonated, sticky, with a hint of alcohol

Overall: I'm looking forward to Racer XV

This is a solid DIPA. But I must admit I expected it to be a little more epic, based on my enjoyment of Racer 5. Personally, I'd prefer less sweetness, less caramel. But for what it is, it's balanced and tasty. I might update the score if I learn this is not a particularly fresh bottle, but I might not; my main concern is the malt profile.

Edit (about an hour later): This really grew on me over the course of the bomber. I can't really explain it, but I am bumping the taste score accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 01:54:51 | More by angrybabboon

ElSid

California

4.23/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#25

Bottled Date: "Vintage 2012"

A: Golden orange with a good amount of sediment and a scant of off white head which leaves behind little lace on the glass.

S: Bright nose with fresh grass, pine, juicy grapefruit along with tropical fruit notes. Background sugary sweetness.

T: Big palate of pine needles, ruby grapefruit, and spicy bitterness interspersed with touches of pineapples and even mango sweetness. Backbone of bready, sugary malt with a faint warming alcohol finish once the hop bitterness fades.

M: Moderate body with ample carbonation and linger.

O: A lot of excitement giving this brew a first time go after picking it up at a local Whole Foods. A great showcase of big hop flavors. I hope to see this brew out in bottle form more often. Bear Republic is one of the stand out NorCal breweries which puts out excellent, worthy ales.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 05:16:10 | More by ElSid

Gatch

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 "Vintage"

A: Beautiful copper-golden-orange color with the expected soapy, bubbly, frothy, sticky, bright white head leaving behind amazing lace and good, bubbly retention. Gorgeous brew. Disclaimer: will become hazy due to sediment if you choose to pour the entire contents of the bottle. In my opinion, I think it contributes to this beer, but I don't always pour the yeast into the glass.

S: My nose is about six inches away from the pint glass as I write this review and I'm experiencing a sensory overload already. Huge burst of fresh, citrusy (mostly grapefruit), and grassy hops. Sweet, slightly roasted malt and sugary, almost buttery booze complements to truly balance this beer out. BR wasn't kidding when they said this will be balanced. As for the taste...

T: Exactly the same as the nose but a bit boozier and maltier which is perfect for the style. Nothing overpowers. Just a wonderful balance of fresh, juicy, fruity, resiny hops, sweet, sugary malt, and incredibly smooth, delicious booze. Top notch stuff.

M: The essence of smooth, sweet, and balanced. The flavors are incredible, the feel is as smooth as any beer I've had in recent memory, and the finish is exquisite. Resiny, dry, bitter hop oils cling to the palate to remind you this is a big IPA while deliciously sweet, tasty malt and booze slide down your throat.

O: Now this is a Double IPA! Bear Republic absolutely nailed this style on the head. I wish I could drink another bomber, but I'd probably be trashed. Everything I expect from this style. You must drink this!

Note: I know all 5's should be rare, but at the moment (this is my first beer of the day), this is absolutely top class. I do not see anything wrong with it in my expectations for the style. In my opinion, a Double/Imperial IPA should have three things...hops, malt, and booze. This exemplifies all three in the most balanced way possible. I feel comfortable giving this beer straight 5's.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 18:56:46 | More by Gatch

GilGarp

Colorado

4.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've been waiting for this beer to come to Colorado for years so I'm super excited to give it a try.

Seed cold in a goblet, Racer X is a slightly hazy amber color with thick head, good retention and nice lacing as it settles.

Aroma is super fresh and hoppy with great big loads of citrus, especially grapefruit.

Flavor is just as amazing as I was hoping it would be. Much like little brother Racer 5, and as it claims on the bottle, it's wonderfully hoppy while still managing to find balance with sweetness from the malts. The other similarity that I see is that the malts and hops seem to compliment eachother perfectly. The hops flavor is near the very top of the scale but the balance is still kept in check.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated with balanced bitterness.

Overall one of the best double IPAs I've had the pleasure of enjoying. A wonderful beer well worth the wait.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 03:43:59 | More by GilGarp

gtermi

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a dark golden body with a thin white head that quickly fades away and leaves a tiny bit of lacing on the glass.

S: Strong spicy and citrus hop with a nice amount of sweet grain. The two smells really mix well together.

T: Like the smell, the hops are spicy and citrusy. It has a nice bitterness from the hops, but the sweet grain settles that down. As the beer lingers, the sweet grain really starts to shine.

M: There is a bit of crispness on the tip of the tongue and the back of the throat. The beer is pretty thin in body and easy to drink.

O: This is a pretty damn good beer by Bear Republic, but whatelse should I have expected from them??

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 04:36:50 | More by gtermi

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a New Belgium globe.

A: Pours a red-orange color with a mild haze. Bubbly white head reaches a height of about two inches before it eventually settles into a thin crown. Lacing is wispy and patchy.

S: Orange pith, grapefruit rind, hints of pine. Mango and passion fruit. Slightly plant-like and oily. Subtle tropical esters. Malt scents are bready, slightly crusty, and a touch sweet.

T: Pithy orange, citrus rind bitterness, honeydew melon, oily and green. Bitterness is formidable, and builds slightly. Herbal, planty kick as the hop tastes shift. Fleeting tropical esters. Malt tastes are bready and crusty. Slight toasted grain. Touch of sweetness. Spike of alcohol toward the back end. Finishes with a lingering oily, green hop taste.

M: On the heftier side of medium bodied. Firm, full, and round in the mouth. Modest carbonation. Warming on the swallow. Mild enamel stripping sensation. Great mouthfeel.

O: Great mouthfeel to this one. It has that strong malt texture that I enjoy so much in Racer 5. There is good balance to it for the style, but it almost feels a little overblown and a hair too harsh. It's just one of those beers that doesn't quite come together, and doesn't quite meet expectations. But it doesn't fall very short of those expectations either. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 05:16:36 | More by ryan1788a5

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle labeled 2012 Vintage...courtesy of Kurtis. Thank you so much for hitting this want!

Nice hazed medium orange pour with a healthy half inch puff that dips to a steady ring. Lacing is spotty but abundant.

Tangerine, orange, grapefruit, bready malts and some vaporous alcohol notes.

Citrus in the form of rindy orange peel and light grapefruit and a moderate bitterness atop a firm, though not overbearing, doughy maltiness. Sugary sweetness is kept in check and not over the top like some DIPA's. Alcohol bite on the finish is a bit sharp for the abv, but not a deal breaker. Leaves a biting fade.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter end with a soft carbonation.

I like this. Seems a bit of an English/American hybrid, but one that works well. I ended up drinking this throughout the afternoon NFL NFC East crapathon. I wish it hid the sharp finish better, but the flavors and mouthfeel work well.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 00:09:19 | More by BarrytheBear

portia99

Massachusetts

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

22oz bottle - Vintage 2012 but not bottled on/freshness date (just arrived at Julio's a week ago, so assuming it is fresh) poured into an Otter Creek World Tour tumbler.

A - Pours a deep copper color with good clarity...just a touch of haze and a finger of creamy off-white head sitting on top. Head falls slowly leaving behind light lacing.

S - Quite citrusy - oranges and grapefruit. Hints of pineyness and a healthy dose of sugary sweetness, touch of graininess. Pretty standard aroma for a double IPA...but good nonetheless.

T - Only manages a mid-level bitterness that is rather smooth and well integrated...not at all sharp or overbearing. Solid malt backbone, some biscuity/breadyness, caramel and plenty of sugary sweetness to give some contrast to the hops. Citrus hop flavors - rather fruity/juicy - featuring grapefruit as the primary, some pineapple also involved.

M - On the thinnish side of medium bodied. Carbonation is mid level with a touch of a tingle felt on the tongue. Touch of booze, a healthy helping of caramelly sugar, and lots of juicy hops with a medium bitterness.

O - Been quite a while since I've last had this beer, and the first time I've come across it in a bottle. Maybe my tastes have changed, more/better examples have come out recently, or something is lost on the bottle for this one...but I feel a bit underwhelmed here. I remember thinking this was one of the better DIPA's a couple of years ago and was happy to see this hit the shelves. Still a very good beer, but doesn't really stand out in any particular way...well brewed, solid beer - just finds itself lost in the mix of other great beers I think.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 20:56:37 | More by portia99

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a duvel glass.

A: pours a murky orange amber with a touch of red to it, not much head to speak of, maybe Hal a finger of off white head, and I wasn't any gentler on my pour then usual. Leavs a bit of sticky lacing.

S: I get some citrus hop notes from the nose, a hint of pine as well, to be honest I thought the nose would be more intense here, I'm a bit dissapointed, although the aroma I am getting is pleasant. Coming back to this, I think the beer was just to cold before, the aroma really comes out as this brew warms, very nice hops.

T: lots if citrusy hop flavor, a bit of pine, balanced out with a bit of caramel malt, this brew displays a very nice balance while never getting too sweet or too bitter, very tasty, kind of like a delicious hoppy fruit punch... Very nice.

M: nice medium mouthfeel, with lower medium carbonation, dry slightly bitter finish leavin a touch of resinousness in the mouth.

O: a damn good dipa, great hop flavor, very well balanced, just all around well done... I enjoyed this beer very much.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 01:59:10 | More by PeterIngemi

SHODriver

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage

A: pours a deep orange that's nearly red into a duvel tulip with a decently sized off white head that retains fairly well
S: smells of grapefruit rind and pine. a little bit of the caramel malt comes through as well
T: sweeter than expected with some nice caramel malt flavor up front, nice piney bite and some sweet yet still bitter citrus. slight orange marmalade flavor toward the end as well. swallow is oily hop and a slightly toasted bread flavor. a bit of alcohol on the swallow also
M: medium body with soft but firm carbonation. very nice feel
O: a very well crafted top notch DIPA that shows balance and great depth and breadth of flavor

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 04:02:48 | More by SHODriver

Dope

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a really nice, mostly clear ruby red. Big frothy light beige head. Fades slowly, excellent retention. Decent spiderweb lacing left behind.

S: Wonderfully pungent grapefruit right off the bat. Pine and resin follows it. Even get some herbal hops in there. Decent caramel malt tries to balance it out.

T: Lots of grapefruit and herbal hops in here. Resinous, quite so in fact. Some "dankness" that's reminiscent of Devil Dancer. I'm assuming summit hops? Kinda garlicy. Decent caramel malt in the middle balances it a bit. Lots of resin in the finish and into the long lingering bitter aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied and slick. Mouth-coating oiliness.

O: Delicious DIPA except for one thing. Those summit hops, just not a huge fan. Gives the beer a weedy sort of aroma and taste. I try not to let it detract too much but I will say I think Racer 5 is much better. Still, for the most part this is an excellent beer, this is more of a personal preference thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 05:46:41 | More by Dope

parris

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Smell - Dank hops, a small amount of toffee, I suppose the aroma could be a bit bigger.

Appearance - Looks like beer, descent white head, yellow copper in color, there's a small amount of either yeast or hop bits floating in it, some lacing

Taste - Dank, spicy hops, nicely, no perfectly, balanced out with the malt

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, carbonation hits the back of your tongue, somewhat slick, no astringency

Overall - It's lame I don't have more of this, ISO

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 22:00:13 | More by parris

spoony

Colorado

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

From a 22 oz bottle into a tulip. 2012 vintage.

A-Deep amber and golden brew. Mostly clear with little carbonation. I did not get much head, maybe a finger of off-white, short-lasting foam. There was considerable lacing, however, left on the glass.

S-I smelled some caramel, hints of vanilla, a little pepper, and orange. There was some hoppy character, but I was surprised by the lack of floral or pine notes. Not bad smelling by any means, just not what I was expecting.

T-Taste follows the smell pretty closely. Light malted caramel flavor combined with some bitter, mild (relatively speaking...this was still an IIPA) hop flavors to produce a pleasing, and slightly different style. There were still some citrus flavors, but they were pretty muted. Alcohol was very well-integrated.

M-Nicely balanced. A little syrupy feeling at times, but still medium-bodied.

O-I liked this beer and thought it made a nice fall IIPA. As I mentioned above, the smell and flavor were not the flower/citrus bomb that you might expect from a California IIPA, but it was nevertheless a pretty complex and tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 18:41:04 | More by spoony

Treebs

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle (2012 vintage) served in a Westbrook tulip. Huge thanks to mfavoino (Matt) for hitting this long time want!

A: Pours a dark amber with a yellowed head forming on the pour. It recedes to a bubbly ring that leaves some soapy, sticky lace as it goes down the glass.

S: Sticky orange citrus with some candied grapefruit. A little booze with some nice caramel malt sweetness.

T: Sticky grapefruit just like the nose with a little bit of smooth booze. Light bitter pine with some citrus zest and honey sweetness. Very clean throughout with nice residual hop oils sticking to the tongue. As the beer warms the caramel malt from the nose really comes out.

M: Medium bodied with a little stick to it. Finishes clean and surprisingly light. Medium carbonation level.

O: Nicely balanced and I really enjoyed the subtle nuances of this beer. Sweet, sticky and bitter, this beer hits all levels a hop head would want.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 14:54:56 | More by Treebs

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2012

Large lumpy head. As it recedes, it leaves a web of chunky lace. Rich amber color and clear.

Strong floral aroma from the hops. Lots of prickly pine.

Starts with a strong, crystal malted initial sip. This fades quickly and the expected, nearly over-the-top of bittering hop. Deceptively easy to drink. Appropriate body and carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 22:05:34 | More by smcolw

tut2528

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

first and foremost, a big thank you to Beachstrength49 for this one. Greatly appreciate it man.

A pours an awesome bright rust color which is barely transparent, with about 1 fingers worth slightly off-white head formation. 4.5

S: I pick up on a strong malt backbone, with grapefruit, orange peel, floral hops and a slight pine touch.

T: Much sweeter than I expected. Again, this is similar to the nose, with a strong maltiness, some caramel sweetness, grapefruit, and some moderate amounts of orange peel. The hops create a strong bitter finish that complements the a slight creaminess that is also present.

M: medium bodied, decent carbonation, leaves a nice bitterness on the palate with just the right amount of sweetness for this brew.

O: a solid DIPA offering by Bear Republic. i enjoy the maltiness (which was expected), but at the same time I wish there was a bit more to the nose and more fruit profile in the taste. the alcohol is extremely well hidden behind the massive malt.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 18:48:25 | More by tut2528

Philousa

California

3.43/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

This pours a dark, clear amber. Lots of crystal malt. Eggshell colored head is dense and irregular. What's there laces well. Aroma is sweet from hops. Blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry with some pine behind. As it warms the pine takes over and gets pretty potent. Curls the nose hairs. There is some nuttiness and a little bit of alcohol aroma as well. Mild maple syrup reflects what I can only assume will be a somewhat thick mouthfeel. Taste starts nutty and somewhat fruity with malt and hops. The hops are the showcase of the taste as well, as they transition to a peanut like savory flavor and then it gets bitter. The sweet citrus starts the bitterness but it ends up being more of a piney, syrupy, resinous flavor. Feel is slightly viscous with a dry finish.

This one was actually more interesting cold. The abrasive nature of the hop oils came out as it warmed and it turned out to be too much for me. Still a good beer, but with it being a specialty brew, I can find better year round DIPAs in NorCal.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 17:39:18 | More by Philousa

DovaliHops

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this at 2012 Bistro IPA fest...now reviewing from bottle. 2012 Vintage. Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a medium-large off-white head. Scent is very inviting. Great hop profile in the aroma. Tropical fruit hop aromas with just a dash of citrus. Mangos, pineapple, and oranges linger in the nostrils. Some sweet malt aromas as well. Mellow pine...this is one good-smelling beer. Taste is just as good, Initially, you get some malt, which would normally through me off...however, it works for this beer. The malt is present, but the west-coast hop profile balances it out, making it quite the balanced DIPA. Sweet malt blends well with pine, hop resin, mango, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit...this beer has a lot going on. Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, crisp and a little sticky. Drinkability is high, as the ABV is hidden very well. Overall, this beer is fantastic! I had it at the Bistro IPA fest, but tasted it after a bunch of "triple IPAs" so my palate was worn by hops. It tasted good then, and it tastes great now.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 06:42:05 | More by DovaliHops