Racer X Double IPA - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

b3shine

Ohio

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

Draft to snifter. I have to admit before I start this review, I've been waiting to try this one for some time...and anticipation never works to the favor of a beer in its review. Looks good; burnt-orange in appearance. Smells great. The hops kick you in the sinuses. Tastes good. His is where my anticipation hurt this beer. There are very few "A" beers in my mind, and I had hopes that didn't quite match up. Mouthfeel is good too, but a little warm. Overall, a good brew...just not a phenomenal one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 20:19:15 | More by b3shine

dirtylou

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on-tap, noble fir. Been wanting to try this for years...

appearance: served in a 16.5oz unbranded goblet, dark orange body, filmy white cap

smell: pungent hop bouquet - pine, ruby red grapefruit, sweet caramel malt

taste: this is a big-bodied DIPA with a thick caramel malt base - lots of pine resin, red grapefruit, lots of sugar, fair amount of alcohol present. A little big-bodied for me, but packed to the brim with west coast hops and a treat to find on tap

mouthfeel: pretty big body for the style

overall: delicious

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2011 19:55:18 | More by dirtylou

snpub540

California

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

On tap at The Bottle Room.

Poured a cloudy orange hue with a small off white head that left scattered lacing on the glass.

Smell is grapefruit, tangerine zest, pine, and grass.

Taste is sweet upfront and then a bitter piney, resiny finish with some citrus pop to brighten things up. Crisp and dry in the finish and it just begs you to take more sips.

Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing with a medium body with a touch of an oily feel as it slides of the tongue. Great drinkability and the balance is very nice while still allowing hops to be the major player.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 23:38:03 | More by snpub540

UCLABrewN84

California

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

On tap at Tony's Darts Away in Burbank, CA.

Pours a hazy amber color with a 2 inch foamy beige head that settles to a small cap. Thick foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruits, and citrus zest. Taste is of malt, brown sugar, citrus fruit, grapefruit juice, and citrus zest. A mild bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation making for a crisp yet smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good DIPA with some awesome sweet/bitter citrus flavors going on.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2011 20:58:58 | More by UCLABrewN84

brew3crew

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Churchill's

A- yellowish orange body with white head and great lacing

S-nice hop smell that I can't distinguish

T-nice citrus taste. Only real flavor I get. Very smooth

M-medium body and smooth

O-nice dipa. Would definitely drink more if avalible

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2011 03:11:34 | More by brew3crew

ehammond1

California

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap

Stone 15th Anniversary Brewers' Reception
CSU, San Marcos
San Marcos, CA

Clear amber and orange with a thick/white head. Lots of lacing down the glass. Gorgeous. Looks like a particularly thick and hearty DIPA.

Incredible aroma and my favorite aspect of this beer. The aroma is very tropical, floral, piney, and grassy all at once. It's quite spectacular. A full, inviting, rich, and unique aroma.

Well balanced DIPA: tropical fruit, some pine, and significant but appropriate bitterness. Very nice.

Medium to thick mouthfeel.

A solid DIPA with a world-class aroma. If the flavor excelled similarly, we'd have a very, very special beer on our hands. Bear Republic shines again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 17:33:55 | More by ehammond1

magictacosinus

California

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

Poured on tap into a pint at the Bear Republic brewery and pub in Healdsburg, CA.

Appearance: Pours a dark amber color with a slightly small, frothy head. Not the prettiest double IPA I've seen, but still is eye-candy.

Smell: Strong hoppy notes reminiscent of grapefruit, pine and soap. There are sour bready notes thrown in there, which gives it a well-balanced aroma.

Taste: Very, very bitter, yet contains a very overpowering fruity taste with notable maltiness. This is not as balanced as other double IPAs I've had, yet the fun lies in the aggressive, zesty hops that Bear Republic uses. The alcohol, despite high in ABV, is barely noticeable here.

Mouthfeel: A malty creaminess with a strong hoppy finish. If you're looking for an IPA capable of ruining your palate, look no further! This one, if memory serves, is more bitter and outstanding than Stone's Ruination. Nevertheless, while hops win flavor-wise with this beer, it's the maltiness that is more pleasing on the palate.

Overall: A great double IPA that is quite different and zesty than others. I had it with spicy gumbo at the brewery, which was - as far as I'm concerned - tasty for me, but a large mistake for someone that's not a big fan of having these hops enhance the peppery notes of the food. Worth trying, and would have this again if I find it around tap around here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 21:02:34 | More by magictacosinus

avaldivia

California

4.47/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Taps in Petaluma. Poured into a Bear Republic pint glass.

A: Pours a dark amber color. Inch or two thick head with perfect lacing.

S: Very strong pine and grapefruit smell. Very citrusy on the nose, but that gives way to a caramel malt smell.

T: Not necessarily the hop bomb I was expecting, but I am not complaining about that. It has a great citrus taste to start off and then goes into a well balanced malt character.

M: Medium to full bodied. Very well carbonated. Oils stick to palate.

O: Bear Republic can pretty much do no wrong when it comes to IPA's and IIPA's. This is my new personal favorite from them. Great hop flavor. Well balanced with the malt. One I will not hesitate to order.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 14:45:36 | More by avaldivia

nataku00

California

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap poured into a goblet glass. Beer is a dark bronze, with some lighter shades of orange when held up to a light, and slightly hazy. Initial half a finger of soapy head dissipated to a few wispy strands of white on the edges of the glass and some light lacing. Despite the dark color and haze, some carbonation could be seen floating up from the bottom of the glass.

Nicely aromatic, grapefruit peel and pith bitterness, tangerine, caramel and bread malts, and a touch of pine hops as well.

Following the nose, big grapefruit and caramel initially, mixing bitter peel oils and astringent pith with sweet caramel. Smooth bread malts sweeten on the finish, with a good bitter grapefruit and pine aftertaste on the tongue that lingers for a few minutes.

Medium bodied and slick on the tongue with some soft carbonation that helps mainly with filling your nasal cavity with aroma as you drink. Alcohol is nicely hidden on this beer. Glad that this is frequently on tap around the Bay Area.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2011 00:30:07 | More by nataku00

Estocker

California

3.3/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Pretty, deep amber color.

Smell is very boring. i thought something was wrong with my nose. couldnt get much of an aroma from it. a little citrus and some malt.

taste is relatively boring. a little boozy, malty and some citrus hop flavor.

8 oz pour. plenty.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 02:54:49 | More by Estocker

CooperEllis

New York

4.22/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I reviewed this on growler way back for my 13th review. Had it on draught this time and felt it was different enough to warrant a second review.

Into 12oz chalice...

The pour accentuates the ruby/auburn color as the chalice illustrates how bright this ale is.

Out of the growler I felt there was a burnt citrus aroma. Certianly still here, but the pine is the dominant aroma. Big big aroma.

As I wrote before: tasty pine flavor, it is exceptional in the balance between the hop heights and the solid bitter citrus. The flavor is also well balanced with the carbonation. There is a slight oily feel in the front and a bit of water right at the death.

Very tasty but the crispness of the drink allows the taste to stay center. Though I feel the draught had far more heat than I remember from the growler. Draught was quite exceptional for the phyical act of drinking the brew. Still feel this a bit reliant on the pine flavor for my taste.

(92nd)
see also: (13)

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2011 18:03:24 | More by CooperEllis

afksports

New York

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

The first time I had this one it was at the start of my BeerQuest to drink the old BA Top100. Now, more than halfway through it's come back on tap. And oh what a wonderful beer it is. A double IPA clocking in at 9 percent alcohol, it's big on just about everything.

Appearance is rosy amber, clear, and solid save the slight lack of lacing. As it warms the smell gets hoppier and hoppier, plus the malts come out with sweet caramel to compliment the aromatics of citrus and pine. The taste is really what wins the day for Racer X though. A bitter finish comes only after a beatiful hop start and malt middle. True to style, it's as malty with caramel and sugar as you'd want in the middle, but it never leaves the hop category throughout.

Buzzing after a 12oz pour, I can drink the bejeezus out of Racer X til I'm on the floor and it's racing past me. The only knock might a watery back end. But that's not unwelcome - it makes me feel like it's not as big as it is.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2011 22:52:40 | More by afksports

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

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

on tap at rattle n hum in nyc, served in tulip glass

Pours a straightforward copper color with some darker burnt hues. A fluffy off white head bubbles up and retains for a moment before fading into some swirling film, with spotty and patchy lacing on the glass.

The nose is dominated by citrus hops, primarily grapefruit. Light edges of bready malt and sweetness.

An intense wave of citrus right up front. Explosive, juicy hops with grapefruit, orange, and invigorating zest. Just enough of a doughy malt base is present with low sweetness and a drop of caramel. Finishes with lasting dry citric hoppiness and very faint alcohol warmth.

Decent medium body and carbonation, fairly smooth and easy on the palate, slightly dry. Excellent, enjoyable drinking, and the alcohol is masked better than many other similar DIPAs. Too bad this is draft only.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2011 06:26:17 | More by xnicknj

Lakes

Idaho

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

With 7 hours to kill the Sunday after GABF we headed over to the Falling Rock. The plan was to have a Pliny (the Elder) and then work through a few others doing reviews as we went. Imagine our surprise when RacerX, which we were teased with 1 oz samples of for the previous 3 days, was freshly tapped.

Appearance
Color is a lovely deep copper. It has a lasting fluffy white head. Lacing is more of a death grip on the glass. Beautiful, just beautiful.

Aroma
Citrus and sweet malt.

Taste
This is SO good. Very hop forward with bright bursting notes of citrus, tangerine, naval orange, and pine. The malt compliments the hops perfectly. Resin and if honey could be a citrus product this is what it would be. This is an exceptional treat.

Mouthfeel
Flawless. Carbonation is excellent. Aftertaste is smooth and pleasant

I'm drinking this till they ask me to leave.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2011 18:17:57 | More by Lakes

dubinsky

California

3.58/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap, 12 ounces at SF City Beer Store

This is a review from my notes and memory.

A - This DIPA was poured super cold and was a very clear amber, with a nice one finger, sticky white head with plenty of lacing.

S - Tons of citrus and pine on the nose with an underlying sweetness from the malt.

T - Awesome citrus hopiness dominates up front with a great piny resin on the finish. This beer is also very sweet with hints of honey and bread coming out from the malts. Finishes bitter with a little too much alcohol taste.

M - Medium bodied and creamy. Not much carbonation to speak of, which is typical, but i would have appreciated it on this beer to clean off the tongue a bit. This beer also finished supper bitter, almost too bitter, leaving my tongue a tad numb.

D - A one sippa dipa. Tons of great flavors and aromas, but i found 12oz to be more than enough. Perhaps some more carbonation, less bitterness and slightly less sweetness would make this an top contender.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 22:01:32 | More by dubinsky

brewerburgundy

California

3.53/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a nonic at Gestalt in San Francisco.

Golden, possible orange, it's hard to tell in a dark bar. Good sticky head.

Soft but full hoppy nose with the usual suspects; grapefuit pith and juice, pine, and tropical fruit. When it gets warmer there is a bit spike of solvent alcohol.

Grapefruit, pine, and way more malt than I ever could have guessed. Huge caramel malt presence and fairly bitter.

Full, slippery feel with soft carbonation.

A pleasant enough IIPA, though I actually didn't even realize that it was one when I ordered it. For me, the level of malt is surprising and hampers its drinkability and enjoyment as it is held back from being the palate destroying dry, bitter machine it could be. I suppose the alcohol being hidden in the taste is a plus.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2011 21:19:59 | More by brewerburgundy

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Blind Tiger, NYC, NY

A: Golden brown color with a soft white head.

S: Hoppy, citrusy, some grass and herbs.

T: Nice and hoppy with crisp citrus and grassiness.

M: Medium body with some carbonation. A slight bitter aftertaste.

D: Quite drinkable, but still not quite as good as the Racer 5.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2010 22:43:09 | More by Rifugium

callmescraps

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been searching for this forever. We're just never in the same place at the same time, like Clark Kent and Superman.

Appearance- A deep copper, almost amber color. A half inch of soapy white head. Laces well. Darker than expected.

Smell- Nice aroma. Fruity. Hops, grapefruit, stickiness. Like candied hops.

Taste- Follows the nose. Nice hops, a big bitter blast at the end. Definitely maltier than I'd prefer. Lots of pine and earthy floral hops in the finish.

Mouthfeel- Thick and creamy. Very nice. It almost seems like its on cask.

Drinkability- Nice and easy, although the bitter finish is a little tough.

This is a nice beer, but now that I've had it, I probably would go for something else on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2010 23:30:05 | More by callmescraps

hophead247

California

4.47/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark orange color topped by a small, bubbly off white head that leaves some random spots of lace behind. The aroma shows the sweet toffee and caramel malt backbone to go with fresh floral and grapefruit citrus hops. The flavor follows with the striking bitterness from the fresh floral and grapefruit citrus hops, and balanced out by the sweet toffee malts and honey grains on the backend. Full bodied and sticky from all the hops with ample carbonation and a lengthy bitter finish. There is a touch of heat from the alcohol on the finish as well. This is a really tasty and well done IIPA...

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2010 22:58:27 | More by hophead247

Bung

North Carolina

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

Tap at Grapevine. From notes back in August.
Orangy golden pour, nice amount of bright white head.

Balanced aroma of pine and malt. Some citrus in there as well.

Taste-Herbal, spicey piney hops. A malt backbone, but just barely there. Finishes quite dry and bitter-crisp.

Very smooth mouthfeel, bubbles just tickle the tongue. Just a hint of stickiness to it. Abv hidden very well. Dangerously goes down like water.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2010 19:39:48 | More by Bung

TommyW

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A- Clear gold with a hint of darkness, thin and dense white head.

S- Nice hoppy aroma of citrus and herbal notes, malt presence is slightly noticeable.

T- Pretty big hop profile with strong herbal and citrus notes, lots of bitterness towards the finish that lingers on the tongue for a bit.

M- Medium body with a nice carbonation.

D- A really easy-drinking DIPA; really a great beer that goes down easy for all the big elements of the beer (abv and hops).

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2010 23:56:53 | More by TommyW

jampics2

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Buckeye Beer Engine. I was thrilled to see this one on the board and made it my first beer of the evening. Arrived to the table in a pint glass. The beer is an orange/copper color a and has a nice head that eventually fades but provides some great lace. Looks really nice, more like a DIPA from the west coast than an American Strong like Arrogant Bastard, for example. (although BA has this listed as a double IPA, I believe Bear Republic considers it an American Strong. If I'm wrong, disregard the DIPA comments)

Smell is a hop lovers dream. There is a nice caramel/Slightly toasted malt component that sets the stage for a citrus and pine forest hop explosion. There's a ton of pine, grapefruit, tangerine, and orange peel. This perfume is nectar of the gods and I could smell it all day.

The taste is also awesome. There are no surprises here, pretty much straightforward sweet caramel malt, slight toast, and a huge bitter hop explosion. The grapefruit and orange hop notes are accompanied by some sweet pineapple and apricot and spicy pine. The mix between sweet and bitter makes it so enjoyable. Just a great beer, again, more of a DIPA than anything else IMO.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. It could use just a touch more carb to make it really crisp and clean. Finish is bitter and lingering but never too ruinous. This is an awesome beer and one I'd like to enjoy more often. Just fantastic!

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2010 19:23:37 | More by jampics2

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap in a tulip at Barley's Smokehouse on 9/6/10

Rather clear in nature, Racer X is pale amber of moderate depth. Pored 1/3rd inch of foam that took several minutes to thin out. Solid lacing is left behind. Thin retention & impressive lace throughout.

The aroma is equal parts dank, sticky hops & assertive caramel malts, making for a dense nose. It smells decent enough, if a little messy. Notes of pine, grapefruit & citrus zest. Notions of biscuit & toasted malts.

The nose being a good indicator, Racer X tastes just as messy; it's a serious cluster of dense, resinous hops & malts. Lots of dry pine offering moderate bitterness, citric zest & toasty caramel malts that are assertive & somewhat sweet. Hint of juiciness as it warms.

Full bodied, sticky, resinous & gritty. Carbonation is just under average for the style & does a good job hoisting the weight of the beer. The messiness of the flavor profile spills over into the finish. Has something of a waxy coating feel.

On the whole, Racer X is aight. Easily in the greater middle of the spectrum. It does get a tad better with warmth. Perhaps it's just my surprise at Bear Republic making an IPA in an east coast vein.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2010 02:04:47 | More by Ryan011235

Soonami

Pennsylvania

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

Had on-tap at City Taphouse in Philadelphia.

This is the only time I've ever seen Bear Republic Racer X on tap, so I wasn't going to miss out. I ordered one from the bar as soon as I saw it and it did not disappoint. The hop flavor was immense in this beer, tasting a lot of typical pine and citrus as well as a mango/lychee fruitiness. The bittering was solid and the malt contributed rounded body, caramel flavor, and bready sweetness. Very good beer that is substantially thicker than the general IPA trend lately for light bodied, pale, thin hop bombs.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2010 20:34:11 | More by Soonami

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After a long day of work, going to Dirty Truth and finding this on-tap was a nice surprise. Also saved me a trip to Armsby Abbey tomorrow to try and get it.

Hard to tell in the low light here but looks like a reddish-orange color, small white head turns to a thick ring, leaves some stringy lacing.

Smell is faint overall, nice scents of fruit and hops, but really had to try to get it.

Hoppy! Tons of grapefruit mostly, citrus and some tropical notes as well. Very nice light toast/caramel malt/biscuit malt, especially in the aftertaste. Alcohol taste is a little high.

Medium carbonation, creamy but alcohol taste in every sip hindered the greatness overall I think.

Although this was very good, I prefer Racer 5. Glad I finally got to try this.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2010 06:39:49 | More by Chico1985