Racer X Double IPA - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

PhiloPsych

California

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

I had this on tap at the newly re-opened Anthill Pub on the campus of UC Irvine. Because it is a "strong" beer (i.e., high alcohol), they serve it in a 10 or 12 ounce flute glass rather than giving you a full pint. The color was pretty dark for an IPA--more orange than yellow with a moderate, sticky, lace-leaving head. The smell might have been the best thing about it with lots of floral hops complimenting the sweet malt and alcohol smells. The taste was well-balanced and not nearly as one-sidedly hoppy as I expected. In fact it was slightly less hopped than I would have preferred. For a double IPA I found it rather sweet and a not especially bitter. Not as sweet as DFH 120 Minute, but nowhere near as hoppy as Avery Maharaja or even Stone Ruination. A good beer for sure, but I think I might actually prefer Racer 5.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2008 06:16:31 | More by PhiloPsych

illidurit

California

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

On tap at Naja's.

Copper color with an off-white 1 finger head. Dense foam leaves good lacing.

Bitter hops in the nose with a balancing sweetness.

Taste starts out with sweet malt flavors and then undergoes a very linear metamorphosis into huge hop bomb territory. Pine and grapefruit blister the tongue, along with a hint of orange zest and pineapple similar to YuleSmith.

Smooth and dynamic enough to keep one interested. Nice rich body. Very drinkable if hop monsters are your thing.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2008 05:07:30 | More by illidurit

rxdrewthejew

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Finally got down to Naja's to get some Pliny the Elder, only to find that they ran out. Good news was they replaced it with this. I LOVE Racer 5, so was quite excited to find this on tap.

A: Dark IPA, clear orange/red (though tough to tell in the dark...). Not much head, not much bubbles. Really nice lacing.

S: Big bitter hoppy scent. Mostly citrus. My friend told me she smelled lychee, but I don't have a damn clue what that smells like so who knows.

T: Starts with a malty backbone. This is truly a DIPA with plenty of sweetness. Fruity/estery goodness, orange and tropical. Then the hops hit. HUGE hops. Some citrus but pine dominates. The citrus hops are mostly orange to me, but the pine is really the big flavor. The bitterness just lasts and lasts.

MF: Very smooth, doesn't have the bite that many IPAs have. Carbonation is pretty low. Sticky and syrupy, coating the mouth and leaving a nice bitter film.

D: Talk about a helluva consolation prize. This is a well crafted beer. Starts off more like a strong ale, but the bitterness is huge enough to slightly overbalance the sweetness. So smooth and tasty. Easy to drink, I wanted to go back for a second round but too long of a drive home to do that...

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2008 06:56:08 | More by rxdrewthejew

francisweizen

Australia

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

This is a beautiful beer. Served here on the hand pump at the bewpub in Healdsburg. I had a few of these whilst waiting for my reservation up the street at Cyrus. Anyways, This is a pure copper coloured brew with a faint off whtie head that does not stick around long. The aromas are super hoppy! Citrus/pine/resin/even a bit of the ole' mary jane. The biscuity malts are faintly detectedin the backbone of this brew but it's really all about the hops. The taste is super hoppy, bitter and almost astringent with oily resin. The mouthfeel on cask is ceramy smooth and super easy to drink. The drinkability only suffers as this is just to high abv and astringent to drink more than 2 or 3 pints of.

Serving type: cask

12-12-2007 03:11:16 | More by francisweizen

Westsidethreat

California

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

A: Hammered copper color with some chill haze. A few meandering streams of bubbles reach the surface where light tan foam with a greenish tint meets them.

S: Faint tangerine, grapefruit rind and distant pine needles. Fairly straight forward.

T: Beings piney and very much malty. Surprising since the aroma had a lot of citrus in it. Whole lotta forest floor and rambunctious dirty bittering hops. Really basic caramel lays the foundation of the backbone of the brew. Lots of resin flavors with alcoholic tastes which don’t bother trying to hide itself. Finishes with more dirty bitterings.

M: Medium body with a bit of carbo sting.

D: Good beer and quite tasty. But lacks a lot of complexity that I like in my DIPA’s.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2007 01:06:47 | More by Westsidethreat

BillyB

New Jersey

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

This double IPA pours a nice copper color with a faint white head.

Aromas of sweet malt and massive, piney/citrusy hops dominate.

Tastes are similar to aromas with a big malty presence undercut with an avalanche of complex, hoppy bitterness. Pine, citrus, mellon, slight honey tastes.

Mouthfeel is slightly syrupy, with a strong alcohol warmth and a nice dry finish despite the sweetness up fron.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2007 20:02:52 | More by BillyB

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

So glad to see that Bear Republic has expanded their brewing capacity, making this wonderful DIPA much more readily available. Had this on tap at Baily's Taproom and the Horsebrass pub in Portland this last weekend.

The beer pours a lovely copper color with excellent head retention and lacing. The nose on this DIPA is just awesome. One gets a huge, sweet malty nose, which is just an undercurrent for the avalanche of pine, grapefruit citrus and cherry cough drop. This beer smells like it is one big, bad DIPA, which of course it is.

The flavors on the palate replicate the nose, with a finish that is off the charts in terms of bitterness. The flavor profile starts off sweet and malty, but is then litterally shoved aside by the huge, piney, bitter hops. Considering how sweet and malty this beer starts off, the dry finish comes as a surprise. It makes this beer much more drinkable then you might normally expect, though the 9% abv. is still quite noticeable.

This is a DIPA tour de force and is not for the faint of heart. This is another beer that would just about stop a bud drinkers heart on the spot and elicit cries of mercy. A fabulous DIPA, though not what I normally associate as a West Coast style of DIPA (it sort of reminds me of an amped up version of the Stoudt DIPA).

A very fine beer from Bear Republic.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2007 14:12:24 | More by johnmichaelsen

gmuller

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Fanstastic beer, though I'm always biased when it comes to Double IPA's. To be fair it didn't quite have the thicker mouthfeel I expected, but the bitterness was on. Not sure which hops are in this, but I certainly didn't taste an overabundance of cascades. I actually prefer their single IPA version (Racer 5), and their Hop Rod Rye.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2007 00:19:52 | More by gmuller

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

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

Although I do prefer Racer V as X is a little large for me, I must admit that this is a totally kick ass IIPA. Multiple samples consumed in bottles, at brewery, and most recently on tap at Maduro for $3 a pint. Gotta love those prices! Appearance is simply stunning with a brilliant orange body, slightly hazed with a lot of carbonation and a decent head. Aroma is a punch in the face of grapefruit, toffee malt, grass, and spicy hops. Flavor is equally powerful with full on caramel/toffee malt goodness and loads of hops –hops of all sorts. Citrus is large but grass and pine are here too. Very bitter and acidic with a dry finish yet still fairly smooth and easy and not terribly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2007 21:13:01 | More by DaPeculierDane

Floydster

California

4.8/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pint from Hollingshead's Deli in Orange

Great Double IPA that is comparable to the Pliny the Elder

Blows their own Racer Five out of the water

Nice dark dark brown with a huge white head

Smell was great with hints of citrus but more hoppy than anything

Cascade stood out for me as well as continental

One of the best India Pale Ales ever tried, hope this comes out in bottles

Could drink this all night but the alcohol would definitely catch up with me

Taste never seemed to go away

Find this and try this as soon as possible

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2007 05:59:51 | More by Floydster

Halcyondays

California

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

On-tap at Hollingshead's Delicatessen in Orange, CA,

A: Pours an amber brown, with a thick, off-white, almost tan head, into a Weihenstaphen mug.

S: Big hops, with lots of pine and citrus.

T: Very piney and resiny, with some cedar, but balanced well with the dark malts, not an overly bitter Double IPA, probably the most balanced 2IPA that I have had to date.

M: Great, chewy and resiny, full-bodied and robust, with a smooth finish, compared to the rest of the sip, just what I'm looking for in a Double IPA.

D: I really enjoyed this beer, the big brother of Racer 5, I'm glad I finally got to try it and will definitely look for it in the future, really easy to drink too, for a Double IPA, a stellar production.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2007 23:37:42 | More by Halcyondays

brentk56

North Carolina

4.8/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a medium amber color and a modest head that leaves shards of lace

Smell: Grapefruit and caramel malt

Taste: Caramel flavor up front joined by a hoppy bitterness mid-palate; after the swallow, a burst of grapefruit that grows in intensity well after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with prickly carbonation

Drinkability: A superb DIPA that is well balanced while extremely bitter; sure would like to see the rumors of this appearing in the bottle come true

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2007 02:09:13 | More by brentk56

msubulldog25

Oregon

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

Poured a full (16 oz) pour at OBF 2007.

A: Red/amber, clear with a light off-white head of soapy suds, about 1/2 -finger high. Capped with a thin film as the foam dies down...good, sticking lace.

S: Gigantic hop aroma - lots of pine and abundant spice.

T: Bracing jolt of piney/resinous hops, followed by a well-balanced malt/hop backbone. Burst of fresh citrus inside that malty kick - extremely flavorful!

M: Smooth and creamy - a coating, fusel warmth. Bitter to the brink of being pungent, then tapering to a pleasing malt/hop balance. Medium mouthfeel and moderate carbonation.

D: A harsh/bitter DIPA, but still one worth grabbing. Has a fine balance, drinkable and full of flavor that makes me want another, even though the style is not a favorite of mine. Hard to find, definitely worth grabbing if found...

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2007 22:59:18 | More by msubulldog25

jjayjaye

New York

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

It pours a clear orange amber color with a full finger, fairly stiff, off white head that settles to surface. A sticky lace follows in its wake. The smell reveals a classic DIPA; sweet malty goodness and floral pine, grapefruit combination. Full bodied, the mouth feel is conditioned by the hops and carbonation. The creamy texture complements the sweet malty aspect of the flavor nicely. The flavor is close to the smell; classic pine-grapefruit hops and a balanced malty sweetness. A wonderful drinker, the 9% ABV is hidden well. I dismissed being ripped off on my growler fill from Consumers - Orchard Park. It took forever due to violent foaming out of the hose, but I now regret that I wasn’t more patient. I’d rather be enjoying that absent glassful.

Serving type: growler

07-24-2007 21:11:08 | More by jjayjaye

MiScusi

California

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a goblet, appeared to be a reddish brown, big white head, and was fairly clear though somewhat murky. This was, as far as double IPA's go, not as thick or syrupy as others, which is good in my opinion, but still packed with plenty of flavor. The hops stand out as you would expect and the bitterness is short lived after it is taken over by some of the malt sweetness. One of the best doulbe IPA's for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2007 15:29:21 | More by MiScusi

jj21

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy, dark orange with enormous, creamy off-white head that sticks like spackle to the glass. I swear, I can still feel the head in y stomach. Good ol' California IPA hop goodness aroma smacks your nose and gets the taste buds worked up. Grapefruit, pine, yadda yadda yadda. Flavors are to die for. Not too thick like a lot of IIPA's are and is actually refreshing and crisp. This is a dangerous beer for the alcohol! Is it in there? I don't know. Right up there with Dreadnaught, DFH 90 Minute and Big Eddy IIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2007 16:50:31 | More by jj21

oberon

North Carolina

4.63/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the growler station at Consumers in Orchard Park,poured into an imperial pint glass a clear burnt orange with a tight formed pillowey white head that left globs of lace as it settled into a creamy mass.Oh blessed hops in the nose intense resiny pine and grapefruit rind with a light but noticeable nutty malt component underneath very fresh smelling.A real hop gem here very resiny concentrated hop presence pine and more pine with a real nutty malt base that hangs kinda well,not as full in the mouth as I would have thought but it adds to the drinkability wich makes it dangerous.Whoa this good and its what I expected.

As I drank more and the beer warmed a bit a noticeable dark fruit presence became more pronounced adding to the complexity and stickiness and well I have to give it a five because there is so much there going on.

Serving type: growler

07-08-2007 00:17:41 | More by oberon

shirfan

New York

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

A picture-perfect DIPA... coppery orange with a thick, sticky layer of foam leaving copious lacing.

Aroma is mostly pine needles, lemon zest, and light toasty malt.

Taste: There are distinct stages to this beer. A smooth, creamy beginning with some toasted malt gives way a juicy, lemon and grapefruit sweet hop flavor. A drawn-out finish finally turns up the piney, resiny hop bitterness with a pucker-worthy aftertaste. Little to no alcohol burn.

Very moreish and well-rounded (within the style of course).... good drinkability.

Serving type: growler

07-06-2007 21:59:03 | More by shirfan

drpimento

Wisconsin

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

Boo-yah! Killer beer. Poured with a great, foamy, frothy, light tan head. Lots of lace. Head subsided to light cover after a bit and lasted to the bottom o' the glass. Color's an amber honey. Tad hazy. Nice hop nose of pine with a little bread, citrus, and malt. Good body with just right carbonation. A little chewy. Very long hop finish that's complimented with a little sweetness. Good hop burps too.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2007 21:53:50 | More by drpimento

scottoale

California

4.65/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap poured into a pint glass. Amber-orange with some hop-haze, 1/4" white bubbly foam and some lace set the mood. Good carbonation with sporatic bubbles rising.

The smell is strong of sweet, piney floral hops with an underlying biscuity malt and some earthyness.

The taste starts with a short-lived sweet biscuity malt, followed by some serious pine sap. As the pine slowly fades, the brew turns to a fruity citrus of grapefruit domination, slightly fading with some metallic soil and a bit-o-black tea to the finish. An awesome DIPA by any standards...and did I mention strong? At 9%ABV, you best go easy on this one!

Too easy to drink with that sneaky alcohol just waiting to catch you off-guard...a great brew!

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2007 02:16:44 | More by scottoale

rallison

California

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

Just tapped at Beachwood BBQ. Boy was I in for a treat! When I arrived Alesmith Nut Brown was still on tap (and nothing wrong with that - it's one of the best English browns around). About 30 minutes in, a party ordered a pitcher of it. Not a quarter of the way through and it tapped out. So, the question then becomes "tap the Racer X or the Gonzo Imperial Porter?" Seeing as how I had had the Gonzo (and liked it), but had only heard great things about the Racer X, I happily offered my opinion on the matter. This, of course, led to my having a couple more pints than expected...

A: Beautiful copper color with a delicious fluffy off-white head that never died.

S: Mmmm, smells of piny hops and delicious malts. I can't imagine an IPA smelling much better than this.

T: You thought the smell was good? The taste is even better. Perfect in every way. Delicious, floral hops at the forefront. Piny more than citrusy. Middle is nice and sweeter - kind of a raw sugar sweetness (in a very good way). Finishes nice and hoppy, with a good amount of bitterness. I must say though, the balance is more like a Pliny the Elder than a Hopsickle, and that makes for an incredibly drinkable double IPA. In fact, for 9%, this is incredible.

M: Perfect. Perfect carbonation level, perfect richness - I wouldn't change a thing.

D: I had 2 and a half pints, and I'll be going back for more as soon as possible. That should sum it up well enough.

Highly recommended. I've had a lot of double IPAs. This one is honestly one of my favorites. I have to say the craftsmanship on this one is absolutely phenomenal. If you ever see this one on tap, get yourself a pint - you won't regret it!

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2007 07:17:18 | More by rallison

isaac

Oregon

4.7/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

racer 5's big brother on tap at the horse brass.

A - came to the table a headless, dark ruby pint. after a few sips, i swirled it in the glass, producing minimal film and lacing.

S - massive resiny hops (piney, grapefruity, pineappley - reminded me of pure Cascade pellets) mix with sweet malts and a strange, but very alluring potpourri-like aroma (rosiness, lavender, some unidentified spices).

T - Juciy! Starts off with thin notes of the aforementioned fruits, riding in on a wave of smooth, bready malts. this fades into strong bitterness of pine and citrus rind. Finish is smooth and sweet.

M - Refreshing, crisp in the mouth, smooth down the throat, low carbonation - awesome.

D - besides the high ABV, this beer is all but infinitely drinkable.

i've said it before, and i'll say it again: i love bear republic!

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2007 23:18:40 | More by isaac

tonistruth

Nevada

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

on tap @ Churchill's Pub & Grille (San Macros,CA)

A- dark amber with golden orange hues, little white head that doesn't stick around long at all, but what a beautiful color

S- holy hops, grapefruit, piney

T- decieving maltiness up front for a flash before the hops come in like a jack hammer to your pallete, pine, grapefruit, citric hops running wild in here, not puckering bitter but pallete numbing. alcohol well hidden for how much is in here, 10.5%. I would of never guessed

M- medium body, dry finish, slight warming from alcohol

D- to high ABV% to be sessionable but im sure someone will try (and regret it when they wake up from their coma), alcohol well hidden, awesome 2IPA, definetly recommend, though the color is really the only thing that really stands out from the rest of the top 2IPA's.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2007 19:42:50 | More by tonistruth

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at the brewpub.

Pours a dark ruby amber with a thin head that dissipates relatively quickly.

Cereal grain on the nose. Some hops are noticeable, but mostly malt.

The taste is a little unbalanced. Sweetness up front, then earthy hops, then a creamy malt finish. In my opinion, the hops don't quite stand up to the malt attack. Still tasty, nonetheless.

Mouthfeel is good. Medium heavy body, not sticky. Some creaminess here as well.

Okay as far as drinkability goes. A little one dimensional.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2006 19:47:52 | More by Georgiabeer

flexabull

California

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

Re-review. Original is below, and one of the first beers I ever reviewed. Obvious when you read it...

Anyways, I was very pleased to see this on tap at the local Alehouse!

Pours a nice dark orange/amber color with a nice white head.

Aromas are wonderful, dank, resiny hops, with a sugary maltiness, and a blast of more hops, there is citrus, mostly of apricots and oranges.

Taste is sticky, sweet, and dank up front. Beer then settles into some creamy caramel malt flavors. Finish is pine like, with sweet and bitter citrus flavors.

Mouthfeel is excellent. Very nice full smooth body, with spot on carbonation.

Drinkability is great. This is a top notch DIPA, as good as I remember. My original ranking of 4.9 was a little misguided, but my second seating with this one showed me that this is still a superb example of the style.

---
A knock you on your a$$ beer. Boy... this is easily one of my favorite beers, let alone IPAs. I have only seen this at the brewery, and just had one there a few months ago. Has a great hop aroma and flavor. It has that piney fruity smell/taste of fresh hops through and through. A very tasty beer for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2006 22:33:25 | More by flexabull