Style: American Imperial IPA

ABV: 9.75 IBU: 100.0

97/100
Aroma: 12
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 19
Mouthfeel: 4

Bear Republic Brewing Co. Café Racer 15

What the brewers say

“Café Racer 15 features aromas of bright citrus and resinous pine from the generous use of Citra, Amarillo, Cascade, and Chinook hops that are complemented by a dry malt finish. The result is a high-revving double IPA that is loud and assertive.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Lemon, orange, tangerine, touch of biscuit, and light vanilla with some pine dankness that hits up front. As it warms, the citrus notes really pop and come through as a dominating factor. Low light malt background.”

Flavor: “Intense citrus character with plenty of lingering bitterness. This is the first beer tonight that I would say pushes the ‘big’ end of the style. The malt is slightly bready and medium sweet, and the juicy hops flavor is huge; they play off each other well. Somewhat of a pine character is there in the back that coats the back of the throat.”

Overall: “This beer is huge! Big flavor and aroma all the way though. It showcases a great hops profile with a subdued but balanced malt bill. It finishes a touch sweet, but I think that is what they were going for. Yum!”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: IPA Today (August-September 2017) (View All Issues)


REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA

**Aroma:** “Somewhat subdued hop aroma with notes of citrus, pine, and resin, highlighted by tangerine. No malt.” **Flavor:** “Hop flavor is a bit muted for the style. Mostly citrus, but malt sweetness comes through a bit. Finish is bitter but balanced— clean and dry with slight hint of citrus peel.” **Overall:** “Another well-executed IPA that struggles to stand out but is still very tasty. Nice malt sweetness comes through against the citrusy, piney hop flavor. Drinkable, tasty, and just a bit lacking in complexity.”

Lagunitas Brewing Company Maximus

__Aroma:__ “Really nice herbal hops notes (pine, juniper berry) come up front with a citrus note (orange, grapefruit) on the back. All clean and bright and neither overwhelming or underwhelming (just whelming). Light medium toasted malt hides in the background.” __Flavor:__ “Wonderful, complex pine and citrus hops character blends nicely with just enough malt sweetness to balance and give it a soft body. Beer is slightly sweet for the style until the very finish which is nice and dry.” __Overall:__ “Easy drinking, fun, and boozy with all of the classic pieces for the style: a hops profile that isn’t overly dank and resinous, but with some malt body and presence to balance. Maybe just a touch too much sweetness mid-palate. Overall, a great beer that offers all that I would want in an IIPA.”

Burgeon Beer Co. Thuja

__Aroma: __“This one has a big nose that is complex and a lot of fun. Dank, piney, and resinous, and maybe just a touch of red onion. Juicy with notes of orange, grapefruit, a little lemon, and some pear. A nice malt biscuit sweetness.” __Flavor:__ “Medium-high body and lingering bitterness carries the dank and piney hops profile throughout this one. Great balance, though maybe pushing the limits of a single IPA, even if West Coast. Lots of grapefruit and lemon. There is a sweetness from the fruit notes up front, but the bitterness cuts the sweetness and carries through the finish with a body to help support the big hops bitterness.” __Overall:__ “Classic West Coast IPA that might have taken a few steroids somewhere along the way. This one doesn’t mess around on anything except subtlety. Not an all-day kind of beer, but I would finish a pint of it and be happy because the esters and hop flavors play together well.”

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