Beer - #474 - Bear Republic - Apex

I get to the top, bop till I drop, number up and think of parties.

My choice of beer for this is the  Bear Republic Apex. How did I not know about this beer?

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company in the style that is Imperial/Double IPA and they are based in Healdsburg, California  USA

I have then in front of me a 100 IBU, 8.9% ABV,  the big Ipt 6fl oz, or 22fl oz, or 650ml bottle, with 268 calories a serve, and 4.56 standard drinks bottle of beer. 100 IBU is pretty bitter, way at the top end of DIPA and BarleyWine.

Apex: The highest point, the culmination or climax. In racing, the apex of the turn is approached differently as conditions dictate but always with a forward looking mindset.

This beer is the culmination of years of brewing and drinking hop forward IPAs.

We reserve the right to move forward, to advance the style to the next Apex.

2009 California State Fair - Silver 2009 The Bistro Double IPA Fest – Bronze & People’s Choice 2009 Night of the Living Ales Cask Festival – 3rd Place & People’s Choice.

I am looking forward to this, what could possibly go wrong. Expecting big grassy, dry finish mouth explosion.

I was expecting more grass/hop aroma on opening but this is just the right amount, and a lovely sweetness too. Perhaps I need to dial back the expectation.

Lovely light golden pour, and a great white head of fluffiness that seems to be firm and persistent. Talent or luck?

Grassy aroma blooms in the glass. There is an awful lot more sweetness and malt in this than there is bitterness, that's clever.

I wanted this to be more punchy and with more bite, what you get is a beer that is pretty easy to drink, isn't bitter, doesn't linger in the mouth or have a long finish but is easy drinking and moorish.

Perhaps it's my sweet tooth?

I wanted more, and I hope that this isn't the Apex of things because if that was the case then I've been doing it wrong!

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. I think because I talked myself into it more than anything is the reason that I'm disappointed in this, and I wanted to to reach to a higher point than it has.

Hard to please much?

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? No, It's kind of failed to deliver on the pleasure of enjoyment, it's not bad and I'm enjoying it as a beer, I'm just disappointed by it.


2. Would I have another? Not really.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No, there are far more worthy beers, unless you wanted a no distraction beer, then might.

Musically, I just put on "Unknown County"  an album by New Zealand group "The Clean" - this is "Happy Lil Fella" from 1996 on the Flying Nun Record Label

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9JRTWtsbIk

Not to everyone's taste but a bit of Kiwiana.

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.

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Beer - #363 - Bear Republic - Café Racer 15

Get in! Bear Republic Café Racer 15. 

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company in the style of an  Imperial/Double IPA and that sounds like it should be from Healdsburg, California USA

650ml bottle of a beer that is 9.7% ABV, which is 5 whole standard drinks in NZ,  292 calories a serve, and the 100 IBU rating is like Top end for DIPA and UOA, or Barlywines.

Café Racer 15™ features aromas of bright citrus and resinous pine from the generous use of Citra, Amarillo, Cascade and Chinook hops which are complimented by a dry malt finish. The result is a high revving Double IPA that is loud and assertive, much like the rebellious street racers who inspired it. Never ride alone...

 

I've been out and about today for some average beer, came home to an empty house, and sat with this. I make it sound so much worse that it was.

Thats intriguing on opening, a bit of (lot)  of grass but it's really muted and hidden by a sweet, I may have my nose too close to the bottle....

Such a nice pour, with that lovely her golden brown yellow orange and a lovely head of fluffiness, Lots of aroma of orange and 'something else' sweet.

Hang on wait that a little bit intense. That's not a gentle beer there so whoa that pony.

Lots of the orange, and a real sense of alcohol astringent all in the front, is that right?

There is a lot of aroma and an intense mouthful of orange/citrus and bitterness that you could pick as grass.

I don't know that this is however a good thing,

Sometimes you want a bit of a run-up and launch into this, and that might only take a small sip but this is IN YOUR FACE!!!!

TWICE!!! DOUBLE!!

I know what this is trying to be or do, but it's not that clever or good at it. Honestly it's like the loud person in a crowd. Accepted but not liked. I don't think it's clever or interesting and it's somewhat annoying.

I might trick myself into thinking that I know what this is trying to be, I with I did, it's a thing, and it'll have it's fans, however I'm not one of them.

I've had some, for me and the way I taste them, average beers, and this is one of those. Came with a hiss and roar like a 50 cent  firework and ended a squibb.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing. <sadface>

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? No.


2. Would I have another? Sadly I have to endure the rest of the bottle


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I can't see how this would be the thing I'd turn up with, it's brash, rude and a little bit out of control

I'm kind of stuck with the ear work that is either Paloma Faith - Only Love Can Hurt Like This -

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqRXI1Ck7k&w=560&h=315]

Or...  something which made be so so happy in the car in the way home - Elbow which went 4 times around on the musical thing - The Bones Of You (Official Video)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r3Bs_KkP94&w=420&h=315]

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.

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Beer - #298 - Bear Republic - Racer X

Oh my yes, Bear Republic Racer X. I've been looking forward to having you in me.

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company in the style: of an Imperial/Double IPA that they do that in Healdsburg, California USA

[caption id="attachment_6410" align="alignright" width="300"] Of course, a Selfie[/caption]

650ml bottle of a 100 IBU, 8.3%ABV beer,  which is 4.3 standard drinks, and this is 249 calories a serving.

Racer X® is an uncommon Double India Pale Ale which puts a California twist on English brewing traditions by adding an assertive hop aroma and bitterness that compliments the firm malt backbone. Like its little brother Racer 5, Racer X® is balance in a bottle.

That has an amazing aroma of lush hops and slight pepper and sweetness, already I'm smiling.

Cripes! That is a revelation. Lovely copper pour, great head, and then the lovely lovely taste sensation.  There is a lovely sweet malt and floral front, then a really nice wash of light bitterness and a fantastic warm finish.

What can I tell you about this other than wow. I've had some good IPA and DIPA and this is memorable.

Lovely caramel, lovely florals, really hie bitterness that plays a part and isn't the lead, and it sits nicely, and in all that this a nice resinous note.

The pdubyah-o-meter says that this is 9 on anyones measure of beer. This is full beer though and whilst it's really good it's also going to wear you out with it's heavy punches, and so not a "session" beer, but one that you could start a journey with, get you set for some other taste flavours to come.

Music for this started with Elbow - a new song from their March release Album The Take Off and Landing of Everything'

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqnIbueM5fE&w=560&h=315]

then to "Some Riot" which reminds me of my own struggles with the black dog.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgxX7H7Jv-w&w=420&h=315]

A friend of mine grows his very own brambles
They twist all around him till he can't move
Beautiful, quivering, chivalrous shambles
What is my friend trying to prove?

The booze turns a tall, gentle boy to a terrible totem
And the kids gather 'round trying to see what's inside
I think when he's drinking he's drowning some riot
What is my friend trying to hide?

'Cause it's breaking my heart, it's breaking my heart
And it's breaking my heart to pour like the rain
Brother of mine don't run with those fuckers
When will my friend start singing again?

When will my friend start singing again?

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.

Related articles

• Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA