Hop Rod Rye

The Beer Stats:

• Beer Name: Hop Rod Rye

• Brewery: Bear Republic (California)

• Style: Rye P.A.

• ABV: 8%

• IBU: 80

• Pour Color: A hazy reddish color to this one that lets light thru.

      Pouring it came out to have a nice see thru hazy light red color.  The head held up nicely through most the glass. The scent off the top is a spicy rye. That mixes well with a citrus hop mix that makes a nice bouquet. Slightly thicker feel in the mouth then I expected. The rye is strongly present on the taste and holds up well with the hops. A nice orange and grapefruit mix is what the hops amount to in taste. This beer is actually really bitter to with a little alcohol taste. All and all though really well ballenced!
      I love me a good rye p.a. and this one delivers. Unlike another one of my favorites, Ruthless Rye, this one I can find year round. It's hard though to say which I like better. This is a little thicker and heartier though and is a much better winter beer. You can't get much better then rocking back and fourth on a sea of this one in a pint glass. Heaven for a drinking mustache like me!

Rating: *****

Racer 5 IPA

The Beer Stats:

• Beer Name: Racer 5 IPA

• Brewery: Bear Republic (California)

• Style: IPA

• ABV: 7%

• IBU: 75

• Pour Color: A golden slightly amber color with a haze. Light travels thru easily!

      I've got my follicles all in this one. The head was fairly high and lasted as a lacing for most the glass. The color was a very hazy gold. The haze and scent off the top screamed dry hop! A nice bouquet of citrus and alchol off the top. A fairly sweet back ground for a IPA. The hops come through as a mix of citrus and pine. Noticeable alcohol taste in mouth too. A nice original tasting IPA.
      An IPA that tastes different then most I have tasted before are hard to find. Racer 5 really is one of those kind of IPAs. The really sweet backing is usually found in a slightly overly bitter pale ale. Dale's uses it nicely. Deviant Dale's does too. This one isn't on par with those for me but this mustache enjoyed this beer. The alcoholic bite is just a little to much for every day of the week..

Rating: ****