Bear Republic Racer X Double IPA

Beer Name: Racer X Double IPA
Brewery: Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Cloverdale, CA; Healdsburg, CA)
ABV: 8.3%

How sold: 22 oz. bottles; on draft
Where bought: Craftshack (San Diego, CA)  ****bought online
Price: $8.49

Date Bought: November 16, 2016
Date Received: December 13, 2016 (disgruntled panda....)
Date Drank: January 14, 2017
When brewed? Seasonal beer.
IBUs: 100

Food Pairings: Bear Republic suggests spicy foods, BBQ, and bold cheeses. Click here for more!

What's on the Bottle/Website: "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." Read more here!

Where distributed: As of January 2017, Bear Republic is found in 17 U.S. states and six other countries. See their distributor list here!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Pours a clear dark golden to copper into a pint glass. Frothy off-white head with some lacing. 4.5/5

Smell (25%): Mostly balanced. Malty, lots of hop-tropical, and even the slightest floral. Confirming that this has qualities of an Americanized English IPA 4.25/5

Taste (40%): Hop-forward and malty at the start. A burst of tropical and citrus flavors come in and last through the aftertaste. Full of flavor and outstanding. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-full bodied, some carbonation. Very slightly dry on the tongue, but also some juiciness. 4.5/5

Overall (20%): An outstanding Double IPA. Admittedly, I was more indifferent on the first sip and smell, then wholeheartedly started enjoying this beer right after. I'd likely have this over Racer 5, even if the Racer 5 I reviewed a couple years ago wasn't so flat. Still, the $8.49 price tag for Racer X pushes the reasonableness tag. 4.5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.438/5