Bear Republic Cafe Racer 15
Bear Republic Cafe Racer 15 is a 9.75% ABV Imperial IPA with Citra, Amarillo, Chinook and Cascade hops.
Appearance
Dark, straw yellow typical of some Imperial IPAs.
Aroma
Pine is up front on the this with the Citra providing a citrus element.
Taste
More citrus than pine on the palate, with the Chinook/Cascade hitting the finish along with the dry malt backbone creating a really nice balance. Citrus makes another appearance in the mid-palate. A little warming in the chest, but the alcohol is absent on the taste.
Mouthfeel
Has some weight, but not overly syrupy like some high-ABV/IBU beers.
Overall
As is the case with many California-based hopcentric beers, this dry/well-hopped combo has great balance. I highly recommend this beer with spicy food (I was craving a Cajun-spiced chicken sandwich and Thai in the video).