Bear Republic XP Pale Ale

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Healdsburg, California USA

Here’s history 101 lads...what happens when you age a bottle of XP about 3-4 years....you get an explosion of carbonation. This beer pours an orangey color with VERY noticeable floaties in there and a ginormous white head looking me right in the eye and saying....hey...fuck you im not gonna dissipate. Aroma is hoppy with citrusy malts, caramel, grass and hay dominating. Smells like its going to be a bitter one. The carbonation is easily noticeable here as it prickles the hell out of my tongue. Mild bitterness but overall straw and hay finish with weak hop flavors. Possibly some wood and weaker malts mixed toward the finish. Definitely some mouth-puckering aspects...lemony and tart, but surprisingly weak on the hop front. I would usually expect a bigger bolder attack from Bear Republic, still a solid beer for what it is.

Bottle: The aroma consists of carmamel with some earthy and citrusy hops. It pours a bright transparent orange with a moderate off-white head that fades quickly. It starts with moderate caramel and finishes with some mild flowery hops and oxidation. Lots of lively carbonation that is rather prickly. Maybe a bad bottle...I’ll have to try again some time.

Bottle; Aroma was the star of the show. Aroma was a nice blend of grapefruit, floral hops; with light hints of fruit and a hint of soapiness which was not bad. Flavor was of malt, toasted and a slight sweetness. A little citrus and floral hops.

Bottle. Nice hop aroma of mostly citrus hops and some floral hops. Kind of smells like lemons. The flavor is of mild malt and lemon / slightly grassy hops. Nice bitter finish.

22 oz bottle, via SecretSanta winter 2006. Pours a clear dark yellow gold body under a fluffy and foamy one inch off-white head. Lots of lacing as it receded. Aroma is pretty aggressive for an APA. A nice citrusy hoppiness over a lightly toasted and bready malt base. Flavor is citrusy hops with a little bit of a floral note. Very light bready malt. Mouthfeel is thin and watery in texture with a fizzy foaming carbonation level that’s a bit distracting. Overall, a little bigger and more interesting than the average APA.

Bottle: Deep orangey copper pour with a brief off-white film. Nice citrusy aroma; centennials, peppery caramel, oranges, ginger cookies, candyish malts. Flavor is crisp hoppyness. Sharp mint aspect, with a pumperknikel like bready malt background. Lacks the chewyness I’m used to with Bear Republic’s other offerings, yet still has a rather nice body, especially for an APA. Has some orangey, peppery notes towards the grassy dryish finish. A very soilid APA.

Pours a clear amber that forms into a long lasting foam head. Smell is good, crisp florally smell. Taste is much of the same crisp easy drinking brew.

650ml bomber, drunk with VeloVampire - pours a clear light golden, with off-white head. Has a citrusy hop aroma, light and pleasant, and a noticable malt backbone. Flavour is very smooth, nice and rich mouthfeel, with grapefruity/earty hops with some caramel in the back end. Finishes lightly piney, lightly bitter. Very drinkable, great session beer.