Fastback Racer
Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Fastback RacerFastback Racer
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From:
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
10.4%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 6.78%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
111
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 06, 2020
Added:
Feb 10, 2015
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  14
Formerly Fastback Racer X3

Massive hop additions of Citra and Ekuanot are revved to the limit on a chassis of Rye, Munich, and light caramel malts. Intensely bitter, extremely hop forward, and amazingly drinkable, this is a Double IPA with full throttle hoppiness...
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Rated: 4.18 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Feb 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by dbauer from California

Aug 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.96 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Nov 09, 2018
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
What a day! I had a very receptive group of students today, but I am really beat, thanks to my new sideline gig. I am having this beer & then giving up to try & catch up on some lost sleep. At 10.5% ABV, I do not see that being a problem. This bottle was one that I recently acquired along with another from Bear Republic with the other one held in abeyance for tomorrow. I like to plan ahead!

From the Bottle: "Massive hop additions of Citra and Ekuanot are revved to the limit on a chassis of Rye, Munich, and light caramel malts. Intensely bitter, extremely hop forward, and amazingly drinkable, this is a Double IPA with full throttle hoppiness …".

This is one of those times that I want to quickly Pop! the cap, get in a C-Line pour & get going. My actions had consequences in the form of the formation of just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head with great retention that left behind loads of sticky lacing. Color was a solid Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9) with some floaties in evidence. In bringing the glass up to my nose for an initial sniff, I got a shock of fusel alcohol heat in my sinuses, causing me to sneeze & my eyes to begin to water! Whoa. This is definitely NO playin' around! Giving it another go, it smelled very much of pineapple upside-down cake with additions of pine and grapefruit. Mmm. This seemed like it was going to be an adventure from the outset. Mouthfeel was full and thick, like a dollop had been scooped onto my tongue. I decided to allow the first sip just to roll around in my mouth, coating my tongue and palate as it warmed. Wow! It warmed everything from my tongue to my sinuses & when I swallowed, I felt as though I could track its progress through my esophagus and into my stomach! Phew! Did I say no playin' around? Well, I meant it! It began with a gentle sweetness, letting caramel and pineapple lead the way at the opening, but as it expanded, it unleashed a furious assault of black pepper, grapefruit, orange peel, earthy green pepper and pine mintiness. Wow! I was rocked back in my seat by all of this and when I deeply inhaled to try to catch my breath, I had my breath taken away, literally. Hoo hah! Man, did this one finish dry! I found myself reaching for my asthma inhaler as a result. Phew. A second breath was cool, minty & peppery, like an amped-up menthol cigarette. Wahoo! Did I mention that I am just having one & then going to bed? I was not kidding, just as this beer was not kidding around. Def proceed with caution. Mos def. YMMV, but I doubt it.
Sep 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4.17 by TLA from Pennsylvania

Sep 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by CDBeerDisappear from Ohio

Aug 21, 2018
Photo of IronLover
Reviewed by IronLover from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark copper orange in color with a slightly murky and very hazy appearance. Poured with a moderate, creamy, off-white foam with excellent retention. Aromas of malt, caramel, crusty bread, earthy pine, over-ripe citrus rind, herbal hops and light booziness. Medium bodied with lazy, medium light carbonation. Rich, creamy smooth, slightly oily feel with pleasant boozy warmth. Medium high malty flavors with dark caramel and bready notes. Earthy, herbal And over-ripe dark orange flavors followed by medium pine hop bitterness through the middle. Pine hop flavors persists and intensifies to the end,  along sweet booziness, competing with the powerful malt character. Finished with sweet, rich malty flavors balanced by bitter pine hoppiness and boozy dryness. A classic malt forward DIPA. Intense, tasty, rich malt character that is balanced by earthy hoppiness. Great stuff.
Aug 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4.16 by kaseydad from California

Aug 04, 2018
Photo of barnzy78
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois

3.76/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz, best by 08/11/18. Peachy-orange colored ale with a thin beige head. Boozy and fruity aroma along with some light caramel malt. Sweet & malty: honey, light caramel, nutty Munich, spicy rye; fruity & bitter hops: orange, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, pine. Full body, too boozy and hot, yet a balanced finish. Fresher might have helped this one out, but it is what it is. I was happy to find it even though it's hour is fast approaching. I wanted to like it more, which maybe is why it gets the 4 overall. Lots of flavor here but the alcohol presence is a bit over the top for me.
Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by zbelair from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.02 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Jul 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Captain69 from Illinois

Jul 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.59 by Jellybear523 from California

Jul 09, 2018
Photo of BeerDawgs
Reviewed by BeerDawgs from Georgia

4.48/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - Deep copper, cloudy, 1 finger of head and some lacing left on the glass and brew

S - Citra hops, lots of citrus, and dank aromas. Big malty backbone

T - Citrus and finishes bitter. Big malty undertone and caramel. Very tasty!

F - Medium body and well carbonated

O - Another excellent DIPA from Bear Republic. These guys crush the IPAs, DIPA, etc.
Jul 08, 2018
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best before 8/11/2018. Pours moderately hazy/cloudy golden orange/amber color with a 1 finger dense and rocky off white head with great retention that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, berry, citrus peel/rind, green pepper, pine, toasted bread, rye, honey, light caramel, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and rye/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, berry, citrus peel/rind, green pepper, pine, toasted bread, spicy rye, honey, light caramel, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy peppery bitterness; and rye spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, berry, citrus peel/rind, green pepper, pine, toasted bread, spicy rye, honey, light caramel, and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and rye/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness and rye spiciness balance; with no lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness. Medium carbonation and medium/full body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/sticky, and lightly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Mildly increasing warmth of 10.4% after the finish. Overall this is an awesome DIPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and rye/bready malt flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the ABV, with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish. No overly aggressive. Awesome Citra/Ekuanot hop showcase. Very juicy, vibrant, earthy, and dank balanced hop complexity; sizable bready malt backbone, but not overly sweet/heavy from lingering dryness. A really enjoyable offering, well made style example. Loved the hop profile as expected.
Jul 07, 2018
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.01/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Picked up a 16 oz Mason Jar from the Craft Beer Quick Stop on 6-21-18 for $7.00.

Beer poured a cloudy orange with a smallish one finger head that is leaving lacing behind.

Nose is citrusy with some tropical fruits.

Taste is a huge malt base with pale and caramel malts. Hops profile is well balanced between citrus, tropical, and floral. Not surprised given how big this brew is.

Mouthfeel is mdium to full bodied and very smooth.

Overall the brewers did a really nice job balancing this bad boy all the way around. Delightful! Glad i got to try!!
Jun 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by pvibeer from Colorado

Jun 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.12 by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

Jun 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Jun 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by vrbulldog22 from Ohio

Jun 02, 2018
Fastback Racer from Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 111 ratings