Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye Is Back

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by StonedRaider, Jan 27, 2022.

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  1. StonedRaider

    StonedRaider Pundit (756) Oct 25, 2007 California
    Trader

    I saw on Instagram that this is being brought back in cans and bottles. I used to love this when I first got into craft beer 15 years ago. I’ve missed it. Looking forward to drinking this again.

    And on a side note, looks like they’ve added IPA to the packaging. I’m sure that wasn’t the case years back. I remember staring at a bomber trying to decide whether to buy or not and being indecisive since I wasn’t sure what a “rye beer” was.
     
    #1 StonedRaider, Jan 27, 2022
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  2. bring

    bring Zealot (730) Aug 17, 2005 Greenland
    Trader

    Nice. Hopefully Red Rocket, too, at some point.
     
    #2 bring, Jan 27, 2022
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  3. StonedRaider

    StonedRaider Pundit (756) Oct 25, 2007 California
    Trader

    Agreed. That was a nice hoppy red ale. Just don’t call it a red IPA.
     
    #3 StonedRaider, Jan 27, 2022
  4. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hope we see this around my neck of the woods. They're a semi local brewery who just doesn't get the love for some reason. When Racer 5 came back it was in my rotation but within a year it became impossible to find remotely fresh batches and then it disappeared again.
     
    #4 unlikelyspiderperson, Jan 27, 2022
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  5. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I gave up on Bear Republic when they went after a local-ish brewery up here, Central City, over the name of one of their beers, Red Racer. Said it was too much like Racer 5. Yeah, that girl in a skirt riding a bike is just like your cartoon race car driver. I miss Hop Rod Rye.
     
    #5 BBThunderbolt, Jan 27, 2022
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  6. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Magic Hat did the same thing to Lagunitas years ago over the use of 9 for the name of one of their high octane beers. It was pretty silly I thought (the beers weren't the least bit similar and at the time the two breweries had completely different distribution areas), but Lagunitas was pretty cool about it I thought. While they poked fun at Magic Hat for getting so upset and excited over this, they graciously went ahead and found a new name for their beer.

    At the time I was a big fan of Lagunitas and could pretty much care less about Magic Hat #9. Even so, I didn't feel it was something serious enough to cause me to boycott Magic Hat (the poor qualify of their beer is/was another story). Just saying... you of course should do whatever you feel is appropriate, but in the hierarchy of douchebag actions taken by various breweries over the years, this feels like it's pretty low on the totem pole.
     
    #6 John_M, Jan 27, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2022
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  7. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Magic Hat has at least been consistent in going after other who use the digit 9, notably for us, Georgetowns Nine Pound Hammer. They also went after a brewery whose 6 looked too much like their 9.
     
    #7 BBThunderbolt, Jan 27, 2022
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  8. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The way the trademark system has been shaped by litigation, a company has to be more offensive than defensive. Doesn’t mean that licensing or other alternatives are non-existent, but it’s easier to be inflexible than it is to find a solution that respects both parties.
     
    #8 sharpski, Jan 27, 2022
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  9. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I didn't realize that, but I can't say I'm surprised. I still think it's pretty silly behavior on the part of MH, but it wouldn't keep me from buying their beer. The fact I think their beer generally sucks is another matter.

    In the case of Bear Republic, Racer 5 is often times my fall back beer when I'm at some restaurant with a limited beer selection (assuming Bodhizafta and/or pallet jack aren't around). While I continue to question the need to go after Central City for their use of the word "racer" in the name of their beer, I also understand that in today's litigious society one can't be too careful when it comes to Trademark and Copyright protection. So I at least understand Bear Republic's position on this, even if I don't approve of it. Regardless, I don't find their actions sufficiently egregious to stop drinking Racer 5. However, I certainly respect those who feel otherwise about the matter.
     
    #9 John_M, Jan 27, 2022
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  10. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    From: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZFaeXYvbrv/

    "You asked for it! Back by popular demand, the first ever Rye IPA brewed in the US, Hop Rod Rye is back. Get is exclusively at our Lakeside Pub starting this Friday! Hop Rod Rye will be available in retail stores and included in our IPA Variety pack soon so look for it at your favorite bottle shops and grocery stores."
     
    #10 Todd, Jan 27, 2022
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  11. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Add me to the list of happy campers!
     
    #11 QuakeAttack, Jan 27, 2022
  12. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yup same here. Loved their beers back "in the day". But they were one of those middle-sized breweries that got crushed between the go local and the big regional/national/sell out breweries.
     
    #12 Reidrover, Jan 28, 2022
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  13. bret27

    bret27 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,064) Mar 10, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had their Racer 5 recently and and was fairly dissapointed.
    It was pretty thin-bodied and bitter without much other flavor.
    I’m not sure though if the beer changed or just average palates and preferences over the years.
     
    #13 bret27, Jan 28, 2022
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  14. dvnbtn

    dvnbtn Zealot (504) Sep 9, 2012 California
    Trader

    This is pretty cool. Hoping it hits distro pretty quickly and gets down to shops down here in Southern CA.
     
    #14 dvnbtn, Jan 28, 2022
  15. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know they changed it to Red Betty in the US, but didn't they keep it as Red Racer up in Canada?

    This is why all variations of Georgetown's porters now say "Suck It" on them.
     
    #15 distantmantra, Jan 28, 2022
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  16. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I believe so. It was such a small thing, CC doesn't distribute very far, I just couldn't see the conflict. Shrug.
     
    #16 BBThunderbolt, Jan 28, 2022
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  17. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Central City distributes pretty far into the US, much more than most other Canadian craft breweries (crazy how many awesome places are just a hundred miles away from Seattle, even closer for you, and we get none of them). I know California gets the cans, likely why Bear Republic went after them.
     
    #17 distantmantra, Jan 28, 2022
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  18. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Of there had been a beer called Red Racer on the shelves 10-12 years ago I could easily see it being presumed to be a Bear Republic beer
     
    #18 unlikelyspiderperson, Jan 29, 2022
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  19. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I remember seeing Central City Red racer (renamed Red Betty) back in 2014 in Salem OR (looked up my rating, I enjoyed it.
    Haven't seen anything for years though
     
    #19 Reidrover, Jan 29, 2022
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  20. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Bear Republic and Lost Coast. Two great breweries 15 years ago. Both now struggling. Life and business isn't fair!
     
    #20 Reidrover, Jan 29, 2022
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