Review: Bear Republic Racer 500 Indy Pale Ale
How’s this for cute? Building off its incredibly popular Racer 5, Bear Republic recently launched Racer 500 — “inspired by and brewed to celebrate ‘the greatest spectacle in racing,’ the Indianapolis 500.” The beer is a collaboration with Indiana’s Craftroads Beverage, giving it some hometown cred.
Racer 500 is brewed with Amarillo, Citra and Galaxy hops, all of which give it a classic IPA structure, though the bitterness is dialed down a bit from the onslaught that you find in Racer 5. It’s slightly malty, with a squeeze of lemon, some caramel sauce, and modest pine resin — but altogether more classically refreshing and generally more approachable on a hot race day… or any time in the summer, really.
6% abv.
A- / $NA / bearrepublic.com