Bear Republic Racer 5 6Pk Cans

Bear Republic Racer 5 6Pk Cans is a 7.5% ABV West Coast IPA from Bear Republic Brewing Company, packaged in six 12-ounce cans. A multiple Great American Beer Festival medal winner—including Gold in 1999 and again in 2009—Racer 5 has earned a 99 rating on RateBeer and stands as one of the defining examples of the West Coast IPA style.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Sonoma County, California, USA  |  Style: West Coast IPA  |  IBU: 75  |  Brewery: Bear Republic Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Bear Republic Brewing Company was founded in 1995 by the Norgrove family in Healdsburg, Sonoma County—the heart of Northern California wine and craft beer country. Racer 5 is brewed with a base of malted barley, wheat, and crystal malts, designed specifically to showcase the floral qualities of Pacific Northwest hops. The hop bill features Chinook, Cascade, Columbus, and Centennial varieties, delivering a layered bitterness measured at 75 IBUs that remains firm without crossing into harshness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Overripe apricot and candied orange peel rise first, followed by resinous pine and an herbal dankness. A whisper of honeydew melon and soft caramel malt rounds out the nose.

Taste: The entry is bright with tangerine and grapefruit, immediately layered over toffee-like malt sweetness. At mid-palate, orchard fruit—peach and apricot—dominates alongside a dry, malt-anchored backbone. The bitterness builds progressively with each sip, balancing the fruit-forward character with piney, floral hop resin.

Finish: Medium-long and drying, with citrus rind bitterness lingering alongside residual pine. The malt fades gracefully, leaving a clean, resinous close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Racer 5

Pour Racer 5 into a tulip glass or standard pint at around 45–50°F to let the hop aromatics open up fully; drinking straight from the can works well for casual settings but sacrifices some of the nuanced nose. A Boilermaker paired with a pour of bourbon plays the caramel malt and citrus off the whiskey's oak sweetness. A Hop Shandy—Racer 5 cut with fresh-squeezed lemonade—amplifies the tangerine and grapefruit notes into a refreshing warm-weather drink. A Beer-a-Rita built with Racer 5, lime juice, and a salted rim turns the IPA's bitterness into a surprisingly balanced riff on the classic.

Best For

• Stocking a backyard cookout cooler for hop-loving guests
• Introducing someone to the West Coast IPA style through a proven benchmark
• Pairing with bold, spicy, or grilled foods at a dinner gathering
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates award-winning classics

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Racer 5 taste like? Racer 5 leads with bright tangerine, grapefruit, and apricot fruit layered over a toffee malt backbone, finishing with firm pine resin and citrus rind bitterness. It is full-bodied for an IPA, with 75 IBUs that stay assertive but never abrasive.

How does Racer 5 compare to Russian River Pliny the Elder? Both are iconic Northern California West Coast IPAs, but Pliny the Elder is a double IPA at 8% ABV with a more aggressive hop intensity and drier body. Racer 5 sits slightly lower at 7.5% ABV with a more pronounced caramel malt sweetness that balances its bitterness differently.

Is Racer 5 good for someone new to IPAs? Racer 5 is a strong entry point into West Coast IPAs because its toffee and fruit-forward malt base softens the 75 IBUs into something approachable. That said, at 7.5% ABV and with substantial hop bitterness, it still drinks like a full-strength IPA rather than a sessionable gateway beer.

Where is Racer 5 made? Racer 5 is brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company in Sonoma County, California. The brewery was founded in 1995 by the Norgrove family in the town of Healdsburg, in the heart of Northern California's craft brewing and winemaking region.

What foods pair well with Racer 5? Spicy Thai curry or pad thai, where the hop bitterness cuts through richness and chili heat. Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar, which match the malt sweetness pound for pound. Fish tacos with citrus slaw, echoing the beer's tangerine and grapefruit notes. Aged Gouda or Manchego, whose nutty caramel flavors mirror the toffee malt. Buffalo wings, where the carbonation and bitterness cleanse the palate between bites.

What sizes does Racer 5 come in? This listing is a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans; Racer 5 is also commonly available in 12-ounce bottles and on draft at select bars and restaurants.

Is Racer 5 worth the price? Racer 5 positions as a mid-range craft IPA that punches well above its price tier, backed by multiple GABF medals and a 99 RateBeer score. For a beer with that level of critical recognition and two decades of consistency, it represents strong value within the West Coast IPA category.

Why Racer 5?

Few West Coast IPAs carry a competitive résumé that spans from a 1999 GABF Gold medal to a 2009 Gold and a 99 on RateBeer—a consistency that speaks to the recipe's durability rather than fleeting hype. The malt bill is purpose-built to amplify the floral character of its Pacific Northwest hop selection, a brewing philosophy that gives Racer 5 a more structured, malt-integrated bitterness than many hop-forward peers. In a category flooded with hazy newcomers, Racer 5 remains a clear-eyed standard-bearer for the bitter, piney, citrus-driven West Coast tradition. The 6-pack can format makes that pedigree accessible for everyday drinking without compromising what earned the beer its reputation.