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Café Racer 15

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Bright citrus and resinous pine lead the aroma, and a dry malt finish closes it out. Citra, Amarillo, Cascade and Chinook go in generously, and at around 9.8% ABV the result is a loud, assertive Double IPA. The brewery names rebellious street racers as its inspiration. It comes from Bear Republic, which began brewing in Healdsburg in 1995.

ABV
9.8%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
resinoushoppypiney
resinous
hoppy
piney
citrusy
fruity
Aroma
The nose is immediately dominated by bright citrus notes paired with resinous pine—a classic Double IPA expression.
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Café Racer 15

◎ Appearance

Café Racer 15 presents a bright golden-amber hue with excellent clarity and vibrant luminosity. A substantial, creamy head forms and displays strong retention and lacing, adhering firmly to the glass as the beer is consumed. The carbonation is assertive and persistent throughout.

golden-ambercrystal clearstrong head retentionhighly carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is immediately dominated by bright citrus notes paired with resinous pine—a classic Double IPA expression. Citra, Amarillo, and Cascade hops deliver grapefruit zest, orange peel, and woody herbal tones. Beneath the assertive hop character, subtle dry malt backbone provides structure without sweetness.

citrus-forwardpiney resinbright and assertivedry malt base

◐ Taste

Entry is bold and full-bodied, with citrus and pine flavors immediately taking the fore. Mid-palate develops pronounced bitterness and herbal complexity from the Chinook and Cascade additions, balanced by a lean malt sweetness. The 9.8% ABV presents as warmth rather than excess, lending authority to the overall structure.

resinous pinecitrus bitepronounced bitternessboozy warmth

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with hoppy bitterness and piney notes persisting well into the aftertaste. The malt dries cleanly without residual sweetness, leaving a satisfying hop-forward conclusion.

long, dry finishpersistent bitternessclean malt closure
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Café Racer 15

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About Double IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Double IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Double IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same resinous, hoppy, piney character as Café Racer 15 will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Double IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →