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Pace Car Racer

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Pine and citrus lead the hoppy aroma, with a smooth malt flavor behind it. At 4% ABV this Session IPA is meant to disappear quickly from the glass. Pace Car Racer comes from Bear Republic, which a family of beer lovers founded in Healdsburg, California, in 1995; Racer 5 followed on tap in Sonoma County in 1996.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppypineycitrusy
hoppy
piney
citrusy
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with assertive pine and citrus notes that define the hop character without overwhelming.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pace Car Racer

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and a fine, delicate head that settles to a thin collar. Carbonation is visible and lively, creating a gentle effervescence that sustains throughout the pour. The beer presents a clean, inviting visual profile characteristic of a well-crafted session ale.

pale goldcrystal clearfine carbonationthin lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with assertive pine and citrus notes that define the hop character without overwhelming. A supporting foundation of clean Malz sweetness balances the noble hop aromatics, creating a composed and integrated bouquet. The aroma remains bright and forward, inviting immediate tasting.

pine resincitrus zestnoble hopsclean malt

◐ Taste

The palate enters smooth and light, with the hoppy bitterness (40 IBU) arriving cleanly without harshness. Pine and citrus flavors develop across the mid-palate, supported by a gentle, well-rounded malt character that prevents any astringency. The beer finishes dry and refreshing, designed to encourage another sip rather than linger.

balanced bitternesslight-bodiedpiney hop bitesmooth palate

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is short and clean, with the hop bitterness fading quickly to reveal a whisper of malt sweetness. At 4% ABV, this beer is engineered to refresh rather than evolve, making it ideal for extended sessionable drinking.

dry finishquick faderefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
75
Finish
76
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

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.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Pace Car Racer

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About Session IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Session 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 Session IPA

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

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