Beer Review- Alaskan and Bear Republic

I've been slowly working through the commercial beers I got from my cousin's husband Mike from Denver. I had drank other beers from both Alaskan and Bear Republic breweries, so I was excited to have some more.

2008 Alaskan Smoked Porter: I've always heard about this beer as a gold standard of smoked porters. When I was out in Denver at the Falling Rock Tap House, I actually had this on tap. But it was the final beer I drank following an evening drinking a lot of Belgians and big IPAs. I quickly realized that my palate and level of sobriety were not to the point of being able to truly appreciate this beer. I asked Mike to bring me a bottle of Alaskan Amber and this so I could really appreciate it.
This beer pours as expected, jet black with a finger of khaki head.
Aromas at first of chocolate, sweet malt and a decent level of smokiness. Upfront there's a sweet chocolate flavor, soft mouthfeel with almost a milk chocolate like texture. Quickly the sweetness is replaced by a strong smokiness. The smoke lingers, along with some roastiness and slight sweetness in the finish. It's enjoyable and gets better as it warms. Definitely well crafted, but the smokiness does become a bit overwhelming, something I could only enjoy in small doses.

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA:
I've had mixed results with Bear Republic, I love their Hop Rod Rye but really didn't like their Pale Ale. Racer 5 however is a winner. It pours a cloudy pale orange with a finger of white head. Great citrusy aromas of grapefruit, orange and some lemon. Right off the bat you get a blast of nice citrusy hops, very sweet and slightly puckering. A smooth malty sweetness follows with some great caramel notes. Hops are prevalent but are on the bright side. There's some nice bitterness that gives a good base, but this IPA is heavy on the citrusy hops, with a nice clean finish. This is a classic West Coast IPA.

More to come...
Salud!
Bearded Brewer