Charbay distills this whiskey from Bear Republic Brewing’s Racer 5 IPA beer, and it’s one of the few whiskies where you can taste it alongside the beer that was used to make it. Racer 5 has a hoppy, aromatic taste with a nice touch of bitterness and hints of cocoa, and that character carries over into the whiskey. The nose is hoppy with notes of caramel, pipe tobacco, muted spices, and hints of grilled fruits. The taste has an interesting complexity with black pepper spiciness balanced by hops, brown sugar, caramel, and charred oak. As for the finish…if you added pepperiness to an IPA , you’d have it nailed. The finish is nice and long with a good balance of lingering spices, hoppiness, and sweeter touches. It’s not for every whiskey lover, but if you like beer and whiskey, it’s worth tasting them together. (July, 2019)