Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company Bent Nail IPA

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company Bent Nail IPA. Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company came highly recommended and was one of the breweries I had hoped to visit, but with all of the other places and things going on I missed going there.  I did have a chance to try this beer on tap as well as their Jack's 90 Nitro Scottish.

From the Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company website: “Bent Nail I.P.A. is a tribute to the hard-working contractors who make their living in Red Lodge. The I.P.A is high in alcohol and hop flavor. We use copious of American cascade hops to give the IPA intense grapefruit and citrus aroma and flavor. Bronze medal winner – 2007 Great American Beer Festival. Alcohol content: 6-6.3% by volume. Available year round in 1/2 barrels and 1/6 barrels, and now in cases of four six-packs.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear copper color with a foamy cream colored head and sticky lacing.

Aroma: Grapefruit, citrus and caramel malts dominate the nose.

Taste: Caramel malt sweetness up front balanced nicely with grapefruit, pine and citrus hop bitterness. Slight roasted malt presence to further balance.

Overall: Delicious and well crafted, Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company Bent Nail IPA is a must try for fans of the style.  At 6.3% ABV it is easy to want to have a few of these.  Yet another beer I need to buy more of next time I’m in Montana.  If you see this one either on tap or in bottles be sure to try it. Solid beer.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

If you haven’t already, please like the NorCal Beer Blog on Facebook (here)