Bent River Steamboat IPA

This India Pale Ale has 68 IBU's and 6.2% ABV. It is from the Bent River Brewing Company of Rock Island, Illinois (original brewpub in Moline, Illinois). Their motto: Get Bent!

The beer pours the color of amber, copper and dried apricots. There is a tall, thick, foamy head of off-white. The aroma is relatively light, grassy, fruity, peach and pineapple, with some floral/herbal. The taste follows fairly true upon the aromas, with a massively bitter finish, like biting grapefruit skin and pine needles. There is just enough malt to hold all this up. This has great flavors, but is mild compared to many American IPA’s, not in your face, but enjoyable nonetheless. It is medium-bodied, smooth, with a tingling carbonation. Give this one time, at the first aroma and first couple of sips, I was not impressed. But as I made my way through the beer, I realized how solid it was. This one doesn't knock you over the head, but you depend on it to not let you down.