Beer of the Weekend #518: Bent Nail IPA

Today’s brown bottle lunch is the last of the Yellowstone-area beers given to me by Sweets and Zaza: Bent Nail IPA, brewed by the Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company of Red Lodge, Montana.


Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “BOTTLED” date printed on the bottle is “08/27/2013.” There is also a batch code. The thoroughness is much appreciated.

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is amber-tinted gold. Two fingers of dense, beige-colored head dissipates slowly, leaving lacing along the glass.

Smell: Invigorating grapefruit is most prominent. There may also be a little orange mixed in as well. It is metallic, floral, and grassy. Underneath is a solid base of caramel, toffee, and lightly toasted malts. There are also hints of sweet esters.

Taste: The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, and each sip offers a nice bite. As with the aroma, the grapefruit is most prominent and there are touches of orange. The bitterness is also a little metallic and floral. Underneath is the malt foundation of caramel, toffee, and lightly toasted malts. As the beer warms, touches of pineapple and mango pop up in the aftertaste.

Drinkability: This is a solid brew and a quintessential IPA (honestly, though, it probably straddles the line between pale ale and IPA). It is very flavorful and the bitterness is perfect.

Fun facts about Bent Nail IPA:

-Style: American IPA.

-Price: No clue.

-Alcohol content: According to the brewery’s website, the ABV falls within a 6–6.3 percent range. One does not see too many ABV ranges.

-Also according to the website, “Bent Nail I.P.A. is a tribute to the hard-working contractors who make their living in Red Lodge.”


The Quiet Man’s grade: A.

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