It goes well with nachos and wings, too...

I sampled another of this month’s Great American Beer Club selections yesterday, and this time around, it was Mystic Bridge IPA.
Brewed and bottled by the Cottrell Brewing Co. in Pawcatuck, Conn., Mystic Bridge is “copper colored, with nice lasting head and lace. Spicy hops and brown sugar aroma, the Centennial and Cascade hops are balanced, but distinctive. It’s notable flavor comes from the high quality house yeast blend. The hop bitterness is just right for an IPA, but not overbearing.”
IPA is short for India Pale Ale. These types of “beers of antiquity” are known for being “medium bodied and heavily hopped with initial malt character.” They are best served at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit with “hearty main courses of red meats, Cheddar cheese or sharp salad dressing.”
“Goes well with nachos and wings, too,” according to this month’s issue of “Beer Expeditions.”
The beer is named for the Mystic River Bascule Bridge (pictured above), which is a drawbridge that spans the Mystic River in Mystic, Conn.
According to Wikipedia, the bridge “is operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and connects the two halves of Mystic, allowing vehicle and foot traffic on Main Street n the center of the tourist district of town. The bridge carries U.S. Route 1 with an average daily traffic of 11,800. It opens approximately 2,200 times per year, with each opening lasting approximately 5 minutes.
For more information about the Cottrell Brewery and Mystic Bridge IPA, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.cottrellbrewing.com/. One cool feature of the site allows you to take a virtual tour of the brewery, and you’ll even find Charles Buffum’s e-mail address on the home page if you’d like to let him know how much you like Mystic Bridge IPA.