Cottrell Mystic Bridge IPA
Mystic Bridge IPAI picked up this bottle of Mystic Bridge IPA along with a bottle of the brewery’s Old Yankee Ale a week or so ago. Brewed with Centennial and Cascade (as well as being dry-hopped with Cascade), the beer is spot on for your East coast variety of IPA. It’s got a decent malt backbone and relies more on the piny aspect of the hops while hints of citrus provide a supporting role.
Cottrell’s Mystic Bridge IPA is the better of the two beers, but it’s still pretty much your standard IPA — it doesn’t really offer too much more beyond what the style should. It’s a drinkable, approachable IPA that should do it’s job well and refresh on a hot New England afternoon.
Appearance
Mystic Bridge pours copperish amber in color with a dense, two-finger off-white head.
Aroma
Decent malt character and piny, resinous hops that have a touch of citrus (grapefruit and tangerine).
Taste
The flavor isn’t quite as lively or, as fruity as the nose. A biscuity malt component fades over a fairly crisp mouthfeel to a light citrus and piny hop character. There’s a decent level of bitterness from the hops in the relatively dry finish, but it’s nothing to be afraid of.
Overall
It may sound like I’m ragging on this beer, but I’m not. It’s a fine, well balanced East coast IPA. The hops are just right, there’s a light bit of malt sweetness in the mix and it’s refreshing. It’s just that, as far as your standard IPA goes, Mystic Bridge doesn’t really offer much that would sway me from my preferred options for the style.
Rating: 3.75/5