Bent River Brewing Company - Jingle Java

Bent River bases this holiday brew on their delicious coffee stout known as Uncommon Stout, but it's "enhanced with vanilla, pecan, cinnamon, caramel and rum" to create something entirely new and festive. Pouring an opaque, deep, dark brown with a tan-colored head of foam, Jingle Java offers up plenty of roasty coffee notes along with an array of chocolate and cocoa powder, deep caramel, cinnamon, and a touch of sweet vanilla. On the palate, look for a sturdy and moderately sweet core of chocolate and coffee, with plenty of additional nutty and spiced notes, round vanilla creaminess leading to a milk chocolate impression, and some balancing hop bitterness and roasted barley providing a counterpoint. For pairing options, we're inclined to steer toward dessert offerings for obvious reasons. Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream or caramel pecan cinnamon rolls would top our list. Cheers!

Starting his own microbrewery had always been a dream of Tim Koster, owner of Koski Home Brew Fixens in the Historic District of Moline, IL. One day in 1996, homebrewer and Koski customer Darron Morris asked Tim what it would take to start up a microbrewery. The two summoned the courage to turn their dreams into reality, and Bent River Brewing Company was born in 1997. With the help of several investors, they were able to purchase the remainder of the 1922 Italian Renaissance-style building that housed the homebrew store, and then transform it into a brewpub. The company received an award for their renovation of the building by the Moline Preservation Society. The brewpub features a full menu and plenty of beers on tap, and remains a popular watering hole for the local fans of good craft beer.

In 2012, Bent River Brewing Company added a second location in order to address their need for increased production capacity. Located in Rock Island, this new package brewery houses a new bottling line and shipping center, allowing the company to efficiently brew and distribute their beer throughout the area. The location also features a tasting room where you can sample any of Bent River's several year-round beers as well as their rotating seasonals. For more information, visit them at www.bentriverbrewing.com, or call 309-283-4811.