Bent River Brewing Company - QC Haze

After rousing the yeast from the bottom of our bottles, QC Haze presents a super hazy bright golden orange hue topped by a persistent cap of off-white foam that slowly recedes to a lasting collar. Juicy impressions abound in the aroma; look for notes of orange and grapefruit along with some melon-like notes, floral tones, and some resinous spice. In the flavor department, those juicy hops expand wide across the palate, bringing firm hop bitterness in concert with tangy citrus zest. We found the malt backbone to be surprisingly robust, with lots of pale malt and wheat coming though to deliver a crackery, somewhat bready character. This medium-bodied brew finishes with a nice balance between the crackery malt core and the zesty fruity notes, with some hop bitterness hanging on at the end. For pairing options, we’re thinking spicy fish tacos or a charbroiled teriyaki chicken sandwich. Cheers!

Starting his own microbrewery had always been a dream of Tim Koster, owner of Koski's Home Brew Fixens in the Historic District of Moline, IL. One day in 1996, homebrewer and Koski's 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 package brewery houses a 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 year-round beers as well as their rotating seasonals.

For more information, visit them at www.bentriverbrewing.com, or call 309-797-2722.