Mystic Bridge IPA

Mystic Bridge IPA
One 12 oz bottle, $1.76++, 6% ABV

Purchased at Harvest, West Hartford

mystic
The Mystic Bridge is a bascule bridge, a type of drawbridge with counterweights. It’s rad. One of the things any Connecticutter worth his nutmeg should do is to enjoy a lazy afternoon at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream while watching the drawbridge open and close in its unique way. (We did, here.)

I suppose it would be only proper to follow that up with a couple of Cottrell’s Mystic Bridge IPA as the sun sets as well. It is there, enjoying old school ice cream, drinking an old school beer, watching an old school bascule bridge when you will come to understand why Mystic has such an intriguing and beguiling name.

Mystic.

It really is the perfect local icon to name a classic beer after. The bridge is perfectly serviceable, pretty in its unique ugly way and is based upon simple principles. This IPA is perfectly serviceable, pretty in its unique ugly way and is based upon a simple recipe.

But I’m guessing you’re still curious to learn a little bit more about what a bascule bridge is.

A bascule bridge is a moveable drawbridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic. Bascule is a French term for seesaw and balance, and bascule bridges operate along the same principle. They are the most common type of movable bridge in existence because they open quickly and require relatively little energy to operate.

640px-Schooner_passing_through_open_Mystic_River_Bascule_Bridge_2The Mystic Bridge has a movable span width of 85 ft and a total length of 218 ft. It has a movable span weight of 599 short tons with two concrete-filled counterweights, each of 209 .

It opens approximately 2,200 times per year. So that’s how many times sweaty dads on vacation in Mystic curse the thing.

Relax, sweaty dad and have a Mystic Bridge IPA.

Cottrell says:

A mild earthy IPA with hints of citrus. A great example of a year-round New England IPA. Take the leap with this local favorite. Enjoy with your favorite meal or just on its own.

It’s fine. It’s kind of like the IPA that you had 15 years ago when no one thought the American palate could handle hoppiness. It tastes more like a lager than an IPA and that bums me out. Cottrell has handsome labels and a cool brewer and a resolve to create classic beers and to not deviate from that.

Sort of like keeping the 100 year old Mystic Bridge going, in the face of massive increases in traffic. And so for that, I respect Cottrell and its IPA. I just wish it tasted better.

Overall Rating: C+
Rating vs. Similar style: D+

Beer Advocate’s Reviews of the Mystic Bridge
Cottrell Brewing Company
Back to CTMQ’s Reviews of Cottrell beers
Back to CTMQ’s Connecticut Beer Page
Back to CT Breweries page

Leave a Comment

The Out Campaign: Scarlet Letter of Atheism