Bent River Brewing

Beers were actually pretty good. Food was ok. My son got the calamari and he said it was good. Husband got an wrap and said it was average. I had a salad and it was OK. Biggest issue was it was so hot I there! We would have stayed an hung out but it was so hot.

Stopped in here before the Microbrew mile looking for someplace cool. This was not the place to go. I’m not sure if the owners air conditioning couldn’t keep up with the constant doors opening and closing or what, but I was miserable temperature-​wise. We tried a few of their beers by having a flight, but we couldn’t stay longer because of the heat. The beers were good, would have liked to try more of them.

Love this place as a brewery and love the seasonal brews and staff which is why the 4 stars; but Im sad that it’s sub-​par as a restaurant. The quality of the food items is noticeably and consistently lower. Disclaimer: this is kind of a food rant and my apologies up front for the brash presentation but I want BR food to be great again. I don’t know what happened, but dedicating more time/​staff/​resources to doing food right would perk this staple watering hole right the fuck up. In short, the bangers & mash I ordered looked like a dried-​up, cracked penis and tasted as though it had been frozen for 4 years, partially defrosted, and then thrown to roast slowly on those gas-​station wienie-​turners. If it weren’t for my rhinoceros appetite & the ample seasoning, I wouldn’t have gotten this down.) My gut is displeased though it is my own fault. The side of kraut and mashed potatoes were also super-​dry and on par with what you’d serve up at a hospital cafeteria. I’ve had the salads & wraps that are made with low-​quality ingredients (ice-​burg salads with big tomato wedges and a pile of mild-​cheddar shredded cheese with some dried out chicken) and nothing ever tastes on the verge of greatness. The burgers are usually the safe bet, if they’re not over-​cooked; but alas, burgers are a crap-​shoot and not quite the rockin’ discs of deliciousness from the «build a burger» days at Bent. Vegetarian fare = the portabella burger and portabella fries and are the saving grace (in my experience) foodwise though mediocre nonetheless. I keep eating here and being sad & angry when I leave. Haha. Please fix the food! Revamp the menus, ingredients, and preparation! Make Bent River’s food game great again! Bring juicy & delectable back! It was once great and can be again. I believe in you, Bent River, but I will have to decline dinner plans for now and opt just for some post-​dinner beverages.

Uncommon Stout is not only the best local beer in my opinion but it’s one of the best stouts I’ve ever had period. Although stouts are known as dark beers it has very rich smooth coffee flavor that’s extremely easy to drink. Not sure why dropped the ABV… the drinkability of a 6.6 abv was part of the allure for me.

Great brewery in the revitalized downtown section of Moline. Stopped in for a beer after touring the John Deere plaza. Bartender was great and allowed us to try several of their brews before deciding on what we wanted. Sat on the patio and the bartender kept checking on us and brought us chips and salsa. Great beer, great prices, great staff.

Great beer, but not as experimental as I usually like. Service can be a bit inconsistent, but overall a great brewery. They also have a really nice selection of food on the menu. It’s not a high-​end restaurant, but nice enough for a fun evening with friends or that special someone.

Good beer! Tuesday’s are great prices for beer are $ 3 a pt. Food/​lunch specials are good too. Bar service is good

Scrumptious food! I had the turkey melt and was floored with the flavor. My boyfriend got the Uncommon beer, one of this favorites. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because service is slow. We got there around 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon and had plenty of seating but it took about 20 minutes to get our order in and then the appetizer came at the same time as our meal. Again, VERY pleased with the food. Then we had to wait 15 minutes to get our ticket… even after putting our coats on and leaving our card at the edge of the table. He finally came when I stood up and stood by our table.

You come here for the beer and to be with your friends. Unless you are sitting at the bar the staff will not bother you much and those who come often know to leave their table or booth to get more beer if they are in a rush or just sit back and wait for one of three wait staff for the whole dinning room to get to you. food is not their thing the beer is and they have some standards and a few seasonal. the weakest brew is the Mississippi Blonde at just under 3% alcohol content. it is a smooth brew and goes down easy. every thing else is around 5 to 6% alcohol content. I am a beer drinker and am picky about my beers, you can find me here weekly.

Great beer and menu! Wish I could comment on food. Just stopped in for a beer and ended up with flight. Good beer, service, and space.

Welcome to Bent River, Moline, IL. Congratulations, you have officially entered The Nickelback of Quad Cities’ Microbreweries.
If you truly do prefer the watered-​down style and mediocre recipes that get cranked out of this brewery, save yourself the trouble and go by a 6 pack at Hyvee. If you would prefer a knowledgeable and full service microbrewery experience, and have any sort of slightly refined palate, you’ll find yourself making yourself more comfortable at any other local brew pub: Radicle Effect, Blue Cat, Great River are great examples.
The service is absolutely terrible. Food is mediocre at best. Ownership is corrupt.
Although management has been on a perpetual winding downhill for the past few years, I feel at this point, they have quite possibly reached an all-​time low.
Bonus points for asking your server any question about beer.
Bonus Bonus points for asking if it’s Pie Rush Wednesday.
Combination bonus points if you make it out with an actual piece of pie.

I really enjoyed this place. Tried two flights of their brews (8 different beers) and thought all were above average, some (e.g., Uncommon Stout) were really excellent. I arrived, inadvertently, almost an hour before opening time, but the bartender served me anyway — great guy. I didn’t order food, but I’d recommend the place for good beer and good atmosphere.

Wide selection of their own craft beers as well as seasonal offering. All made in house or at their local brewery. All delicious. Food menu is broad with delicious soups, sandwiches and salads. Daily specials are always good. Burger basket Tuesday is a local institution and always packs the house. Indoor and patio seating. Service is good but can be variable depending on the crew and crowd. Prices are reasonable. Specials are a deal. Definitely recommended.

So if it was just a brewery… beer only… I’d give it at least four stars. The ambiance and building itself were really great. Loved the layout, the building itself, the bar, and the overall feel of the place. Service, though a bit slow, was friendly and helpful. The beer was good — not great — but definitely good. I particularly liked the sweet potato ale. Very unique. The jalapeño ale was different, but in a good way.
I have to say that we were underwhelmed with the food. The portions were particularly small, and my wife’s steak was VERY dry and flavorless. She was disappointed, to say the least. My bangers and mash were passable — definitely better than the steak. The sausages were good, the «mash» seemed microwaved with some cheese thrown on top. Was hoping for a great meal. Instead I left feeling «meh,» and my wife left hungry.
But again, the beer was good and the space was cool. Re-​vamp the kitchen — completely — and they’ll be in much better shape.

Worst. Service. Ever. The service is so awful I don’t even know how they’re still in business.

Welp. What can you say about a joint like this.
Probably have had over 100 beers from here. Seems like they’ve progressively gotten more watered down, but hey, 2.50 pints on Tuesdays is great.
Burger baskets used to be great, but the patties seem to be smaller every time I order one.
But hey… I keep going back. Good beer and good times with friends.

If you keep reading the reviews you will see a trend with this place. Great beer. Terrible service. You would think the ownership would fire the waitstaff. Bartenders are okay.
But to be a server here you need zero experience, 21 years old, and not give a crap attitude. I’ve been here upwards of a 100 times and I will say the beer is the best around. However about 90% of the time I get terrible service. By terrible service I mean; not getting noticed for 10 – 15 minutes when you come in. Then waiting 10 for drinks to come to table. And if you’re coming here for dinner… Haha just hope they even remember you ordered. They are used to not getting tipped by people. It is a very common practice here. Don’t feel bad.

I’ve been here twice, one with my grandma & the other with my dude.
Beer options are great — varied weights & tastes, something for everyone. Food options are varied, and I like that they actually incorporate their brews into their dishes. Some places, oddly, do not.
Service is okay — don’t go if you’re in a hurry, but that’s not a bad thing — it’s a graet place to relax.

I spend so much time fantasizing about my hometown brewery. Just make sure you sit at the bar because most of their servers are incredibly rude and smell like cigarettes. I do wish they had the Strawberry Ale more often!

I’ve been wanting to check out some more local breweries, and decided to stop here with my friends and family when I was in town.
Right off the bat I liked the atmosphere — an industrial yet homey feel with blues music playing in the background. You can sit at the bar or get a table. Since there was so many of us, we got a table.
The service was mediocre. Our server left us hanging a few times, and I didn’t think she was that friendly. If it wasn’t for the service, I would give this place 5 stars.
My friend and I decided to get a flight and try a few beers. I ordered 4 of their lightest beers. The sweet potato ale was definitely my favorite (I ordered another whole glass later on). The Mississippi Blonde was not good (to me). It tasted like they put some of the Mississippi in it. Everyone else seemed to like their choices (especially the raspberry).
As far as food goes, it is pretty typical bar food. Burgers, sandwiches, chicken fingers, etc. We ordered the chicken wings and the BBQ Pulled Pork potato appetizers to share. The wings were great, but I would eat a whole bowl of just the pulled pork. So good! If I go back I’m going to get the sandwich.
A nice addition to the QCA (just needs a little help in the service department)!