Red Bandana India Red Ale
Lolo Peak Brewing Company

A note from our brewer:

This India Red Ale is more than a beer - it's a tribute. At 7.8% ABV and 65 IBU, it pours a glowing deep red, built on a malt backbone of two-row, crystal, and Munich that gives it both sweetness and depth. Assertive hopping with CTZ, Cascade, and Willamette layers pine, citrus, and earthy spice over rich caramel notes.

I first brewed it from a reworked homebrew recipe from the early 2000s, and each year I return to it in memory of my friend Welles Crowther. Welles, remembered as the "Man in the Red Bandanna," gave his life on September 11, 2001, saving 18 people from the South Tower. The red recalls our school colors, the name nods to our Indian mascot, and the balance of bitter and sweet reflects the life and loss of a true hero.