short’s brewery

New Beer Blog Short’s Autumn Ale (2014)

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to get into the fall seasonal from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Autumn Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery.  Let us fall beer.

It has a slightly cloudy amber to bronze color with a semi white head.  The aroma has a floral to nutty notes with some hazelnut.  The taste has a slight carbonation malty with earthy hop bitter aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Autumn Ale is a true-to-style London Extra Special Bitter (ESB). It has a medium body, amber color, and full flavor. This beer exhibits a wonderful balance of malty sweetness and floral hop bitterness. The result is an ideal bridge between malty and hoppy beer styles. Autumn Ale is a silver medal winner from the 2006 Great American Beer Festival.

6.5% ABV

45 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

In the end,  I did not like this beer.  It just seems like it is missing something.  I love my ESB’s.  I love the old country-style of it.  This one is true to the classic beer style.  I do not know if maybe it threw me off because the flood of Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers.  This was the first beer I had for the day.  So it was not like I was a few beers in and started to drink it.  If it was a normal price craft beer but not higher than the rest, this beer would be worth the price.  I recommend you trying it and this beer is better than most of the beers Short’s release in the market.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:   djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brewery Strawberry Shortcake Ale (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a special release from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Strawberry Shortcake Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this dessert beer.

It has a cloudy amber color without a head but there is a white head at first.  The aroma has a heavy strawberry notes.  The taste has a light body with strawberry notes with a crisp finish.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Strawberry Short’s Cake is a golden ale. The addition of strawberries and milk sugar transform this beer into a rose-colored nectar that has hints of cream and is pleasingly sweet. Biscuit flavors and aromas arise from the great amounts of Victory malt used in the brewing process.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Ending, these are the beers that give me hope that Short’s can be something special again.  Most of their flagship beers I am really not a fan of them.   I use to be a fan.  I do not know if my taste bud changed or their beers changes.  I know there are many craft beer drinkers like their beers.  There is nothing wrong with it.  This is my thought pattern of their beers.  However, I love this beer, I do not put this beer as a fruit beer.  I look at it as a dessert beer like their Key Lime Ale, which I did a review of it earlier.  This beer reminds me of Fruli Strawberry Beer.  I have done a review a few months ago.  Both beer are great.  I just feel Short’s focus on their special releases and not on their flagship beers.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Key Lime Pie (2014)

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Short’s Brewery.  It is their Key Lime Pie.  It is a fruit beer and dessert beer.  If you ready my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Let us get into this beer.

It has a slightly cloudy copper to light amber color without a head on this fruit beer.  The smell has of graham crackers and a slight lime notes.  The taste has some interesting and complex notes.  It is a sweet heavy lime but there is notes of sweet marshmallow to graham crackers.  The aftertaste is sweet lime notes.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Key Lime Pie is made with fresh limes, milk sugar, graham cracker, and marshmallow fluff. The prominent flavors are immensely sweet, then tart, with subtle hints of graham cracker coming through in the nose and remain on the back of the palate. Key Lime Pie is a Gold Medal Winner at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival.

5.5% ABV

21 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing,  I had to crack this beer open to get rid of the bad taste from the Atwater Blueberry Cobbler Ale.  I was hoping this fruit and dessert beer would better.  I have to say it is so much better.  I love my key lime pie so I knew this would be a no brainer.  I love blueberry pie so I thought the same thing about Atwater Brewery brew.  You can kind of taste the graham crackers and sweetest of the marshmallow notes.  It is pretty complex and that is a good.  You can pick up notes and something new in each sip.  I highly recommend this beer, if you can find another bottle.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Cinnabilly Doppelbock

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample Cinnabilly Doppelbock from Short’s Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know Short’s Brewery.  Let us get into doppelbock.

It has a clear amber to brown color with a tan color at first but over time, there is no head.  The smell has a sweet malty to cinnamon notes.  The taste has sweet malty notes with a rush of cinnamon on the back-end. The aftertaste has a heavy cinnamon that rushes away.  It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Cinnabilly has an appealing look and aroma. This clear, caramel colored gem emits a soft potpourri of cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and hints of vanilla. Sweet malt flavors allow for an array of sensations, ranging from toasted almonds to cinnamon graham crackers. The pleasant addition of cinnamon creates wonderful accents throughout the beer that are never overwhelming.

7% ABV

30 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, at one time this Michigan craft brewery was in my top ten.  Since moving back to Michigan, I have been retrying their beers and have been pretty disappointed.  I have to say there is some things you do not add in some beer styles.  This brewery would have noticed it but they keep making more and more different beer styles to their family of beers.  I bet they are in double-digit for seasonals.  There is nothing wrong making a ton of beer styles.  As long as your quality does not take a hit.  I believe their demand is pretty high on most of their beers and they are rushing beer to the market. Quality is more important than quantity.  This beer style is a great beer style and I have seem craft breweries do different things with it.  I thought this was a great idea.  I was wrong thinking that.  I put some thought while drinking it.  I was wondering why I was thinking that.  The cinnamon overpowers great things that are in Doppelbock.   I am really disappointed and I wish I never try it.  It is hard for me to say that because I love beer and craft beer.  I do recommend it to try it at least once but I bet you will be disappointed.  I will give them credit for trying something. It seems that is all I am doing now with Short’s. Don’t go get some!  Drink it!  Not enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brewery Bourdon Sustanance

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample Short’s Brewery Bourdon Sustanance.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their brews, you know  the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know Short’s Brewery.  Let us get into beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant off white color head.  The aroma has a heavy chocolate to bourdon notes.  The taste has a bourdon bite at the front and a nice smooth chocolate malty notes to finish it off.  The aftertaste is a nice crisp finish.  It is sipping beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Bourbon Barrel Soaked Sustenance Black Beer

Bourbon Barrel Soaked Sustenance Beer is our spring Schwarzbier (black lager) aged in bourbon barrels for 10 months. It features rich roasted malt qualities with bold flavors of vanilla, charred oak, and even a slight nuttiness. The light, crisp finish makes this bourbon soaked beer light in flavor, which is wonderful because it highlights the complexities of the bourbon aging process. The light body also makes it an ideal beer for a springtime refreshment.

6.5% ABV

22 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing,  I will be upfront and honest.  I am not a huge fan of Short’s beers.  I just believe almost everyone  in the State of Michigan over rates their beers.  With that said, I have to say most underrate Greenbush’s beers.  So I had the chance to try this beer and a beer from Greenbush at the same time. I can’t remember what beer.  I was so disappointed with the Greenbush and was really impressed with this beer from Short’s.  No, it is not odd.  I love my German Beer Styles and it took me a long time to come around to respect these beer styles.  This Black Lager that is aged in Bourdon Barrels gives the beer drinker something different from the normal German Black Lager.  Schwarzbier is name Black Lager in German.  I highly recommend this beer and I will be searching for this beer in bottles.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Captain Fantasy Saison

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to sample from Short’s Brewery Captain Fantasy Saison.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of Short’s Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this saison ale.

It has a straw to bright cloudy golden color with a constant white head.  It is a heavy cloudy color.  The aroma is a light lemon to citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonation citrus notes that is really refreshing with funky spicy notes.  I know the funky spicy notes come from the yeast strain.  The aftertaste kicks off some pepper notes.  This is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Captain Fantasy is a lighter bodied ale with a bright, clear, golden color. This saison is brewed with pear to compliment the aromas of spice and the fruity fragrance of Sorachi Ace hops. Captain Fantasy has flavors of sweet pear and tart lemon, and a lively amount of carbonation cleanses and refreshes the palate. The overall fruitiness of Captain Fantasy is interrupted by an assertive hop bitterness that dominates the finish.

6.7% ABV

55 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing out, this saison has some nice refreshing notes.  This is way it should be for a saison and it lives up  to the classic beer style.  I really not a fan of the packaging.  It is pretty disturbing and I believe that is why I will never have it in a bottle.  However, I saw it on draft, it was a no brainer to try it.  There is some nice notes here and I love the funkiest that the yeast pops off in the beer.  Overall, I was pretty impressed but I had some pretty good saisons in my lifetime.  This one does not live up to it.  It is a nice gateway beer into this beer style.  It is not a good version in some parts but this is one of the better brews from their almost hundred different beer styles brewed in a year. I recommend to try it just to say you had it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA

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While at Ashley’s Westland, we are going to get into the second brew of the day at their Throwdown Champs Saturday event in their Beer Garden.  It is Short’s Brewery Freedom of ’78 IPA.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those posts to get to know this Michigan craft brewry.  Let us get into this India Pale Ale.

It has a cloudy bronze color without a head on the beer.  The aroma has tangerine to citrus notes.  The taste has a citrus to tangerine and some honey notes with a crisp citrus finish for the aftertaste.  It is kind of drinkable but more of a sipping beer to me.

Here is a descriation from thier website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Freedom of ’78 is a medium bodied IPA with a wonderful, bright clarity and pleasing bronze hue. The aroma is a unique fusion of citrus fruit and subtle pine qualities. The distinct characteristics of the guava nectar are impossible to miss, and attributes of tangerine, nectarine, and even faint honey flavors are detectable. The finish quickly turns to an expected IPA bitterness that turns dry during prolonged tastings

6.9% ABV

89 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing, I have been going back and forth with this brewery.   I mean liking or not liking Short’s Brewery.  I just feel like they make too many different type of beers and they are spreading themselves too thin.  I also feel like they are rushing batches to meet the demand of the market.  I believe their quality has taken a hit over time.  Their beers do sell and I am not hiding from that fact.  I am not saying all their beers are bad or good.  I just feel like this brewery and most of their beers are very overrated.  I have been wanting to try this beer.  I do like the hops that they picked for the beer.  This is one of the few beers from this brewery that I like.  They did a great job.  I will be looking for some more in the market.  I recommend it!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Howling Chinaski

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample another beer, which is Howling Chinaski, from Short’s Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts, you know the history of this Northwest Brewery.  If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan Craft brewery.  Let us get into this Lager.

It has a clear golden color with a constant white head on this craft lager. The aroma is fated but it is like corn notes.  The taste is like a drinks a carbonated sweet corn syrup with a clear crisp finish.  The corn notes is not making this drinkable to me.  I can see some beer drinkers thinking this beer is drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Howlin’ Chinaski is a light bodied, golden straw colored Dortmunder beer. It has bready Bohemian lager yeast esters and grassy hop aromas. The overall malt sweetness is quite low, with the dominate flavors being the hearty milled grains. Howlin’ Chinaski has slight bitter complements from the German Spalt hops.

Howlin’ Chinaski was brewed as a traditional German Dortmunder Lager. Dortmunder is a Pale Lager that originated in the industrial city of Dortmund, Germany. Originally brewed by Dortmunder Union brewery in 1873, this soft pilsner style beer became very popular with industrial workers, and was responsible for Dortmunder Union becoming Germany’s largest brewery and Dortmund having the highest concentration of breweries in Germany.

6.5% ABV

27 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ShortsBrewing

Ending, I have to say since moving back to Michigan from Chicago.  I was excited to get Short’s beers on a day-to-day basis.  I have went through and retry all  their beers.  To me, their beers do not taste like how I remember them.  I do not know if it is because my taste buds have changed or their quality has went down.  I know they have one thing right.  They keep releasing new beer brands every week.  That could be a good thing or a bad thing.  I believe it is a bad because.  I just believe they are pushing and rushing their beers to the market.  Just because it is from Michigan, it does not mean it is a good beer.  Now onto this beer, it reminds me of MGD.  It has too much corn front notes.  It is pretty drinkable.  I just wished the corn notes were not overpowering.  I do not recommend but let me know what you think of this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Controversial Ale (Hangin Frank)

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In this beer blog, we are going to sample out Controbersial Ale Aka Hangin’ Frank from Short’s Brewery.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on Short’s Brewery, you know the history of this Northwest Michigan craft brewery.  If you have not read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery.  Controversial Ale comes with a controvasial story behind it.  Frank was one of the brewmasters at Short’s Brewery and he was one that came up with the recipe for this American Style IPA. He hung himself and the brewery released the beer with the recipe he came up with.  They named it Hangin’ Frank.  It recieved a ton of press but not in a good way.  It was pulled from the shelves and renamed as this brew as you can see in the above photo.  Below is the original label of the beer. Let us get into this brew.

It has a light hazel dark copper to light amber color with a nice white head that disappears over time.  The smell has some citrus notes.  The taste has a light carbonated citrus notes with a dry hop to slight citrus aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – “turned in an opposite direction,” from contra – “against” – and vertere – to turn, or versus (see verse), hence, “to turn against.”. Perennial areas of controversy include history, religion, philosophy, politics and beer labels.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

ControversiALE, FKA Hangin’ Frank, is a tribute to Simcoe hops. Simcoe hops are extremely sought after and limited, so Short’s is excited to share this brew with Michigan craft beer lovers every spring. The earthy, citrus and pine-laced aroma is instantly delectable. A large amount of toasted grains and high alpha hops form a perfect union that creates the sensation of toasted sourdough covered with grapefruit hop marmalade. While this beer is hopped like IPA, it drinks like Pale Ale. The light, refreshing qualities of this beer make it perfect for springtime.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Websie:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @ShortsBrewing

In closing, I love how this craft brewery honored one of their past late employees.  The story of ths beer is amazing and sad.  I hope Frank rest in peace.   I love how everyone is all about local and Michigan craft beer.  I heard it all about it when I lived in Chicago.  It is nice and a great idea to support your local business.  However, a line needs to be drawn, the product needs to be good.  I am not saying beer is bad because it is not.  It is a great brew.  I just feel it is not as good as everyone in the State of Michigan makes this beer out to be.  I just feel because it is made here that means good?  It is blind good to some.   I like this beer but it is not the best IPA that have ever had.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale

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When in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we are going to sample out another beer from Short’s Brew Pandemonium Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their India Pale Ale, you know something on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear color with a white head on it.  There is a slight citrus smell to it.  It is very fate to the beer.  The taste is a carbonation citrus with a slight dry bitter aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Behold the Bitter Hysteria

Here is a description from their website (www.shortsbrewing.com):

Pandemonium Pale Ale

This coppered colored American pale ale lends its hue to hearty two row malts and hand selected specialty grains. Hop additions balance the wort, resulting in a tasty union of flavors and earthy aromas. Behold the bitter hysteria!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Twitter:  @shortsbrewing

Closing out the beer tab, this pale ale is pretty good but it is not one of my favorite from this brewery.  If I cannot find their India Pale Ale, this one is around.  I will be drinking this pale ale.  I will throw this beer in the mix once in a while but I cannot get it in Chicago.  When I come back to Michigan, I will be drinking it.  If I get it all the time, it will be on my radar once in a blue moon.  If you do not like IPA’s, you will enjoy this beer.  If you like Pale Ale, you will like this beer.  If you like beer, you better try.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser