Soft Parade
Short's Brewing Company

Soft ParadeSoft Parade
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From:
Short's Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
Ranked #147
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
83
Ranked #24,218
Avg:
3.66 | pDev: 16.12%
Reviews:
366
Ratings:
1,266
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 21, 2023
Added:
Jun 18, 2004
Wants:
  77
Gots:
  308
Soft Parade is a Fruit Rye Ale brewed with rye flakes and loaded with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. The rose colored ale has aromas of ripe strawberries and grain. With flavors of fresh berries and rye, Soft Parade finishes dry and eminently drinkable.

Soft Parade was originally developed because Joe Short wanted to create a beer that incorporated a medley of berries, had a great color, and appealed to wine drinkers. The name Soft Parade stemmed from two moments in Joe Short’s life. First, because Joe worked as a brewer at the Traverse Brewing Company and The Doors album, The Soft Parade, played every day at the end of the brew shift. The second moment occurred when Joe was driving by himself, flipping through CD’s in his car, and came across The Soft Parade album again. At the time, The Soft Parade beer had not been named and it dawned on Joe that the medley of fruit infusing into the golden beer reminded him of a soft parade. That day the beer was named!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by warnerry:
Photo of warnerry
Reviewed by warnerry from Michigan

3.97/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy reddish color with a finger of head.

Raspberries dominate the smell, not really getting the strawberries and blackberries coming thorough.

Smell is nice, no real sweetness here. Upfront is some tartness from the fruit, again especially the raspberries, followed by rye and hops.

Pretty light mouthfeel overall.

Nice on a hot summer day, though the abv creeps in a bit after awhile.
Feb 18, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of nwalke16
Rated by nwalke16 from Michigan

4.49/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not sure why this gets bad reviews. It's one of my go-to for fruit beers.
Aug 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.61 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Aug 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by Tree_powers from Indiana

Jun 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.83 by TreyJ88

May 15, 2023
 
 
Rated: 3.92 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Oct 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3 by warpedrevolution from Illinois

Sep 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3 by Bigmoist from West Virginia

Apr 23, 2022
Photo of bottom_ramen
Rated by bottom_ramen

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
One of my go to's when I'm out to dinner
Feb 23, 2022
 
Rated: 3.78 by Larry20

Jan 20, 2022
Photo of klarcbarr3
Reviewed by klarcbarr3 from Michigan

3.13/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Not for me. LOOK : color is a that of a rose wine. Light bubbly pink white two finger head, leaves nice lacing. SMELL: fruity, delicate, with blueberry, strawberry and raspberry all present, nicely intertwined. TASTE: Here's where it all falls apart. The flavors are weak and washed out. Raspberry is stronger than the other two, but all are subpar, and they converge into a muddy, barely distinguishable berry lightness. The sweetness is nicely present, but overall it tastes like flavored water. Aside from the carbonation and the slight buzz developing, there is little to indicate you are actually drinking a beer. Hops taste? Malt Taste? Ale Taste? No, no, and no. The mouthfeel is weak and watery also. Perhaps the flimsiest taste ever, in my experience, on a 7.5% ABV ale.
Dec 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.79 by Meddwol from Michigan

Oct 02, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by zachkrauter from Indiana

Sep 19, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by Hefsbeercaps from Ohio

Jul 17, 2021
 
Rated: 3.77 by jacobk1997 from Georgia

Jul 06, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
355 ml bottle, shared with OleR at Olympen, Oslo. Red colour, moderate pale pink head. Strong aroma of ripe and over-ripe berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries) - the raspberries come out up front. Fairly dry and slightly tart and mildly sour flavour, with a distinct presence of said berries. Does not feel as strong as 9%.
Apr 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.07 by Curt3 from Ohio

Apr 20, 2021
Photo of BigIronH
Rated by BigIronH from Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +23%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very fruity beer. Almost jelly like flavors and very juicy. Undertones of wheat. Very enjoyable.
Jan 13, 2021
 
Rated: 3.68 by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois

Nov 14, 2020
Soft Parade from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 1266 ratings