Controversi-ALE
Short's Brewing Company

Controversi-ALEControversi-ALE
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From:
Short's Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 11.55%
Reviews:
229
Ratings:
719
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 10, 2021
Added:
Sep 09, 2007
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  131
Loaded with hops like an IPA, yet drinks like a Pale Ale, we simply decided to call it a Strong Pale Ale. The fragrant, earthy citrus laced nose is instantly detectable. Large amounts of toasted grains and high alpha Simcoe hops form a perfect union that creates the cool sensation of toasted sourdough covered with zesty grapefruit hop marmalade.

67 IBU

Formerly known as Hangin' Frank.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Dope:
Photo of Dope
Reviewed by Dope from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: A very clear amber pour. Big bubbly white head with decent lacing and retention.

S: Very prominent grapefruit aroma. A bit of earthy hop smell and some grainy sweet malt.

T: Very nice grapefruit punch up front which morphs into a sweet toasted malt flavor. Very nice. There is some herbal/earthy flavors in the very end of the aftertaste as well.

M: Kinda sticky sweet but otherwise decent medium body and good carb. The lingering bitter aftertaste is quite lengthy as well.

O: Surprisingly good. Pretty simple yet quite tasty and delicious IPA. A must try for grapefruit lovers.
Aug 22, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.87 by Meddwol from Michigan

Sep 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.44 by Seal4676 from Michigan

Jan 01, 2020
 
Rated: 3.78 by NRMeadmore from Connecticut

Dec 01, 2019
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.22/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
i guess its cool that shorts is selling some beer in colorado now, but there has to be some quality control. i bought this on a whim, excited to see it on the shelf, and i made the mistake of not checking the date first, its was old and really not very good at all, i have no idea what it might have tasted like fresh, because the hops were so eroded here that this was more malty than anything else, a bit oxidized, cheap and sort of wonky tasting, some english malt and just a shadow of citrus from what was simcoe hop robustness. i get some graham cracker bready sweetness, a little bitter orange, and an ever so slightly doughy yeast element. i can easily see how the bigger malt element than is trendy these days would be needed for balance in a beer as potentially assertive on the hop side as this, but now its just some bitterness, some oily aspect to the mouthfeel, and the still fading citrus character, maybe a little grapefruit to it. i though this was a bust at this point, most hoppy beer would be at close to half a year old, but ive been burned by shorts a few times now and am frustrated by this. maybe ill skip the next one i see. some blame has to be on the store or distributor too i guess. still, id like to try this fresh, when they hit they really hit, but its been awhile for me now...
Jul 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.92 by Matuhg from Michigan

May 19, 2019
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Reviewed by beersampler6 from Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I really liked this one - crisp, bracing, easy to drink, tasty, smooth. Another great beer from a great local brewery. Pours a slightly hazy amber-copper color with some foaming white head and spotty lingering lacing. Smells of some juicy ripe citrus zest hops, some weaker floral hops and malt. Tastes of lots of fruity zest hops - orange, tangerine, mango, grapefruit, pineapple, lemon - as well as some malt, vanilla, bread and weaker floral hops at the finish. Smooth, mild mouthfeel with some good bitter hoppiness at the end. Good amount of carbonation. Really an enjoyable beer, good flavors and would definitely enjoy more of these in the future!
Apr 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Elicoleman from Colorado

Apr 15, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by ovaltine from Indiana

Apr 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Sullymsu from Ohio

Mar 30, 2019
Photo of Eschermer
Reviewed by Eschermer from Michigan

3.37/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Drinks like a typical IPA, I couldn't get any notes of citrus or tropical fruits. Fairly bitter for the IBU's, a run of the mill beer.
Pours a copper like color, moldy cloudy. Soft mouth feel, bitter aftertaste.
Mar 24, 2019
Photo of detpizzaboi
Reviewed by detpizzaboi from Michigan

4.19/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is a great Michigan IPA. Piney, resinous, malty, smells almost like an amber ale, looks a beautiful deep amber in the glass, with nice clarity. Tastes great, easy drinker.
Feb 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Muss42 from Michigan

Feb 15, 2019
Photo of JimboBrews54
Reviewed by JimboBrews54 from Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Foamy off white head. Oily, resinous hop character. Pretty unexceptional stuff. The aroma is completely undesirable. Resinous, burnt, oily piney hop tones.
Oct 25, 2018
 
Rated: 4.38 by Hoptometrist from Ohio

Apr 30, 2018
 
Rated: 3.32 by Greasy from Kentucky

Apr 25, 2018
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.84/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottled 2/20/18 (61 days ago) poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp, no ABV listed on label. The beer pours bright honey amber in color with khaki head. The head recedes to a cap and leaves plenty of lacing. The aroma is ambiguous stone fruit and a little caramel. The taste is a burnt sugar caramel presence throughout with a steady bitterness and light notes of citrus and earth. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, adequately carbonated and dry in the finish. There is some residual hop oil stickiness, but no lingering sweetness. Overall, good. I would like to try this fresh, stored cold or on tap. My bottle was purchased a few days ago & warm. The bottles are dated in black ink that can only be read once the beer is poured.
Apr 23, 2018
Photo of Blackop555
Reviewed by Blackop555 from Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours slightly cloudy Amber. Foamy, short off white head that Fades fast.

Smells Pine, Peach, citrus peel, caramel and herbal.

Taste earthy, herbal, Pine, Peach, orange, citrus peel and bready malt. Finishes dry with a citrus peel linger. Medium body and creamy medium carbonation.
Apr 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.48 by beerjerk666 from Florida

Mar 27, 2018
Photo of SeniorBojangles879
Reviewed by SeniorBojangles879 from Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
So I am not sure if I am rating the correct beer or not because the label on my beer has what looks like a revamped 80s old school label on it and the beer is only listed as an India Pale Ale not and American, also I wouldn't doubt that this beer is indeed an American Pale Ale based on the way it tastes. Honestly, I am surprised this beer doesn't have better ratings than it does on this site. If I am trying to review the beer honestly it is comparable to a dulled down version of Two Hearted by Bell's. The sweetness note is less citrusy in my opinion and the finish is a lot less bitter (in my opinion that's a bad thing, but I could see this being a lot more palatable to the masses). The color is a deep amberish color and the beer seems to hold a nice head throughout drinking it. Definitely worth picking up a 6 pack, also just for reference the beer I am referring to has a black label with "orange", "green" and "pink" lettering on the bottle (but take that for what its worth from a color blind dude)
Mar 25, 2018
Controversi-ALE from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 719 ratings