Short's Bellaire Brown Ale | Short's Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Short's Brewing Company
Michigan, United States | website
Style: American Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Exactly what it says, Brown beer. This is beer fermented from wort extracted from the hearty pale ale malt, toasted specialties, chocolate and Munich selections resulting in a toasted brown color. Very light hop additions from the Cascade variety allows the sweet malty and caramel notes to shine through for duration of its time on your palette.
15 I.B.U.s
12.8 deg. Plato
5.2% A.B.V.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 03-01-2005
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 262 | Ratings: 731
4.13/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Definitely in the top 5 of the brown ales I have tried. It poured a dark brown color with a brown head. Aromas were mild, mostly malt and a bit of caramel and toffee. The flavors were very sweet yet not overwhelming. Picked up caramel, some toffee and a rich sweet malt throughout. Loved every sip of it. The mouthfeel was smooth and the rich. An awesome brown ale, maybe more like an imperial version. It stood out being one of the sweeter ones I've tasted.
★ 458 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Definitely in the top 5 of the brown ales I have tried. It poured a dark brown color with a brown head. Aromas were mild, mostly malt and a bit of caramel and toffee. The flavors were very sweet yet not overwhelming. Picked up caramel, some toffee and a rich sweet malt throughout. Loved every sip of it. The mouthfeel was smooth and the rich. An awesome brown ale, maybe more like an imperial version. It stood out being one of the sweeter ones I've tasted.
★ 458 characters
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Was at a local beer store which had a shorts tasting event with 3 free samples so I decided to try beers I haven't had from shorts yet. This was a pretty tasty solid all round brown ale. I might actually pick a a sixer of this in the future
★ 240 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Was at a local beer store which had a shorts tasting event with 3 free samples so I decided to try beers I haven't had from shorts yet. This was a pretty tasty solid all round brown ale. I might actually pick a a sixer of this in the future
★ 240 characters
4.25/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a chalice.
Appearance: Pours a dark brownish amber with a moderate amount of bubbles. Slight finger of off white head that settles into a thin creamy layer.
Smell: A beady and somewhat sweet malt forward aroma with a scent of biscuit, toast, and caramel. Toasted barley malt with a scent of biscuit, toast, caramel, toffee, chocolate, and nuts with yeast. Subtle hints of earthy hops and brown sugar. A pretty solid aroma.
Taste: Like it smells, a bready and sweet malt driven taste with notes of biscuit, toast, and caramel. Toasted barley malt with notes of biscuit, toast, toffee, caramel, chocolate, and nuts along with some yeast. Light earthy hop notes of grass. Sweet notes of brown sugar. A pretty good taste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Crisp, creamy, and smooth.
Overall: A very solid version of a Brown Ale. Nice toasty malt flavors.
★ 923 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a chalice.
Appearance: Pours a dark brownish amber with a moderate amount of bubbles. Slight finger of off white head that settles into a thin creamy layer.
Smell: A beady and somewhat sweet malt forward aroma with a scent of biscuit, toast, and caramel. Toasted barley malt with a scent of biscuit, toast, caramel, toffee, chocolate, and nuts with yeast. Subtle hints of earthy hops and brown sugar. A pretty solid aroma.
Taste: Like it smells, a bready and sweet malt driven taste with notes of biscuit, toast, and caramel. Toasted barley malt with notes of biscuit, toast, toffee, caramel, chocolate, and nuts along with some yeast. Light earthy hop notes of grass. Sweet notes of brown sugar. A pretty good taste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Crisp, creamy, and smooth.
Overall: A very solid version of a Brown Ale. Nice toasty malt flavors.
★ 923 characters
3.78/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 12/17/2015. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep reddish brown color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, toasted brown bread, nuttiness, light chocolate/cocoa, light berry/fruits, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, toasted brown bread, nuttiness, light chocolate/cocoa, light berry/fruits, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/roast bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, toasted brown bread, nuttiness, light chocolate/cocoa. and herbal/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and slightly sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very good English brown ale style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,536 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 12/17/2015. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep reddish brown color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, toasted brown bread, nuttiness, light chocolate/cocoa, light berry/fruits, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, toasted brown bread, nuttiness, light chocolate/cocoa, light berry/fruits, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/roast bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, toasted brown bread, nuttiness, light chocolate/cocoa. and herbal/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and slightly sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very good English brown ale style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,536 characters
4.13/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Aroma is very nutty malts, toffee and slight sweetness. The flavor is nutty malts, toffee, light berries/fruit and a slightly sweet/tart finish. Old school brown ale, well-made.
★ 179 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Aroma is very nutty malts, toffee and slight sweetness. The flavor is nutty malts, toffee, light berries/fruit and a slightly sweet/tart finish. Old school brown ale, well-made.
★ 179 characters
3.15/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had this at a local bar MIMI's Retreat.
Poured a nice dark brown with a creamy tan head
Very good aroma, toasted malt with a hint of chocolate.
Taste smooth malty, touch of caramel sweet, but also coffee which I don't like.
Edit: Drinking straight from the bottle seem to get rid of the coffee taste, makes it very drinkable
Good feel not watery or thick, no after taste.
★ 371 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had this at a local bar MIMI's Retreat.
Poured a nice dark brown with a creamy tan head
Very good aroma, toasted malt with a hint of chocolate.
Taste smooth malty, touch of caramel sweet, but also coffee which I don't like.
Edit: Drinking straight from the bottle seem to get rid of the coffee taste, makes it very drinkable
Good feel not watery or thick, no after taste.
★ 371 characters
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
We recently began getting distro of Short's B.C. beers here in south-central PA & I am pretty excited about it! I have known those guys for years, between BA fests in BOS & my (usually) annual excursion to Madison, WI for the GTMW. I don't care if they are in bottles since I never expected them to come to me!
From the bottle: "A Classic American Brown Ale"; "Handmade by people who care. (tm)"
I Pop!ped the cap and let fly with an aggro pour since it was a very fresh bottle. In fact, I blushed at some of the things that it was saying! This action produced two fingers of dense, foamy, deep-tan/light-brown head with good retention. Color was Brown to Dark Brown (SRM = > 22, < 27) with NE-quality clarity. Nose smelled like liquefied milk chocolate with caramel! I usually hold sweet beers in disregard, but this smelled pretty enticing. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was sweet, all right, but pleasant. It was like a ROLO candy or even a Twix bar with its biscuity maltiness! As I said, I am not usually a fan of such things, but this really was a nice change of pace. Finish was semi-sweet, restrained thanks to the malts & whichever hops they used. It had a real potential to be cloying & they managed to avoid that. Bravo! Send some more of your beers our way!
★ 1,273 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
We recently began getting distro of Short's B.C. beers here in south-central PA & I am pretty excited about it! I have known those guys for years, between BA fests in BOS & my (usually) annual excursion to Madison, WI for the GTMW. I don't care if they are in bottles since I never expected them to come to me!
From the bottle: "A Classic American Brown Ale"; "Handmade by people who care. (tm)"
I Pop!ped the cap and let fly with an aggro pour since it was a very fresh bottle. In fact, I blushed at some of the things that it was saying! This action produced two fingers of dense, foamy, deep-tan/light-brown head with good retention. Color was Brown to Dark Brown (SRM = > 22, < 27) with NE-quality clarity. Nose smelled like liquefied milk chocolate with caramel! I usually hold sweet beers in disregard, but this smelled pretty enticing. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was sweet, all right, but pleasant. It was like a ROLO candy or even a Twix bar with its biscuity maltiness! As I said, I am not usually a fan of such things, but this really was a nice change of pace. Finish was semi-sweet, restrained thanks to the malts & whichever hops they used. It had a real potential to be cloying & they managed to avoid that. Bravo! Send some more of your beers our way!
★ 1,273 characters
3.95/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle, bottled 02/12/2016. Another new one to me from Short's Brewing, acquired a single bottle from the local beer store. "A classic American Brown Ale". No abv listed on the bottle, and BeerAdvocate lists two different ones.
Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.
A - A nice brown colored body with huges of red when held to the light. One finger of frothy khaki-tan / off-white head that leaves lots of good spotty lacing. A nice look.
S - Good classical brown ale nose: very toasty, roasty, nutty, & malty. Notes of toast, roasted nuttiness, and brown bread. A clean, traditional aroma.
T - Taste follows the nose: crisp, creamy, nutty, malty, toasty. Minor alcohol bite on the finish. Smooth, creamy, & nutty above all else. A very delicious and traditional example of the style.
M - Feel is crisp, creamy, nutty, & malty. Minor alcohol, medium-bodied, with good carbonation.
Overall, exactly what it advertises itself as - a classic example of the style, to be damn sure. Very enjoyable stuff, and highly recommended per the style.
Short's Brew Bellaire Brown -----4/5.
★ 1,089 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle, bottled 02/12/2016. Another new one to me from Short's Brewing, acquired a single bottle from the local beer store. "A classic American Brown Ale". No abv listed on the bottle, and BeerAdvocate lists two different ones.
Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.
A - A nice brown colored body with huges of red when held to the light. One finger of frothy khaki-tan / off-white head that leaves lots of good spotty lacing. A nice look.
S - Good classical brown ale nose: very toasty, roasty, nutty, & malty. Notes of toast, roasted nuttiness, and brown bread. A clean, traditional aroma.
T - Taste follows the nose: crisp, creamy, nutty, malty, toasty. Minor alcohol bite on the finish. Smooth, creamy, & nutty above all else. A very delicious and traditional example of the style.
M - Feel is crisp, creamy, nutty, & malty. Minor alcohol, medium-bodied, with good carbonation.
Overall, exactly what it advertises itself as - a classic example of the style, to be damn sure. Very enjoyable stuff, and highly recommended per the style.
Short's Brew Bellaire Brown -----4/5.
★ 1,089 characters
3.44/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Bottled on 3/9/16. 12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a hazy brown with orange hues; light khaki head that fades leaving great retention and decent lacing. The aromas are very subtle. Hints of fresh dough and malts in the mix. The flavors are very clean. Lots of cocoa, caramel and toffee. Malts are there with some barley. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is on the lighter and thinner side of medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. It's very smooth and easy to drink.
I've always been a huge fan of brown ales. This one is very nice, but nothing too crazy. It's a nice traditional example of the style with an amped up abv. It might be "boring", but brown ales aren't supposed to be flashy. It's very quaffable. It's also very refreshing for the style.
★ 765 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Bottled on 3/9/16. 12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a hazy brown with orange hues; light khaki head that fades leaving great retention and decent lacing. The aromas are very subtle. Hints of fresh dough and malts in the mix. The flavors are very clean. Lots of cocoa, caramel and toffee. Malts are there with some barley. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is on the lighter and thinner side of medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. It's very smooth and easy to drink.
I've always been a huge fan of brown ales. This one is very nice, but nothing too crazy. It's a nice traditional example of the style with an amped up abv. It might be "boring", but brown ales aren't supposed to be flashy. It's very quaffable. It's also very refreshing for the style.
★ 765 characters
3.94/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed form the growler via Jungle Jim's in a snifter. This excellent brown ale pours a dark brownish mahogany with a very nice head of off white foam that settles to a thick ring, a nice cloak of wispy foam, and nice lacing. Nose of toasted nuts, subtle caramel malt, and as many others have notes---toast. Flavors exceed the nose with a deep toasted nut flavor reminiscent of walnuts on all sides dashed with caramel and deeply roasted malts. Chocolate of the dark bakers variety and subtle cream comes into the foray on the middle to back. Great mouth feel, nicely carbonated, medium body, and a nutty lightly chocolatey finish. Rich for the style......one of the best I have ever tried. Bar none!
WE NEED MORE OF THIS IN OHIO (HINT HINT!)
Cheers
★ 761 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed form the growler via Jungle Jim's in a snifter. This excellent brown ale pours a dark brownish mahogany with a very nice head of off white foam that settles to a thick ring, a nice cloak of wispy foam, and nice lacing. Nose of toasted nuts, subtle caramel malt, and as many others have notes---toast. Flavors exceed the nose with a deep toasted nut flavor reminiscent of walnuts on all sides dashed with caramel and deeply roasted malts. Chocolate of the dark bakers variety and subtle cream comes into the foray on the middle to back. Great mouth feel, nicely carbonated, medium body, and a nutty lightly chocolatey finish. Rich for the style......one of the best I have ever tried. Bar none!
WE NEED MORE OF THIS IN OHIO (HINT HINT!)
Cheers
★ 761 characters
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L - Tall khaki head, brown!
S - Very sweet, fruity. A little bit of roasted malt.
T - Nutty chocolate, toast. Some floral hops on the back end.
F - Light, smooth and flavorful.
O - Very good brown ale, kind of reminds me of Nutella on toast.
★ 244 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L - Tall khaki head, brown!
S - Very sweet, fruity. A little bit of roasted malt.
T - Nutty chocolate, toast. Some floral hops on the back end.
F - Light, smooth and flavorful.
O - Very good brown ale, kind of reminds me of Nutella on toast.
★ 244 characters
4.31/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pour is medium brown with 1/2 in of kaki foam. On tap at Johnnys pour house in Flushing MI
Smell is chocolate, roasted malts, Carmel, and a bit of burnt toast.
Taste follows the smell well with nice nutty roasted malt flavor and an underlying sweetness. Very sight hop bitterness helps to give near perfect balance.
Mouthfeel is slightly thick with medium carbonation. Good middle ground between a sipping beer and a beer you drink several of.
Overall one of my favorite brown ales available in my area.
★ 510 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pour is medium brown with 1/2 in of kaki foam. On tap at Johnnys pour house in Flushing MI
Smell is chocolate, roasted malts, Carmel, and a bit of burnt toast.
Taste follows the smell well with nice nutty roasted malt flavor and an underlying sweetness. Very sight hop bitterness helps to give near perfect balance.
Mouthfeel is slightly thick with medium carbonation. Good middle ground between a sipping beer and a beer you drink several of.
Overall one of my favorite brown ales available in my area.
★ 510 characters
4.28/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L: brilliant chestnut, 1” tan head that gradually dissipates S: a crystal malt nose with a hint of darker malts in the background. T: Malt forward with rich mildly roasted malt, subtle chocolate, nuts, bitter hop accent, lingering malt flavors. F: Creamy wuth very fine soft carbonation, medium body seems a little more due to the carbonation. O: Everything you want in a brown ale.
★ 384 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L: brilliant chestnut, 1” tan head that gradually dissipates S: a crystal malt nose with a hint of darker malts in the background. T: Malt forward with rich mildly roasted malt, subtle chocolate, nuts, bitter hop accent, lingering malt flavors. F: Creamy wuth very fine soft carbonation, medium body seems a little more due to the carbonation. O: Everything you want in a brown ale.
★ 384 characters
4.01/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into freshly washed trusty ol' tulip glass. Pours and amber brown, with some head. No lacing to write home about. Some khaki head that dissolves to nothing. Smell is sweet caramel malt. Taste follows, with some roasted nut/coffee flavor. Smooth, great finish, clean.
This was my first brown ale years ago and the one that I measure others by. Great example of the style, highly recommended, along with Bell's Best Brown.
★ 439 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into freshly washed trusty ol' tulip glass. Pours and amber brown, with some head. No lacing to write home about. Some khaki head that dissolves to nothing. Smell is sweet caramel malt. Taste follows, with some roasted nut/coffee flavor. Smooth, great finish, clean.
This was my first brown ale years ago and the one that I measure others by. Great example of the style, highly recommended, along with Bell's Best Brown.
★ 439 characters
4/5 rDev +5.5%
Appearance: lots of smoke; very dark brown. Hazy (should be filtered). 1" light tan head; fades to 1/8". Light brown rocky head.
Aroma: roasty malts; slightly tart, fruity esters. Toasty.
Taste: Sweet, clean arrival. Malty, roasted mid-palate. Very clean finish. As it warms, sweeter. Roasty, very nice. Very quaffable.
Mouthfeel: Solidly midweight. Mild carbonation.
Overall: Excellent. Very quaffable. Will be buying again (If I can get my hands on it here). Very easy drinking; among the best American brown's I've had.
★ 539 characters
Appearance: lots of smoke; very dark brown. Hazy (should be filtered). 1" light tan head; fades to 1/8". Light brown rocky head.
Aroma: roasty malts; slightly tart, fruity esters. Toasty.
Taste: Sweet, clean arrival. Malty, roasted mid-palate. Very clean finish. As it warms, sweeter. Roasty, very nice. Very quaffable.
Mouthfeel: Solidly midweight. Mild carbonation.
Overall: Excellent. Very quaffable. Will be buying again (If I can get my hands on it here). Very easy drinking; among the best American brown's I've had.
★ 539 characters
3.28/5 rDev -13.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This is a beer from the folks at Short's Brewery in Bellaire, MI
Bellaire Brown is Short's stable Brown Ale. Full flavored, with a carmel and malty taste. The mouthfeel is also very pleasant. It is dark and rich, which is abnormal for most browns, but it really works for this beer. The beer has coffee aftertaste, and lacks any strong notes of hops. This is the type of beer that is perfect for beginning dark craft beer drinkers.
I drank this beer in glass, which poured a hazy brown with medium sized head. This beer tasted a bit better when it is served on the warmer side of cold, around 40 degrees would help bring out the flavors. Drinkability was great, I can always have another Bellaire Brown.
My go to beer when I do not know what else to get!
7% ABV
14 IBU
★ 773 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This is a beer from the folks at Short's Brewery in Bellaire, MI
Bellaire Brown is Short's stable Brown Ale. Full flavored, with a carmel and malty taste. The mouthfeel is also very pleasant. It is dark and rich, which is abnormal for most browns, but it really works for this beer. The beer has coffee aftertaste, and lacks any strong notes of hops. This is the type of beer that is perfect for beginning dark craft beer drinkers.
I drank this beer in glass, which poured a hazy brown with medium sized head. This beer tasted a bit better when it is served on the warmer side of cold, around 40 degrees would help bring out the flavors. Drinkability was great, I can always have another Bellaire Brown.
My go to beer when I do not know what else to get!
7% ABV
14 IBU
★ 773 characters
4.18/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a very classic american ale with flavor, body, and taste. I really like this in the winter because of its darker flavor components, but it is still smooth and light enough to have a couple. The flavor is really well balanced and nothing is overpowering in this beer.
★ 274 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a very classic american ale with flavor, body, and taste. I really like this in the winter because of its darker flavor components, but it is still smooth and light enough to have a couple. The flavor is really well balanced and nothing is overpowering in this beer.
★ 274 characters
3.07/5 rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
This beer has a hearty malt flavor and exactly as the label states BROWN. A medium brown color. There is a hint of chocolate flavor with minimal presence of hops. a hint of light roast coffee and a mild bitterness in aroma. not one of my favorite beers but also not the worst.
★ 276 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
This beer has a hearty malt flavor and exactly as the label states BROWN. A medium brown color. There is a hint of chocolate flavor with minimal presence of hops. a hint of light roast coffee and a mild bitterness in aroma. not one of my favorite beers but also not the worst.
★ 276 characters
3.99/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I had not heard of this brewery until a buddy of mine from Michigan brought me a few bottles.
Appearance is --- shockingly --- brown; with a tan medium head and persistent lacing. Held up to bright light, it's a dense ruby red.
Aroma is chocolate, caramel and toasted malt with a whiff of floral hops.
Taste is a lot of toasted malt followed by a mild, caramel sweetness. Very mild hop bitterness and just a hint of ethanol. Smooth as Billy Dee.
Medium body with light carbonation.
Overall, this is a fantastic brown ale. Smooth malty goodness.
★ 552 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I had not heard of this brewery until a buddy of mine from Michigan brought me a few bottles.
Appearance is --- shockingly --- brown; with a tan medium head and persistent lacing. Held up to bright light, it's a dense ruby red.
Aroma is chocolate, caramel and toasted malt with a whiff of floral hops.
Taste is a lot of toasted malt followed by a mild, caramel sweetness. Very mild hop bitterness and just a hint of ethanol. Smooth as Billy Dee.
Medium body with light carbonation.
Overall, this is a fantastic brown ale. Smooth malty goodness.
★ 552 characters
4.13/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Chestnut brown color nice and deep but clear. Small head that disappears quickly.
S- Strong cocoa and roasted caramel. Delicious.
T- Cocoa, chocolate, roasted caramel. Lots of roasted malt backbone around. Smooth finish
M- Creamy, smooth. Paves the way to the gullet with a feather bed like feeling.
O- Very good example of a brown ale. Well suited for a late fall bon fire. One of my favorite Shorts brews.
★ 415 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Chestnut brown color nice and deep but clear. Small head that disappears quickly.
S- Strong cocoa and roasted caramel. Delicious.
T- Cocoa, chocolate, roasted caramel. Lots of roasted malt backbone around. Smooth finish
M- Creamy, smooth. Paves the way to the gullet with a feather bed like feeling.
O- Very good example of a brown ale. Well suited for a late fall bon fire. One of my favorite Shorts brews.
★ 415 characters
3.68/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Brown Ales are beautiful specimens. Their earthy brown tones and dimmed burnt cinnamon highlights can in a glance put you in an autumn frame of mind. Bellaire Brown has a colour something like that of a grizzly bear and is light enough to be transparent against the light but not away from it. Its head is thin and sprawls out into a spiderweb-like pattern on the surface.
Bellaire Brown is a beer I'm content just to smell for a good while before tasting. No need to rush something like this. It has almost enough enticing sweetness to mask its subtle smokiness; it smells like inside of an oven just used to roast coffee beans and hazelnuts.
English Brown Ales tend to taste like coffee cake whereas American renditions lean towards just plain coffee. The malts in this one have an appreciable sponge cake-like flavour, toasted nuttiness, and sweet toffee glaze. Mind you, it's not without some roast, but we're talking instant decaf level. The hoppiness restrains sweetness but doesn't impart any flavour.
Munich and Chocolate malts give the mouthfeel plenty of substance. It is thick as a chewy oatmeal chocolate-chip cookie and has a healthy serving of melanoidins (which resemble the tasty dark brown bits of toasted bread). This is a style in which brewers can introduce more character at no risk of losing the casual agreeableness that appeals to the masses.
The way that some people talk about Short's Brewing you'd think that getting your hands on a bottle would warrant running through the street naked in celebration. But in my experience their beers aren't *that* good (and the readily available stuff is rather pedestrian). Nonetheless, all the ones I've tried have been well-made and true to style - and worth buying.
★ 1,739 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Brown Ales are beautiful specimens. Their earthy brown tones and dimmed burnt cinnamon highlights can in a glance put you in an autumn frame of mind. Bellaire Brown has a colour something like that of a grizzly bear and is light enough to be transparent against the light but not away from it. Its head is thin and sprawls out into a spiderweb-like pattern on the surface.
Bellaire Brown is a beer I'm content just to smell for a good while before tasting. No need to rush something like this. It has almost enough enticing sweetness to mask its subtle smokiness; it smells like inside of an oven just used to roast coffee beans and hazelnuts.
English Brown Ales tend to taste like coffee cake whereas American renditions lean towards just plain coffee. The malts in this one have an appreciable sponge cake-like flavour, toasted nuttiness, and sweet toffee glaze. Mind you, it's not without some roast, but we're talking instant decaf level. The hoppiness restrains sweetness but doesn't impart any flavour.
Munich and Chocolate malts give the mouthfeel plenty of substance. It is thick as a chewy oatmeal chocolate-chip cookie and has a healthy serving of melanoidins (which resemble the tasty dark brown bits of toasted bread). This is a style in which brewers can introduce more character at no risk of losing the casual agreeableness that appeals to the masses.
The way that some people talk about Short's Brewing you'd think that getting your hands on a bottle would warrant running through the street naked in celebration. But in my experience their beers aren't *that* good (and the readily available stuff is rather pedestrian). Nonetheless, all the ones I've tried have been well-made and true to style - and worth buying.
★ 1,739 characters
4.02/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This beer is, as advertised, a medium brown color. It lets plenty of light in at the borders and even just a hint in the middle, where it shines with some orange and red hues. The khaki-colored head is smallish and a little unstable; it doesn't last very long, but some stays for the long haul and does leave good lacing behind.
The aroma really nails the style, and with decent strength. It shows an earthier sort of undertone with lots of nuttiness and plenty of toast in the malts, which do add hints of cocoa powder and caramel.
The taste shows the same earthy and nutty character with just a very slight floral quality from hops that adds balance but keeps it malt-forward. There's a clean but rustic quality overall, and particularly as a note of wood comes through. it's not as strong and dry as oak, but a little softer and more elemental, so to speak. Cocoa pulls out into the finish and lingers a little, dry with just a hint of sweetness to it.
The body is on the lighter side of medium, and the prickle of the crispness on the tongue prevents it from being as smooth as it could be. Otherwise, there's pretty good depth in the feel.
★ 1,144 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This beer is, as advertised, a medium brown color. It lets plenty of light in at the borders and even just a hint in the middle, where it shines with some orange and red hues. The khaki-colored head is smallish and a little unstable; it doesn't last very long, but some stays for the long haul and does leave good lacing behind.
The aroma really nails the style, and with decent strength. It shows an earthier sort of undertone with lots of nuttiness and plenty of toast in the malts, which do add hints of cocoa powder and caramel.
The taste shows the same earthy and nutty character with just a very slight floral quality from hops that adds balance but keeps it malt-forward. There's a clean but rustic quality overall, and particularly as a note of wood comes through. it's not as strong and dry as oak, but a little softer and more elemental, so to speak. Cocoa pulls out into the finish and lingers a little, dry with just a hint of sweetness to it.
The body is on the lighter side of medium, and the prickle of the crispness on the tongue prevents it from being as smooth as it could be. Otherwise, there's pretty good depth in the feel.
★ 1,144 characters
3.77/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a cola brown with decent head and lacing.
Smells of toasted grain and malty. Aromas of semi-sweet cocoa.
Hops add a nice touch to the sweet malt. Finishes with a toasty nut and cocoa.
A brown that is ever so bright with decent carbonation. Quite seasonable.
I feel this brown flirts as the beginning of a good porter. A splendid brown to say the least.
★ 362 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a cola brown with decent head and lacing.
Smells of toasted grain and malty. Aromas of semi-sweet cocoa.
Hops add a nice touch to the sweet malt. Finishes with a toasty nut and cocoa.
A brown that is ever so bright with decent carbonation. Quite seasonable.
I feel this brown flirts as the beginning of a good porter. A splendid brown to say the least.
★ 362 characters
3.67/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Beer was drank out of a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. Cloudy appearance but the beer tastes great. If you like brown's please don't hesitate to try. Has a coffee like undertone but Definitely not to strong. I like beers that finish light this time of year and this beer delivers. Could also be enjoyed as a cold weather favorite.
★ 332 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Beer was drank out of a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. Cloudy appearance but the beer tastes great. If you like brown's please don't hesitate to try. Has a coffee like undertone but Definitely not to strong. I like beers that finish light this time of year and this beer delivers. Could also be enjoyed as a cold weather favorite.
★ 332 characters
Short's Bellaire Brown Ale from Short's Brewing Company
3.79
out of 5
based on 731 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I picked this brown off the Binnys single shelf. It is probably the best beer I've had from Shorts. It poured a clear deep mahogany with off white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent has bread. The taste is a nice balance of bread and caramel hints. The Mouthfeel is medium in body with good carbonation. Overall this is a solid beer....really liked this one.
★ 369 characters