Short's Bellaire Brown Ale | Short's Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Short's Brewing Company
Michigan, United States
shortsbrewing.com
Style: American Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Bellaire Brown is our flagship Brown Ale. Full-flavored with notes of sweet caramel, chocolate, and toasted malt, Bellaire Brown is balanced with a mild and earthy hop quality. This ale is dark and rich with a medium body. It’s hardly classifiable as a brown, but is certainly considered a delicious masterpiece.
Bellaire Brown was originally created to appeal to people who enjoyed drinking coffee, and to beer drinkers who are not interested in hoppy options. When Joe Short was creating the Bellaire Brown recipe, he desired a beer that was meatier and burlier than most browns. Bellaire Brown is a great gate-way beer for drinkers to be introduced to darker beer varieties.
19 IBU
Added by BeerAdvocate on 03-01-2005
HISTOGRAM
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Ratings: 768 | Reviews: 273
3.16/5 rDev -16.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
4.41/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Deep reddish brown with a persistent tan head. Aroma has chocolate and caramel. Taste (marvelous) includes chocolate, coffee, and a roasty, toasty malt. Goes down smooth and a little thick; very pleasing on the palate and throat. A top flight brew!!!
250 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Deep reddish brown with a persistent tan head. Aroma has chocolate and caramel. Taste (marvelous) includes chocolate, coffee, and a roasty, toasty malt. Goes down smooth and a little thick; very pleasing on the palate and throat. A top flight brew!!!
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3.72/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle marked 07/14/17 08:08:20 poured heavily into my libbey's porter glass.
Appearance- a dark amber color with a slight off white head that leaves minimal lacing.
Aroma- caramel and raisins.
Flavor- like the smell. has a bready malt taste. really dry. abv is well hidden. has a weird spiciness. is there rye in this?
Mouthfeel- medium/ heavy body. good carbonation.
Drinkability- ehh. not the worst but I can tell you i'm never purchasing this again.
Overall- for what you would think is a basic style of beer not too many breweries are hitting it out of the park when it comes to browns. this beer somewhat reminds me of the old recipe of arcadia's scotch ale. alil too much raisin action in this for me. I look for caramel, honey, maybe some nutty action in browns but as soon as you hit raisin notes I take it to the scotch or Scottish ale dept. it's even as dark as a scotch ale. I can see people who tend to malty beers liking this one.
959 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle marked 07/14/17 08:08:20 poured heavily into my libbey's porter glass.
Appearance- a dark amber color with a slight off white head that leaves minimal lacing.
Aroma- caramel and raisins.
Flavor- like the smell. has a bready malt taste. really dry. abv is well hidden. has a weird spiciness. is there rye in this?
Mouthfeel- medium/ heavy body. good carbonation.
Drinkability- ehh. not the worst but I can tell you i'm never purchasing this again.
Overall- for what you would think is a basic style of beer not too many breweries are hitting it out of the park when it comes to browns. this beer somewhat reminds me of the old recipe of arcadia's scotch ale. alil too much raisin action in this for me. I look for caramel, honey, maybe some nutty action in browns but as soon as you hit raisin notes I take it to the scotch or Scottish ale dept. it's even as dark as a scotch ale. I can see people who tend to malty beers liking this one.
959 characters
4.25/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.02/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Both my father-in-law and my mother-in-law were in town this past weekend so I decided to pick up a brown ale since my FIL is a big fan of browns, and I like them as well. I've heard good things about this particular beer so I figured he and I could give it a shot.
This beer pours a hazy, dark brown/amber hue that shows off only light carbonation. The head is khaki colored and creamy, dissipating ultra slowly. 4.25/5 The aroma is not overpowering in the slightest but it is heavily oriented toward the malt side of the bill. Some dark, toasted bread is noticeable as well as a bit of caramel and toffee sweetness, although the sweetness not overly sweet at all. The hops are hardly noticeable but they seem to provide just a hint of earthiness to counteract the malt bill. 3.5/5 The flavor is much stronger than the aroma and is big on the malt. Sweet caramel, toffee, tobacco, and a hint of molasses come through providing a burst of dark malty flavors. A good bit of dark, toasted bread comes through as well, complementing the sweetness. There seems to be a hint of oats as well. Bitterness is very mild and comes from a light hop profile in the form of an herbal note. The bitterness does not linger long after swallowing. 4.25/5 This is a medium to full bodied brown that feels creamy and coating with just mild carbonation providing a tickle. There really is no dryness to speak of and the coating feeling lingers after swallowing. 4.25/5 This is an excellent brown ale that is full of flavor, although a bit light on the aroma. This could easily be the best brown that I have had to date. It sits light despite the full body and higher (per the style) abv. 4/5
1,693 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Both my father-in-law and my mother-in-law were in town this past weekend so I decided to pick up a brown ale since my FIL is a big fan of browns, and I like them as well. I've heard good things about this particular beer so I figured he and I could give it a shot.
This beer pours a hazy, dark brown/amber hue that shows off only light carbonation. The head is khaki colored and creamy, dissipating ultra slowly. 4.25/5 The aroma is not overpowering in the slightest but it is heavily oriented toward the malt side of the bill. Some dark, toasted bread is noticeable as well as a bit of caramel and toffee sweetness, although the sweetness not overly sweet at all. The hops are hardly noticeable but they seem to provide just a hint of earthiness to counteract the malt bill. 3.5/5 The flavor is much stronger than the aroma and is big on the malt. Sweet caramel, toffee, tobacco, and a hint of molasses come through providing a burst of dark malty flavors. A good bit of dark, toasted bread comes through as well, complementing the sweetness. There seems to be a hint of oats as well. Bitterness is very mild and comes from a light hop profile in the form of an herbal note. The bitterness does not linger long after swallowing. 4.25/5 This is a medium to full bodied brown that feels creamy and coating with just mild carbonation providing a tickle. There really is no dryness to speak of and the coating feeling lingers after swallowing. 4.25/5 This is an excellent brown ale that is full of flavor, although a bit light on the aroma. This could easily be the best brown that I have had to date. It sits light despite the full body and higher (per the style) abv. 4/5
1,693 characters
3.78/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.06/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.78/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.2/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance was a nice ruddy brown color with a one finger white foamy head that spider-webbed as it went down. The lacing was there and trickled for the most part. The smell was nutty and malty. The taste was a nice nutty sweet maltiness running about my tastebuds and reminding me of a time I spent in Michigan. The palate had a nice creaminess running about my mouth and tongue and had a decent sessionability about it as well. Overall, in my opinion, this was a great American Brown ale well worthy of having again and well worthy in Autumn.
548 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance was a nice ruddy brown color with a one finger white foamy head that spider-webbed as it went down. The lacing was there and trickled for the most part. The smell was nutty and malty. The taste was a nice nutty sweet maltiness running about my tastebuds and reminding me of a time I spent in Michigan. The palate had a nice creaminess running about my mouth and tongue and had a decent sessionability about it as well. Overall, in my opinion, this was a great American Brown ale well worthy of having again and well worthy in Autumn.
548 characters
3.68/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a very dark brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of chocolate, nuts. Taste is chocolate, bready malts, a touch of nuts, easy drinking for the abv. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer worth trying.
268 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a very dark brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of chocolate, nuts. Taste is chocolate, bready malts, a touch of nuts, easy drinking for the abv. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer worth trying.
268 characters
4.21/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.73/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Brown in color. Not much head retention. Big candy caramel nose with toasted nuts and subtle chocolate in the background. It's flavor is mostly toasted caramel malts and coffee, but there is a lingering hop bitterness in the finish. Nice body and excellent carbonation. A good brown ale here from Short's.
311 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Brown in color. Not much head retention. Big candy caramel nose with toasted nuts and subtle chocolate in the background. It's flavor is mostly toasted caramel malts and coffee, but there is a lingering hop bitterness in the finish. Nice body and excellent carbonation. A good brown ale here from Short's.
311 characters
3.58/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.21/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Vinsetta Garage, Detroit, Michigan on 02/17/17.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Vinsetta Garage, Detroit, Michigan on 02/17/17.
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3.44/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear brownish-red with a large, soft tan head settling to a thin ring.
Smell is bread dough, caramel, pepper, nut, and raisin.
Taste is nut, caramel, and bread, with a Coke-like tang.
Wet, medium bodied, and quenching for a brown.
Easily the best Short's beer I've had, which is saying something...but not something good.
326 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear brownish-red with a large, soft tan head settling to a thin ring.
Smell is bread dough, caramel, pepper, nut, and raisin.
Taste is nut, caramel, and bread, with a Coke-like tang.
Wet, medium bodied, and quenching for a brown.
Easily the best Short's beer I've had, which is saying something...but not something good.
326 characters
3.51/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.79/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Smooth brown, nothing complex, just easy to drink.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Smooth brown, nothing complex, just easy to drink.
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4.65/5 rDev +22.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled 8/10/15; drank 11/10/15 @ the Yarchives.
Poured from the bottle into a glass.
Opaque brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a decent tan head; strong lace.
Acorn, burnt leaves & sarsaparilla notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Cream, autumn leaves & faint milk chocolate flavors up front; mild caramel & banana notes on the finish. A strong example of the style; complex & flavorful but very easy to drink. A fall classic.
442 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled 8/10/15; drank 11/10/15 @ the Yarchives.
Poured from the bottle into a glass.
Opaque brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a decent tan head; strong lace.
Acorn, burnt leaves & sarsaparilla notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Cream, autumn leaves & faint milk chocolate flavors up front; mild caramel & banana notes on the finish. A strong example of the style; complex & flavorful but very easy to drink. A fall classic.
442 characters
Short's Bellaire Brown Ale from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.79 out of
5 with
768 ratings
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4