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Bellaire Brown Ale
Short's Brewing Company
- From:
- Short's Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
Ranked #168 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #20,452 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 11.61%
- Reviews:
- 297
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 10, 2024
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2005
- Wants:
- 36
- Gots:
- 141
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
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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by orbitalr0x:
Reviewed by orbitalr0x from Illinois
3.93/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Deep, dark chocolate brown pour that is somewhat opaque along with a quarter inch of light tan creamy foam on top of the brew. Seems like a hearty brown ale from the pour. Aromas are big on toasted malt along with a nice chocolate tones that remind me of Tootsie Rolls for some strange reason. Smooth with a little nuttiness as well.
First sip brings smooth, crisp toasted malts upfront along with swirls of chocolate and caramel flavors. Nutty accents with just a touch of hops on the back end. A tasty, malty brown ale that has a nice creaminess as well.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a sturdy malt profile. Good carbonation helps it flow down easily. A refreshing and easy drinking brown ale overall. I would enjoy a sixer of this over the course of a weekend for sure. Another solid beer from Short's.
Apr 23, 2009First sip brings smooth, crisp toasted malts upfront along with swirls of chocolate and caramel flavors. Nutty accents with just a touch of hops on the back end. A tasty, malty brown ale that has a nice creaminess as well.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a sturdy malt profile. Good carbonation helps it flow down easily. A refreshing and easy drinking brown ale overall. I would enjoy a sixer of this over the course of a weekend for sure. Another solid beer from Short's.
More User Ratings:
Rated by Train816 from Michigan
4.01/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.01/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
My wife loves it. Great cold. Easy to drink.
Jan 10, 2024Reviewed by Valdez_Mescalito from Michigan
4.12/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Always Available Release - 6 pack
12 oz. can dated 082523 (8/25/23) - 7.0% ABV / 19 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a soapy and fizzy off-white head that dies down quick, but leaves lacing. Slightly clear, reddish-brown appearance.
Smell - The scent is toasted malt, caramel, and a faint amount of chocolate.
Taste - Toasted malt is really the only flavor in the taste. The caramel and chocolate seem to disappear. Zero bitterness in the aftertaste.
Feel - Thin-medium bodied with a semi-crisp mouthfeel and finishes with minimal dryness.
Overall - Somewhat muted on flavor, but the flavor that's there is good, and it's easy drinking.
Oct 30, 202312 oz. can dated 082523 (8/25/23) - 7.0% ABV / 19 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a soapy and fizzy off-white head that dies down quick, but leaves lacing. Slightly clear, reddish-brown appearance.
Smell - The scent is toasted malt, caramel, and a faint amount of chocolate.
Taste - Toasted malt is really the only flavor in the taste. The caramel and chocolate seem to disappear. Zero bitterness in the aftertaste.
Feel - Thin-medium bodied with a semi-crisp mouthfeel and finishes with minimal dryness.
Overall - Somewhat muted on flavor, but the flavor that's there is good, and it's easy drinking.
Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio
3.94/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from tap the beer has a dark brown body it's fluffy white head. Light lacing.
Smooth malty standard brown ale. Not too sweet, which is good in my book. No sign of hops.
Creamy mouthfeel and solid carbonation.
Sep 05, 2023Smooth malty standard brown ale. Not too sweet, which is good in my book. No sign of hops.
Creamy mouthfeel and solid carbonation.
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania
3.99/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.99/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into shaped, wide mouth glass: color is light brown, amber edges, light tan head presents less than one finger thick, ring of head lingers.
Smell is subdued but notes of chocolate malt, toast, roast, hint of coffee.
Taste is more pronounced - more chocolate, toast, and roast, slightly sweet, abv is hidden well (drinks lighter than 7%); moderate hop with hint of grass.
Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low bitterness.
Overall a pleasant and very drinkable brown ale, sweeter/chocolatier flavors with lighter roast, abv is hidden amongst the taste attributes.
Jun 11, 2023Smell is subdued but notes of chocolate malt, toast, roast, hint of coffee.
Taste is more pronounced - more chocolate, toast, and roast, slightly sweet, abv is hidden well (drinks lighter than 7%); moderate hop with hint of grass.
Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low bitterness.
Overall a pleasant and very drinkable brown ale, sweeter/chocolatier flavors with lighter roast, abv is hidden amongst the taste attributes.
Rated by Raislak from Michigan
4.37/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had on tap at Gravity Taproom
Jan 16, 2023Reviewed by Brook82 from Ohio
3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Medium brownish tint with off white head. Light lacing. Pleasant aroma with malt and coffee. Taste was well rounded and easy drinking. Good to drink with a meal. Would purchase again.
Jun 14, 2022Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida
3.42/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.42/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: Hazy nut brown. One finger of fizzy off-white head with good retention.
Smell: Mild caramel with toasted dark malt.
Taste: Mostly a hop bitterness that lingers at the back of the throat. Light malt sweetness underneath.
Mouthfeel: Average in every way.
Overall: Nothing spectacular.
Feb 02, 2022Smell: Mild caramel with toasted dark malt.
Taste: Mostly a hop bitterness that lingers at the back of the throat. Light malt sweetness underneath.
Mouthfeel: Average in every way.
Overall: Nothing spectacular.
Reviewed by BigIronH from Michigan
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a ruby tinged brown with a finger of off white foam reducing to a full ring and spotty lacing.
aroma: roasted malts, mild bitterness, dark chocolate, raisin and brown sugar.
Taste really follows suit in a big way. Initially I get bitter dark chocolate with a sweet mid section reminiscent of burnt brown sugar. The finish in a toasted malt profile with undertones of chocolate.
Feel is full and velvety but with a decent carbonation crisp. I loved it. 4/5
Nov 13, 2021aroma: roasted malts, mild bitterness, dark chocolate, raisin and brown sugar.
Taste really follows suit in a big way. Initially I get bitter dark chocolate with a sweet mid section reminiscent of burnt brown sugar. The finish in a toasted malt profile with undertones of chocolate.
Feel is full and velvety but with a decent carbonation crisp. I loved it. 4/5
Reviewed by Manta200 from Kentucky
3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Single can shipped from @BigIronH
Dark brown color with a finger thick off-white head, good retention.
Aroma of caramel malts and brown sugar.
Taste follows the nose with bready notes and subtle sweetness.
I like this one, especially the aroma.
Sep 30, 2021Dark brown color with a finger thick off-white head, good retention.
Aroma of caramel malts and brown sugar.
Taste follows the nose with bready notes and subtle sweetness.
I like this one, especially the aroma.
Reviewed by magikbagel from Wisconsin
3.41/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.41/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Dark brown color, thick fluffy head. Subtle scents of malts and even citrus. It has a very earthy flavor and somewhat dry mouthfeel. It’s not a very sweet brown ale like other’s i’ve tried, its definitely on the bitter side which I can enjoy. I get more of that toasty malt flavor on the finish.
Sep 12, 2021
Bellaire Brown Ale from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
832 ratings
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