Mystery Stout
Short's Brewing Company

Mystery StoutMystery Stout
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From:
Short's Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.4%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.77%
Reviews:
206
Ratings:
376
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 17, 2019
Added:
May 24, 2006
Wants:
  103
Gots:
  41
*12 oz. bottles released in 2009 are 10.8% abv. The original 750 ml bottles from first batch were 12.5% abv.

This beer demands respect and respect it will have. Imperial Oatmeal Stout with cocoa and molasses. It is very strong and possesses rare flavor combinations which can overload even the most experienced beer connoisseur.  Capture every bit of its warmth and wisdom, as it will demand all of your attention.
12.5% ABV
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BBP:
Photo of BBP
Reviewed by BBP from Canada (ON)

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A- It seems that none of the beers that I have from Short's are going to have full heads, or even little heads for that matter, so it's good for their sake that appearance counts for less of the new ratings. Maybe they just can't present themselves nicely in a snifter like most other beers.

I barely got any head at all, even from a rough pour after swishing the bottle around a bit. It soon receeded to less than a film, although there were little bits of brown coming up from the deep black body. There was also a slight amount of lacing.

S- There's a gigantic amount of oatmeal and molasses to the nose. Large amounts of cocoa as well. It's truly enticing. It's like they took the aromas from several of my favorite stouts and mixed them.

T- Sweet from the oatmeal is balanced by the cocoa's bitterness, with a ton of molasses as the foundation. It's matching the description on the bottle pretty perfectly. While I know this stout ends up on the bitter side, it still feels pretty balanced. The cocoa adds up though, and adds a lot of sharpness. It takes up the greater part of the aftertaste as well.

M- It feels pretty heavy, but isn't the fullest stout by any means. It has a nice creamy feel which I'm coming to expect from most of Short's Brewing beers. They really tend to do well at making a beer that feels nice.

D- For a 10.8% beer, it's pretty damn drinkable. There's only a little bit of heat as it goes down. No heat can really be tasted; only felt.

It's a very nice interpretation of the style, albeit simple. Cocoa, oatmeal, and molasses, and then some more cocoa sums it up.
I'm really enjoying it, but can't say much for it's complexity. But for what it's worth, they did what they were trying to quite well.

It's a beer that I find myself appreciating more a when I don't analyze it. A great value as well.
Apr 05, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gemini6 from Michigan

Dec 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Tripel_Threat from Michigan

Mar 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.57 by SirHarrie from Michigan

Feb 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.79 by spycow from Illinois

Sep 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Eziel from Ohio

May 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.56 by thomseye from Michigan

Jan 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by acostuhhh from Michigan

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by moshea from Michigan

Dec 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.32 by Kquintond from Ohio

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Moses_Malone from District of Columbia

Nov 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by linnymtu from Michigan

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.32 by heavydetour from Michigan

Oct 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by beernads from Florida

Oct 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.82 by jpolet from Oregon

Oct 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by dmorley21 from Michigan

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Pandarus from Michigan

Aug 24, 2014
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a medium size dark brown head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of sweet residual sugars and molasses notes with some dark chocolate notes is pretty intense but not overwhelmingly so. Taste is a great mix between some molasses, residual sugars some black chocolate notes with a light dry bitter finish. Body is quite full but doesn’t have the smooth texture I was expecting. Good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Very enjoyable imperials stout that is pretty sweet but not overwhelmingly so with a good depth of complexity.
Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by domfreego from Michigan

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Big_Dave from Texas

Aug 15, 2014
Mystery Stout from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 376 ratings