Bloody Beer
Short's Brewing Company
- From:
- Short's Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Fruit and Field Beer
Ranked #446 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 78
Ranked #37,607 - Avg:
- 3.41 | pDev: 20.23%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 103
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 22, 2026
- Added:
- Sep 06, 2007
- Wants:
- 35
- Gots:
- 16
SCORE
78
Okay
78
Okay
Bloody Beer is a lighter bodied beer with an appealing ruby red glow. Fermented with Roma tomatoes, and spiced with dill, horseradish, peppercorns and celery seed, a prominent aroma of spicy tomato juice emits from the beer. The intense initial tomato flavor is followed by a lingering finish that allows each additional ingredient a chance to resonate on the palate. When slightly warm, this 2009 Great American Beer Festival silver medal winner’s magnitude of flavors can be fully appreciated.
Bloody Beer was beer number 8 of 13 from our 2007 Imperial Beer Series and it was the 290th batch of beer ever brewed at Short’s.
Bloody Beer was beer number 8 of 13 from our 2007 Imperial Beer Series and it was the 290th batch of beer ever brewed at Short’s.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BenHoppy:
Reviewed by BenHoppy from Michigan
3.64/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
For what it is its not bad. A bloody Mary beer? Shorts did a hell of a job. Smells like tomato soup with flavors of horseradish, dill, tomato, and malt. First beer ever had that tastes better with a pickle and a few drops of hot sauce. I highly recommend adding the pickle and got sauce.
Nov 26, 2017More User Ratings:
Reviewed by The_Snow_Bird from Michigan
3.87/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a medium dark caramel color with a small white head on top. Smell has notes of tomato’s and spices. Taste is strong with tomatos and peppercorn with a malty finish.
Feb 22, 2026
Rated by Sparty1965 from Michigan
3.14/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
3.14/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Not as terrible as I thought it would be.
Dec 20, 2025
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
3.43/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.43/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Executes the concept well. Doesn’t smell particularly like a Bloody Mary - more like a sweet ale - but delivers on the premise once it hits your palate.
It’s not like drinking a Bloody Mary, itself; it’s a blend of a Bloody Mary and an ale. No spice or heat to speak of.
Major props for executing the concept, but frankly, that concept isn’t very tasty. It’s not bad, but it’s worse than a regular craft ale, and worse than a Bloody Mary. You’re better off just making up your mind and getting one or the other. Or get both a beer and a Bloody Mary - just not in the same glass!
Nov 30, 2025It’s not like drinking a Bloody Mary, itself; it’s a blend of a Bloody Mary and an ale. No spice or heat to speak of.
Major props for executing the concept, but frankly, that concept isn’t very tasty. It’s not bad, but it’s worse than a regular craft ale, and worse than a Bloody Mary. You’re better off just making up your mind and getting one or the other. Or get both a beer and a Bloody Mary - just not in the same glass!
Reviewed by Valdez_Mescalito from Michigan
3.85/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
October 2023 Pub Brew Release - 6 pack
12 oz. can dated 101123 (10/11/23) - 7.8% ABV / 47 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a dense and fizzy, slightly caramel-colored white head that leaves lacing. Clear, dark amber appearance with a good amount of streaming bubbles.
Smell - Getting mostly faint tomato in the scent with the spices blended together in the background.
Taste - The spices are more dominant in the taste with celery seed and dill being the most prominent. Not picking up too much of the tomato, horseradish, or peppercorn. They're very subtle. The caramel malt seems to come through as well, despite all of the adjuncts.
Feel - Medium bodied with a spicy mouthfeel and finishes with minimal dryness.
Overall - Being not quite the flavor explosion that was expected, and the tomato flavor being so subtle, made this somewhat of a disappointment.
Oct 21, 202312 oz. can dated 101123 (10/11/23) - 7.8% ABV / 47 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a dense and fizzy, slightly caramel-colored white head that leaves lacing. Clear, dark amber appearance with a good amount of streaming bubbles.
Smell - Getting mostly faint tomato in the scent with the spices blended together in the background.
Taste - The spices are more dominant in the taste with celery seed and dill being the most prominent. Not picking up too much of the tomato, horseradish, or peppercorn. They're very subtle. The caramel malt seems to come through as well, despite all of the adjuncts.
Feel - Medium bodied with a spicy mouthfeel and finishes with minimal dryness.
Overall - Being not quite the flavor explosion that was expected, and the tomato flavor being so subtle, made this somewhat of a disappointment.
Reviewed by Blackop555 from Michigan
3.74/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.74/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
It matches the style so I can't ratw it too low but I'm not a fan of Bloody Marys.
Pour is orangish red. Short, foamy, off-white head that is short-lived.
It smells tomato, pepper, Citrus, celery and Bloody Mary mix.
Taste basically like a bloody mary the kind that's mixed with beer. Finishes dry with a tomato linger. Medium body and fizzy medium carbonation.
Apr 05, 2018Pour is orangish red. Short, foamy, off-white head that is short-lived.
It smells tomato, pepper, Citrus, celery and Bloody Mary mix.
Taste basically like a bloody mary the kind that's mixed with beer. Finishes dry with a tomato linger. Medium body and fizzy medium carbonation.
Rated by MSU_Swit from Michigan
2.03/5 rDev -40.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.03/5 rDev -40.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
I like bloodies, but this was so-so. I was hoping for more spice. It reminds me of a watered-down V8.
Feb 15, 2018
Reviewed by Tripel_Threat from Michigan
4.08/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Near spot-on. I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this one since Bloody Mary's - and tomato juice in general - is something that I have to be in a specific mood to enjoy. I don't think ive ever craved after it. After having a few I've discovered that it's the texture of Bloody Mary's that I have difficulty with.
Poured from bottle to goblet. Color is that of raspberry jam with a collar of off white foam. Head quickly dissolves, leaving a clean glass. Aromas of spice: celery seed, pepper, dill, all riding a wave of savory/sweet tomatoes. Flavor is tomato forward, with dill and celery upfront and a peppery/horseradish finish. Spicy without becoming too hot. Thin feel.
Nov 20, 2017Poured from bottle to goblet. Color is that of raspberry jam with a collar of off white foam. Head quickly dissolves, leaving a clean glass. Aromas of spice: celery seed, pepper, dill, all riding a wave of savory/sweet tomatoes. Flavor is tomato forward, with dill and celery upfront and a peppery/horseradish finish. Spicy without becoming too hot. Thin feel.
Rated by 4snowman4 from Michigan
1.42/5 rDev -58.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
1.42/5 rDev -58.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
As a huge fan of Bloody Marys and beer... this is just gross.
Oct 29, 2017
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana
3.67/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - The beer poured a copper color with a white head.
Smell - The beer had a salty Bloody Mary-like nose. Celery is also fairly evident.
Taste - The overall profile makes me think of a rye beer. I get celery salt, tomato, and char. There is something that reminds me of vodka. The horseradish or any sense of spice are not evident.
Mouthfeel - Carbonation was pretty straight forward like an average pale ale.
Overall - I wonder if I add a pickle or celery stick if this would improve. Perhaps adding Bloody Mary mix would help.
Oct 28, 2017Smell - The beer had a salty Bloody Mary-like nose. Celery is also fairly evident.
Taste - The overall profile makes me think of a rye beer. I get celery salt, tomato, and char. There is something that reminds me of vodka. The horseradish or any sense of spice are not evident.
Mouthfeel - Carbonation was pretty straight forward like an average pale ale.
Overall - I wonder if I add a pickle or celery stick if this would improve. Perhaps adding Bloody Mary mix would help.
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