The Liberator
Short's Brewing Company

The LiberatorThe Liberator
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From:
Short's Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
7.4%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 12.85%
Reviews:
206
Ratings:
510
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 11, 2020
Added:
Dec 18, 2009
Wants:
  52
Gots:
  59
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ChugginOil:
Photo of ChugginOil
Reviewed by ChugginOil from Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Big thanks to surlytheduff for this surprising extra!!

Pours a great colored, slightly hazed amber orange. There is an inch of white head that holds up good. There is a moderate amount of spotty white lace as well.

The nose is really showing off that lemon and orange zest. A citrus punch blasts the nostrils and dominates. There is a fresh hop resin intertwined within the citrus fruit. Not much malt but I could care less.

The taste is also citrus packed with notes of lemon and orange. There is a malt backbone behind the citrus that resembles a biscuit-like malt. Nice and bitter.

The mouthfeel is possibly one of the driest feels I have experienced. So dry, like gin as it goes down. It is light-medium bodied with a nice mellow amount of carbonation.

Overall, I really enjoyed this brew. It's like the load of citrus made the beer finish very dry and I love it. This is where it's at. Wish I lived up there in the MI.
Dec 25, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.74 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Dec 11, 2020
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.83/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
While also liberating us from the grip of the haze craze, Shorts Brewing celebrates the freedom of getting hop heads back to their bitter roots.

Medium amber and cast in a hop-driven haze, The Liberator pours with the color of honey while releasing a creamy, slightly tarnish froth. As a strong citrusy scent rolls from the top, so does an earthy scent of grasses, herbs and pine. With a smooth taste of caramelized malts, the early sweetness is also of light honey, granola and agave.

As the hops rise to accept the malty challenge, the grain profile recedes to a supporting role. A big citrus lead brings a burst of orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime, the taste also involves red berry, apricot and papaya. Trending bitter to finish, a fresh grassy, hemp-like and piney grip extends into those strong citrus peel additions for an unnecessary peppery, pectin spice that proves slightly distracting.

Medium full on the palate, the beer may be full for IPA, but is dried considerably by the hop resins, formidable alcohol and reduction of malt presence in the finish, while extending long, peppery and slightly harshly with strong and bitter grip to the gullet.
Dec 11, 2020
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 fl. oz can
Served in a Michigan Wolverines pint glass

This beer pours copper colored with burnt orange highlights. It is topped with a mountain of tan head that leaves rocky lacing.

The smell is resin and malt.

The taste is bitter. I get dank and pine flavors. I get some caramel and toast from the malt. The finish is bitter and lingers.

Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel

This is a west coast bitter bastard. It is a solid beer.
Nov 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Buck_Jones from Michigan

Nov 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4.03 by Hoptometrist from Ohio

Nov 12, 2020
Photo of Valdez_Mescalito
Reviewed by Valdez_Mescalito from Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Short's Super Hoppy Holidays 2020 - 18 pack
12 oz. can dated 10/22/20 - 8.0% ABV
Poured into Dogfish Head branded Spiegelau IPA glass

Look - White, fluffy head, cloudy copper appearance.
Smell - Very malty smell.
Taste - Very bitter, tropical fruit taste.
Feel - Medium body with dry finish.
Overall - A good, bitter IPA.
Nov 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by eljabak from Michigan

Jan 05, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Muss42 from Michigan

Feb 15, 2019
Photo of beersampler6
Reviewed by beersampler6 from Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very nice, citrus-forward, crisp beer from a great local brewery but I didn’t feel it was strong enough to be a double IPA. Pours a nice dark orange with a little lingering head and spotty lacing. Smells of citrus fruit zest, malt and a little herbal hops. Tastes similarly, along with more lemon and orange tastes in the forefront. There’s also a little caramel, bread and dankness. Smooth thin mouthfeel, good carbonation. Easy to drink and fairly smooth overall.
Jan 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.89 by CoolmoJ from Michigan

Jan 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by grm1007 from Michigan

Dec 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.16 by BarryMFBurton from Indiana

Jun 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by Tbone2131 from Connecticut

Feb 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.7 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Jan 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.59 by Gobias316 from Michigan

Jan 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.17 by G-R-Fracassa from Michigan

Dec 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by tpeters from Maryland

Dec 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.31 by Grupatre from Michigan

Dec 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by snowen21 from Michigan

Dec 17, 2017
The Liberator from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 510 ratings