-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Evil Urges
Short's Brewing Company
- From:
- Short's Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #129 - ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #20,278 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 10.82%
- Reviews:
- 40
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 03, 2023
- Added:
- Mar 30, 2012
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 38
(Whispers) Hello, friend. Welcome. You look thirsty. Like really really thirsty. Like you haven’t had a drink in days. Mayhaps this Belgian Dark Strong Ale sweetened up with Amber Candi Sugar will scratch your itch? Thick like molasses and simultaneously sweet and bitter, Evil Urges manifests your deepest desires. Go ahead and give in, resistance is futile.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by K-Dog:
Reviewed by K-Dog from Michigan
4.27/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
When I had fresh several years ago I didn't care for this so aged a bottle for about a year, what a difference it made. Smells of molasses chocolate and bourbon. Taste is like a sour bourbon stout. For those of you who rated this low when had fresh I suggest aging a couple for about a year and then review it again. This was delicious.
Oct 18, 2015More User Ratings:
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio
3.98/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 ounce can, packaged 12/28/22. Another brew from Brutaltruth, thanks! Served in a chalice, the beer pours a dark brown color with about an inch or so tan head that stuck around a while. There's also a good amount of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells like clove, candi sugar, dark bread, dark fruit and some chocolate. I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some molasses, anise and toasted malt flavors noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick and creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this, certainly worth picking up a can or 2 if you're able to!
Nov 03, 2023Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida
3.11/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.11/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Black body, creamy tan head with mixed bubbles; poor cap retention leaves island of micro dots, thin ring and a few spots of lace. Nose is clove and banana. Overly sweet malt; strong sweet bananas; clove; no hops, no alcohol. Light body; moderate minus carbonation. Overall, watery for abv; super sweet and not good tasting…drain pour.
Jul 19, 2023Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
3.86/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz canned 12/28/22 (6 months ago) poured into a chalice at fridge temp, no ABV listed on label. The beer pours dense darker brown with medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and scattered bubbles. Slight lacing. The aroma is mild with Belgian yeast and sweet toasted malt. The taste is bittersweet toasted malt with notes of anice, clove and a dose of burnt sugar caramel. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. If this batch is 9% ABV like the BA database suggests, it doesn't show in the aroma or taste. Overall, pleasant BSDA to my tastes.
Jun 09, 2023Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
3.74/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
nice belgium style dark ale great taste all thru the drink
Apr 14, 2023Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio
3.93/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This nice little brew pours a deep dark
brown with a very nice head of khaki foam that settles to a thick ring,
thin clumping layer, and shows some very nice lacing. Nose of clove,
dark sugars, dark chocolate, and subtle date and fig. Flavors follow the
nose with a nice note of molasses, candy sugars, fig, date, bitter chocolate
touches, and clove. Mouth feel is medium, medium light carbonation that is
lightly prickly, and a warming finish.
Overall, a nice little BSDA
Cheers
Mar 02, 2023brown with a very nice head of khaki foam that settles to a thick ring,
thin clumping layer, and shows some very nice lacing. Nose of clove,
dark sugars, dark chocolate, and subtle date and fig. Flavors follow the
nose with a nice note of molasses, candy sugars, fig, date, bitter chocolate
touches, and clove. Mouth feel is medium, medium light carbonation that is
lightly prickly, and a warming finish.
Overall, a nice little BSDA
Cheers
Reviewed by BigIronH from Michigan
4.25/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark oily nearly cola brown. A nice oatmeal head rises and falls to a decent ring. Nose is bready malt, molasses, honey, and cracker. Taste follows suit. Overall, a very good dark Belgian ale.
Jan 21, 2023Reviewed by woemad from Washington
4.36/5 rDev +15%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +15%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle received courtesy of Whyteboar. According to the stamp on the neck, this was bottled on December 6, 2019. First bottle or can I've seen in years that lists no abv percentage. Odd.
Poured into a tulip glass, this was the color of night, even when held up to direct light. There was about a finger's worth of tan foam up top, and it took a few minutes to drop, leaving lots of lace.
Roasted dark malts give off a lightly coffeeish aroma, which vie with scents reminiscent of dark fruits and toffee-like sugary sweetness.
Taste is similar to the smell, except that there's an additional clove-like spiciness that makes itself most noticeable at the finish. Really nice tasting example of the style - it's not approachable and complex. There's a little bit of a sense of alcohol heat, but only just, and it's well in the background. I was actually surprised to look this up and find out it's as high as it is.
Medium bodied, carbonation is a little low, with a less lively mouthfeel than a great Belgian-brewed example of the style. That's something I find typical of most American versions, and this is no different in that regard.
Nice beer! Maybe a tad more sweet than some others in the style, but it's not to a point where I'd dock any points. Drank this first thing upon getting home from work, and it's awesome to do so, but this would've made a nice dessert beer, as well. Thanks, Whyteboar!
Apr 17, 2020Poured into a tulip glass, this was the color of night, even when held up to direct light. There was about a finger's worth of tan foam up top, and it took a few minutes to drop, leaving lots of lace.
Roasted dark malts give off a lightly coffeeish aroma, which vie with scents reminiscent of dark fruits and toffee-like sugary sweetness.
Taste is similar to the smell, except that there's an additional clove-like spiciness that makes itself most noticeable at the finish. Really nice tasting example of the style - it's not approachable and complex. There's a little bit of a sense of alcohol heat, but only just, and it's well in the background. I was actually surprised to look this up and find out it's as high as it is.
Medium bodied, carbonation is a little low, with a less lively mouthfeel than a great Belgian-brewed example of the style. That's something I find typical of most American versions, and this is no different in that regard.
Nice beer! Maybe a tad more sweet than some others in the style, but it's not to a point where I'd dock any points. Drank this first thing upon getting home from work, and it's awesome to do so, but this would've made a nice dessert beer, as well. Thanks, Whyteboar!
Rated by MICHAELPERRY1966
4.41/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very malty stouty taste with a caramelize after tone. Sweet finish.
Jan 25, 2020Reviewed by Raime from Korea (North)
3.83/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Part of a Kroger mix a six for $9.99. Continuing the Shorts charade.
Look - Opaque brown. Dark. Some light but not a whole lot. Carbonation is barely readable. Low stick.
Smell - All the Belgian without the mustard. Candies. Fruits but not hop fruit and instead dark, ripe fruits. Sugar.
Taste - Some immediate booze levels since it's warmed up. Followed by the banana, dark fruit and sugar.
Feel - Moderate bodied with a high sweetness. Carbonation is medium. Swallows only a touch boozy with some burn.
Overall - Solid Belgian. Had the alcohol been toned down more it would've scored higher for sure since it had all the flavor. Nice flavors and an easy, slow drink. Try it.
Jan 24, 2020Look - Opaque brown. Dark. Some light but not a whole lot. Carbonation is barely readable. Low stick.
Smell - All the Belgian without the mustard. Candies. Fruits but not hop fruit and instead dark, ripe fruits. Sugar.
Taste - Some immediate booze levels since it's warmed up. Followed by the banana, dark fruit and sugar.
Feel - Moderate bodied with a high sweetness. Carbonation is medium. Swallows only a touch boozy with some burn.
Overall - Solid Belgian. Had the alcohol been toned down more it would've scored higher for sure since it had all the flavor. Nice flavors and an easy, slow drink. Try it.
Reviewed by Attlebridge from Indiana
3.34/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.34/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Look: Deep dark, almost charcoal; very little light gets through. Dark brown halo around the glass. Little head and almost no lacing on glass.
Smell: Very heavy on chocolate and coffee
Taste: **In full disclosure I'm more of a light ale and IPA drinker so take this section with a grain of salt if this is your preferred style.** This is where this beer fails for me. Very smokey, almost a soy sauce flavor. Not unpleasant, but not something I would seek out intentionally. Isoamyl Acetate is noticeable but not over powering giving it a slight banana ester.
Feel: Thick, almost syrupy, given the color it suits well. Light carbonation and very slight alcohol bite.
Overall: A good beer for it's style, and something worth sipping on in the cold of winter while watching the kids shovel the driveway.
Jan 20, 2020Smell: Very heavy on chocolate and coffee
Taste: **In full disclosure I'm more of a light ale and IPA drinker so take this section with a grain of salt if this is your preferred style.** This is where this beer fails for me. Very smokey, almost a soy sauce flavor. Not unpleasant, but not something I would seek out intentionally. Isoamyl Acetate is noticeable but not over powering giving it a slight banana ester.
Feel: Thick, almost syrupy, given the color it suits well. Light carbonation and very slight alcohol bite.
Overall: A good beer for it's style, and something worth sipping on in the cold of winter while watching the kids shovel the driveway.
Reviewed by Valdez_Mescalito from Michigan
4.06/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Update 1/21/23:
January 2023 Specialty Release - 6 pack
12 oz. can dated 122822 (12/28/22) - 9.6% ABV / 45 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded tulip snifter glass
Look - Pours a thick and fluffy, cocoa-colored head. Pitch black appearance. 5/5
Smell - The scent is mostly dark fruit. Dark cherry, plum, raisin. 4/5
Taste - The taste is the same as the scent, but more subdued. No alcohol taste. 4/5
Feel - Medium to thick bodied with a full mouthfeel and finishes with some dryness. 4/5
Overall - Very nice dark fruit flavors. Can you complain? 4/5
Jan 06, 2020January 2023 Specialty Release - 6 pack
12 oz. can dated 122822 (12/28/22) - 9.6% ABV / 45 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded tulip snifter glass
Look - Pours a thick and fluffy, cocoa-colored head. Pitch black appearance. 5/5
Smell - The scent is mostly dark fruit. Dark cherry, plum, raisin. 4/5
Taste - The taste is the same as the scent, but more subdued. No alcohol taste. 4/5
Feel - Medium to thick bodied with a full mouthfeel and finishes with some dryness. 4/5
Overall - Very nice dark fruit flavors. Can you complain? 4/5
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.38/5 rDev +15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle into a tulip snifter. Bottled 11/24/15.
Pours near black, opaque, with a one and a half finger head of darker tan foam, lots of soapy lacing. The smell is caramel, chocolate, molasses, Belgian yeast, raisins, prunes, figs, some malt, candi sugar, some bread, a little black pepper fully warmed. A sweet aroma kind of tucked underneath all that. The taste is similar- caramel, molasses, prunes, raisins, less chocolate and figs than the nose, but more malt, yeast, dark bread. A brief flash of hop bitterness, some sweetness on the finish. Very smooth, full bodied for the style, well carbonated, refreshing, creamy.
Going to be a ratings buster on this one, I think this is a terrific beer and this was my 4th of the sixer. So, I'm pretty convinced. Great flavor, a really complex aroma, great feel and body. Highly enjoyable offering from Short's. Well worth a purchase, the next time it comes around.
Sep 30, 2016Pours near black, opaque, with a one and a half finger head of darker tan foam, lots of soapy lacing. The smell is caramel, chocolate, molasses, Belgian yeast, raisins, prunes, figs, some malt, candi sugar, some bread, a little black pepper fully warmed. A sweet aroma kind of tucked underneath all that. The taste is similar- caramel, molasses, prunes, raisins, less chocolate and figs than the nose, but more malt, yeast, dark bread. A brief flash of hop bitterness, some sweetness on the finish. Very smooth, full bodied for the style, well carbonated, refreshing, creamy.
Going to be a ratings buster on this one, I think this is a terrific beer and this was my 4th of the sixer. So, I'm pretty convinced. Great flavor, a really complex aroma, great feel and body. Highly enjoyable offering from Short's. Well worth a purchase, the next time it comes around.
Evil Urges from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
198 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!