Short's Brewing Releases & Updates (2018)

Seeing cases of Peachy Pom Pom dropped at a couple local stores around here.

 

Same here. Just picked up a sixer of FLOAD and besides the private stance sours this is my favorite yet of the plasma series

 

I wish Gin Barrel MMB was distributed. I need one of those as well.

 

My wife saw the announcement on FB before I did and got really excited until I asked her if it was a Private Stache release. As long as Short's is turning out stuff she likes I get another bargaining chip and a step closer to an extra trip to Bellaire.

 

Loved it as well. Not sure what all falls into the “plasma series” but this and Exeter were amazing. Exeter needs to be back

 

Exeter isn't released every year ? That's one of best sours out there

 

Currently drinking a Slurm Lord (from hoppy holiday pack) side by side with a Boss Tweed (latest release from Meijer). For the life of me I don't understand why one of these beers is highly sought after and the other gets little recognition. For my taste Slurm Lord is at least 10x better. It is full of pineapple, mango, and apricot. It also finishes clean where Tweed has the same nasty chalky aftertaste like m43 has. Slurm Lord also has the perfect amount of hoppy bitterness on the back end, where Tweed is going for the no bitterness fruit juice thing, but still has an unpleasant astringent bite (from the yeast?). Also, the final 2 ounces or so of Boss Tweed is undrinkable (just like M43) due to the massive amount of coagulated crap (protiens?/yeast?/hops?) In the bottom of the can. Gross!

It should also be noted that Shorts hoppy beers really do hold up great! These beers are 8 weeks old now and are just as good as they were when the pack first came out.

 

While I cannot completely agree with your palate on the NEIPA comparison I will say that Slurm Lord is the best of the style that Shorts has bottled thus far and I will also give a big second to the Hoppy Holiday pack. Picked one up earlier in the week and it's tasting as good as I remember it was when I first picked one up back in early November.

As a matter of fact I've got a bottle of Batch 5000 with my name on it staring me down right now (letting it warm just a little from the cold garage). Time to but that beast in a glass and enjoy!!!

 

I'm so glad that I stocked up on Slurm Lord while I had the opportunity. It's still drinking just great and the Mrs. Just loves it. I Thought it was a home run from Short's and will definitely re-up if it makes a return.

 

I've been following a lot of talk about Old Nation in the past couple years and I think you are the first person I've seen mention that chalky taste in their IPAs other than myself. The chalky taste does detract from M43 and BT, but it's surprising to see that aspect singled out as the biggest or second biggest problem with their beers. It's pretty subtle overall, at least to me, and we seem to be some of the few people who taste it.

I'd be interested to see what you think of some of the top NEIPAs on the market. My suspicion would be that you simply aren't a big fan of the style, which is nothing to be ashamed of. We all have styles we don't like.

 

I’m with you on pretty much all of this. Though personally I might not say 10x better, Slurm Lord hits all right notes for me while the bite you refer to to in the Old Nation brews doesn’t sit particularly well with me either. I also think Shorts price point (on all their 6 pack brews for that matter) would have me reaching for Slurm Lord over M43/BT it every time if it were always available.

 

Hoppy New Year's Eve, Short's fans!

Since there's a lull in releases I thought it might be a good time to do an end-of-year wrap-up. One of those good-bad things. We know Short's has been pretty responsive to feedback (*cough GaryJuicylabel cough*) so maybe we can provide some nudges for the coming year.

The "Meh:"
Speaking of Gary Juicy.
Sours. Sours everywhere. Granted, it's not just Short's. God bless y'all who love them, but with the exceptions of Kwikreik and FLOAD, I wish this wave would pass.
Fun Tina and Dr Thrillride. Again, crowd pleasing styles, but keep it to the kegs and off the bottle schedule.
Slurm. Short's first NEIPA release was just okay. It's bigger brother however...


Welcome Back!
Besides the annual releases (Cup A Joe, Juicy Tree, Hopstache, etc) there were some really, really welcome returns from brews we haven't seen in a while: Curl, Publican, Woodmaster, Bloody, Captain Fantasy, Wowee, Pontius. I enjoyed each and every one- especially the Captain!

Variety all over
I think Short's has hit on a winning formula for Variety packs: legendary level brew as an anchor. We saw Superfluid, Spruce, Pontius Road return in Variety pack form. A few from the variety packs I loved: Bim Bam Boom, London Fog, Totally Noche.

Hazy Days
Slurm Lord and Hazy ControversiALE were excellent, to the point I'd easily take them over their counterparts in a second. Honorable mention for Step Into the Haze Oat IPA. Had it at the pub, it deserves a wider release.

New to me
Michigantuan needs to come back again.

AmeriCAN Dream
Melt My Brain in everyone's favorite beach friendly format: cans!

So Good I Almost Cried. Almost.
Pistachio Cream Ale. Yes, it was pub-only so this is kinda a cheat. But it's amazing.

I Want You Back
Anni Ale. The kind that rhymes with mud orange meatline.

 

Pistachio Cream Ale distro would be incredible!

 

My new release of the year was Chief Hopper!

 

OK, I'm lost here...what's the reference I'm not getting?

 

Anni Ale, the blood orange wheatwine version. AKA the original Anniversary Ale.

Yes, I'm still sore it didn't get a release. At least it was available at the pub.

 

I'd like to see psychedelic cat grass mentioned in the conversation. That beer was phenomenal this year.

 

Looks like we're all on the same wavelength...

• I've only had it once, but the Pistachio Cream Ale was one of the best Short's beers I've ever had.

• Psychedelic Cat Grass should certainly not be left out of the conversation. Probably my favorite Short's IPA (just behind Superfluid) with a distribution window that's equally as impressive.

• I'm happy to see other fans of the original Anniversary Ale. The original version needs to make a reappearance.

• Finally, as it may be a long shot, distribution of the gin barrel aged Melt My Brain needs to happen. It's the perfect marriage of barrel and beer.

Here's hoping Short's continues to impress in 2018.

 

Dear Shorts,
If you take no other advice from BA this year, please listen to this request.

 

Don’t wanna be that guy but...
Anyone else experiencing a “softer” Superfluid this release? I’m not getting the same “bite” that made this my favorite...
Could be the dreaded palate fatigue but just wondering if any of you ‘Fluid fans are getting the same vibe. I sure hope it’s just me today and not the beer since I had the wife get me a case of it...