Short's Huma-Lupa-Licious IPA - Short's Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at the brewpub then again at Ashley's in Anne Arbour.Was good at both places, but superior grapefruit flavours at the brewpub. Cloudy grapefruit with a white head. Good hoppy aroma, very good bitterness. Served cold. Lots of lace. Creamy mouthfeel but still bitterness in the mouth.Good representation of style, and still unique.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2009 11:58:20 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright harvest orange with golden honey colored highlights. The three finger crown easily qualifies as eye candy. The craggy upper surface looks like a moonscape and the foam is as sticky as all get out, which is proven by a glass that is beautifully blasted with lace.

As expected (given the color), lightly toasted malts take some of the citrus zesty edge off the American hops. White grapefruit and orange are most prominent. We aren't talking the olfactory overload that is uber-fresh Bell's Two Hearted, but the aroma is mighty pleasing if you like da hops.

Via the website, Short's told me to expect 'enormous amounts' of hops that hit 'like a punch in the face'. While that isn't quite what I'm getting, Huma-Lupa-Licious is a highly hopped IPA that can compete with all but the very best. Then again, I have no idea how old this bottle is. I'm pretty sure it's pretty fresh.

There isn't as much toasted breadiness and nuttiness as feared. Probably a single-digit percentage of Munich, no more. Hop flavor and bitterness is becoming cumulative as the ounces fly by, which is always nice. Yes sir, this little beauty will give most hopheads that alpha acid smack and tickle that they crave.

In addition to white grapefruit pith and peel, resinous pine is present as well. The final pour murks up the liquid something serious. It also adds even more flavor and bitterness. Looks like the taste score deserves a bump after all. Never fear, the drinkability score was there already.

There's no letdown when it comes to the body/mouthfeel. It's at least medium for the style and is expertly bubbled. It's getting so that I can almost predict this score by the sound of the pour.

Short's Huma-Lupa-Licious IPA grew on me from first gulp to last. This is definitely a fresh bottle and is a hoptasty treat of the highest order. It's also the second best American IPA brewed in the state of Michigan. Care to guess which is the best? The brewers have every right to be proud of this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 13:03:03 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A fantastic IPA and truly yet another winner from Shorts. This bottle was consumed on the afternoon of 05/09/2009 and poured into a pint glass.

The rich velvet like amber pour was a touch cloud and capped by a wonderful light light of white that reached a height of around of two inches before dropping down with copious amounts of side glass lacing. Rich and biting citrus hops across the nose, bitter with a sweet orange peel like zest to it. Super smooth flavor here with a nice medium bodied feel and more then ample carbonation. The biting hop note mellowed mid palate as some nice balancing came into play with light buttery like malts and a light hint of grain before a smackdown of hops came across my tongue and shattered all hop of anything but a luscious and dry finish.

Such a super drinkable and wonderful IPA. Classic in the west coast style this was a drinker all the way. I would dine on this one daily and above all, a fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2009 00:45:18 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Thorpe for this one.

A: The beer pours a hazed golden amber color with a finger or so of white head.

S: The hop character is very grassy and herbal, perhaps even slightly vegetal. There is a touch of citrus zest to it and a decent amount of sweet bready malt.

T: Decently bitter with a lot of herbal and piney hop flavors. Somewhat sweet with flavors of toffee and bread. A touch of grassy hop flavor with a lingering bitterness on the finish.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: A little bit too bitter without the hop flavors that I generally like in IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 06:12:58 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a moderately-hazy copper color with an off white head and some good lacing. The nose brings through some really nice pine and citrus hops. The taste isn't quite as powerful, as a bit of malt comes through, replacing some of the hop flavor and bitterness that I would have expected. Pretty tame. The feel is nice and this drinks quite well.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2010 00:31:04 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a murky toffee color with plenty of yeast in suspension; the tightly packed head retains well and leaves quite a few shards of lace behind

Smell: Luscious grapefruit aroma but there is also a bit of biscuity malt

Taste: After the biscuity malt lays down the underpinnings, the grapefruit and pine take over and just build through mid-palate; after the swallow, the bitter flavors continue their ascendence but I still taste some of the sweet biscuity malt underneath

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A really fine IPA, but I would have expected no less from Shorts

Thanks, Tyson, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2009 23:06:28 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to kzoobrew for sending me this one!

Pours a hazy honey orange with a 2 inch puffy off-white head that settles to a small cap. Nice foamy rings of lace mark the drink down. Smell is of solid biscuit-like malt, pineapple and its juice, and citrus zest hops. Taste is of citrus zest hops up front with a nice malt flavor on the finish. There are also some tropical fruit flavors that show up in the taste. Mild hop bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. A decent level of carbonation but the beer seems a bit flat to me. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a slightly subdued smell that is actually very hop forward on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 01:22:47 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Selling the beer with high praise, the brewery makes some big statements on their label. The focus on the hop flower yields the gripping citrusy bitterness of the cone with supple support.

Medium to dark gold in color, the beer boasts a mild hoppy haze and a frothy white head of great staying power and broken rings of lace as the beer fades. It's a fine looking IPA that doesn't steer from the visual path very much.

The forefront of hops is evident in the nose. Grapefruit, oranges, and fresh-cut grass allow for an citrus and herbal display that seduces the olfactory senses with sharpness and mouth whetting effect. A brief search for malts yeilds a light scent of baking bread and mild caramel.

The one-sided balance that the nose promises is met with taste. Hop flavor starts juicy and citrusy as the supple sweetness of malt gives the fruit flavors a plumper and juicier impression of taste. As the beer traverses over the middle palate, the sharpness of citrus grows, the malt sweetness recedes further, and the grassy herbal notes rise. A malty-dry finish of muddled grasses, pine resin, and citrus pith spearhead the throat-gripping bitterness that the label suggested.

Medium in body at first, the carbonation and crusty malt lift and the dryness of hops, alcohol, and malt memory deliver a quick and fleeting finish except for a lingering citrus bitterness that crispens heading into the next taste.

If I were a craft beer enthusiast of ten years ago, this would have likely been the showpiece for hopcentric beers, similar to Goose Island's IPA and Anderson Valley's Hop Ottin'. But in today's combative IPA world, this one may get lost in the shuffle.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 23:34:35 | More by BEERchitect

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is amber and hazy with a thin white head that leaves a lot of lacing on the glass.

Aroma is hoppy but light with mostly piny with some earthiness in there as well. Minimal malt or sweetness.

Beer is medium to light in body and very bitter, finishes a little dry. Forward is a little thin but there are some pine notes in the midpalate. Its a decent IPA, very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 03:57:48 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle.

Pours golden with a white head. The aroma is pretty strong, with a mix of piney and resiny hops. The flavor is more of the same with some earthy flavors mixed in as well. There is a good amount of bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 19:35:59 | More by Mora2000

MasterSki

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Dave (d0b) for throwing one of these my way. Served in my trusty Surly pint glass.

A - One and a half fingers of blonde-white foam that dissipates slowly and leaves some nice but spotty lacing. Murky orange-gold color with some nice glow to it. Pretty standard looking IPA that could have used a little more volume.

S - Pretty potent - I could smell it a foot from the glass. Copious sweet citrus and tropical fruit flavors from the hops, but also a significant amount of caramel maltiness, which is surprisingly for such a fresh brew. There's also a little fresh-cut grass in there. Again, pretty good but unspectacular.

T - Bitter! Starts sweet enough, but morphs into a palate-busting hop monster. The first sensation is the sweet caramel and fruit flavors, but then it just hits you with hoppy bitterness and pine that sticks around long after you swallow. It's a mellower version of Kuhnhenn Extreme IPA in that sense.

M - Lots of active carbonation tingle - might be a bit to lively for me. Goes down pretty smooth and easy, and leaves a bit of cottonmouth to go with the residual oily hop resin.

D - This is pretty palate fatiguing but otherwise is pretty easy drinking for any lover of hops. ABV is hidden well, and carbonation isn't over the top.

It's a very good IPA for those in the mood for hoppy bitterness. Nice contrast to the other Michigan single IPAs, which are more tropical fruit-centric.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 00:53:33 | More by MasterSki

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.1/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This was a bit of a slow gusher, luckily I had about two seconds before it would have foamed up out of the bottle so I was able to get it into my glass. A careful pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a three-finger thick, lightly tanned, off white colored head. The beer is a nice, rich copper hue that shows a brilliantly clear, bright copper hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of cheesy, dank hops, ample grapefruit, tangelo and a backdrop of herbaceous pine. Some biscuit and caramelized malt notes are noticeable deep in the aroma if you dig for them. There is definitely something slightly off and cheesy (there is a certain mustiness too) about the aroma, though it is not too distracting.

Biting bitter hops are noticeable from the get go and linger on the palate long after each sip. Essential grapefruit zest oils, a touch of lychee and tangelo notes play a secondary role to the bitterness and pine like flavors found in this beer. There is a sort of an over-ripe cheesy quality, or perhaps almost butter like note to this beer that is mostly dominated by the hop character, but still manages to subtly influence the flavor profile, and not in the best way. This has a fizzy carbonic texture to it that is perhaps a touch too much, but this doesn't detract too much. The hop character in the finish is actually fairly harsh; it is almost too green and vegetal, and I am wondering if there is something else influencing this.

This beer is clearly quite well hopped, in fact it is so well hopped that it almost hides the subtle infection that is taking hold. Unfortunately the infection is influencing this beer with cheesy notes and a harshness to the finish. While the hop overload make this still drinkable, the infection in this Shorts beer doesn't work as well as it did in some of the others.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 15:58:05 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Acquired via trade from jayli, so a big “Thank you” goes out to her. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color, with a short dense off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains floral hops, fruity citrus and caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts out strong burst of grassy hops bitterness followed by some citrus and caramel sweetness. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy and provides a good balance but the hops presence clearly dominates. The after-taste is hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, good kick, very good representation of style, this is a very solid IPA worth pounding down for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 03:24:58 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this from AutumnalDave, cheers! Review based on notes

Pours a honey/bronze with 1 finger of pearl colored head. Very good head retention & lacing

S:Piney, leafy & floral hops & biscuitty malt. Starts strong but fades as it warms

T: Resiny & grapefruitty hops, plus breadyness up front. Flinty dryness, grapefruit, biscuitty malt & pineapple are all there as this warms. Finishes with leafy & grapefruit hops, dryness & slight astringency

MF: Semi-chewy with low carbonation, good balance

Very drinkable but astringency hurts this a bit at the finish

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2009 03:51:10 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cap label says July 3rd. Glowing orange, high clarity. Nice crown of thin, intricate lacing. About a finger of foam that maintains at least an unbroken skim on the surface.

Resiny, touch of alcohol, fruity citrus in the nose, orange if I had to pinpoint it. First whiff was pretty dank, but it seems to have mellowed in the last 5 minutes.

Big caramel malt flavor with candy orange slices, and bitter grapefruit pith in the aftertaste. More malt forward, but still a balanced IPA with the citrus I crave. Medium bodied, even feel that serves as a vehicle to showcase the hops and underlying lmalt flavors. Could have a couple in a sitting, but not a heavy session beer. Thanks to Jimmy Two Hands for this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 00:56:45 | More by emerge077

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle - I don't know if I can contain a whole theme park in my mouth... thanks to Roke87 for the cross-continent trade.

This beer pours a cloudy medium golden orange colour, with one beefy finger of creamy, foamy ecru head, which leaves a decent forest profile of lace around the glass in its wake. It smells of bitterly fragrant citrus and pine hops, and dry, dusty, cracker grain. The taste is bitter pine and citrus rind hops, and musty, crackery malt. Only a slight warming is perceptible, given the ABV. The carbonation is moderate, and sprightly, the body light, and surprisingly quite smooth. It finishes fairly clean, the bitter citrus/grass hops muscling out the weaker grain representation.

A good, hoppy IPA, with what I'm beginning to see as a Midwest hop profile trend (at least to samples shipped way out West) - less grapefruit, more grassy, herbal, but bitter all the same. Enjoyable, and very drinkable, obfuscated alcohol aside.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 23:23:03 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 12 oz bottle purchased at the brewpub in mid-July.

A: The IPA is an amber color, a few shades of orange away from being the bottle it was served from. The ale is fairly clear with a sturdy orange glow. Half a finger of head is precariously lacing around the mouth of the glass.

S: The nose is a hefty dose of hops, pine and citrusy in a resiny masterpiece. Citrus peel and a dash of pepper round out a beautiful nose.

T: Ahh, peppery hops. This one is not lacking in that department. The pine and orange peel are abundant, heavy-handed and domineering throughout. At least until the caramel malt rears it head. The breadiness is a great pairing with the hops, able to withstand the sheer brute force. The hops really stand out though, coating with a resinous finish.

M: The ale is dominated by spicy hops, of both citrus and pine origin. If you aren't into hops, move along, there's nothing to see here.

D: I am so glad that I picked up a six pack (to go with a growler...). The hoppiness, especially when fresh, is a great draw.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2009 01:03:48 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Gallagher's in Kalamazoo and split a pitcher with a friend. This is a good, dry and bitter IPA. Sure, it's less drinkable and approaches the low-end of DIPAs, but damn it's tasty. It's a rich, not overly-fruity grapefruit with bitter orange zest and underlying floral, herbal and earthy notes - delicious. I hope I can eventually find this beer outside of Michigan.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2009 17:24:40 | More by tempest

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been trying a lot of "okay" beers lately, so I'm pulling out the huma in the hopes I'll get something powerful. Plus I want to see how it is compared to the draft I had.

Decent. Still has some strong hop tones, but the subtle hop characteristics seem to have departed us. Seems to lean more towards a one dimensional ride. I mean, in all fairness, the pint I had on-tap was so fresh it had probably been kegged a week or even a few days prior. I mean, how can you beat that.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 18:02:06 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Starts with a modest head and settles to a thick ring with some inconsequencial minute bubbles in the center. Leaves ring lace after each sip. Mild haze on the golden color.

Mild starting aroma. Shows good balance.

The flavor is surprizingly bitter given the smell. Highly carbonated with a strong white pepper swallow. The body is as one might expect for an IPA. Long lingering bitter aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 18:51:47 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to SaucyA for this brew.

Pours a nice hazy dark golden yellow color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is pretty hoppy, with some malts, nice touch of citrus, very nice pine notes. The taste is hoppy, alittle malty, some citrus, really liking the pinyness on this brew. Medium body, very chewy, bitter brew. Very drinkable, this one is a joy to drink, thanks Adam.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 02:25:27 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a nonic)

A- This beer has a glowing orange body with a slight hazy to it. There is a strong carbonation of tiny bubbles supporting a thick creamy beige head that last for most of the beer.

S- This beer has a fresh pungent hop pellet aroma with a slight fishy quality to the huge punch of hops. There are some nice pineapple weed aromas that finish the sniff.

T- The big pungent green hops masks a slightly sweet pale malt flavor that pops through as the beer warms. The finish is a big green pungent bitterness that lingers after each sip.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a tight fizzy finish that enhances the already big hop bitterness.

D- This is a nice big IPA. Not a lot of depth just big and pungent. It did have a nice freshness to it.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 13:47:54 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ouncer, purchased at Spirit Haus in Amherst Ma. No freshness dating to be found.

Pours clear medium golden. moderate of white head, stays well, respectable fine strands of lace.

Citric hop nose, grapefruit and resiny goodness.

Full hop crunch in effect here. Grapefruit, piney resins and bitter fruity goodness. From Michigan, but tastes like its straight out of San Diego. More then worthy and quite enjoyable AIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 03:14:33 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a big fluffy 1+ finger head that fades semis slowly, with a bit of lacing, over super clear toasty amber orange color.

Nose has plenty of nice hops, lots of citrus, bit of tropical fruit, light fresh hop resin, grapefruit, pineapple, guava, lots of fresh tropical fruits. Underneath is the slightest hint of malts.

Taste starts a bit creamy actually, a light malty base starts to come through, bringing a slight sweetness, but that is quickly cut down by the heavy hops, a strong bitterness starts to come through, lots of fresh musty hop resins, some tropical fruits, lots of citrus, light orange rind, hop oils, it even starts to get a little astringent, and the malty base has disappeared really quickly, leaving the hops alittle flat, almost like drinking hop water. The malts were begging to come though first, but then were quickly drowned by the hops and left for dead somewhere else. The bitterness lingerers practically forever, leaving a slight astringent taste, as well as some pine, citrus, and orange zest.

Mouth is a bit lighter bodied with good carbonation.

Drink is OK, it gets pretty bitter and a bit astringent, but drier finish, although a flat finish with no malts to back it up.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 03:11:47 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

a - Pours a nice orange amber color with two inches of off white head and moderate carbonation.

s - Smells of citrus hops, fruits, caramel malts, and bready malts. Very nice balance.

t - Taste is very bitter up front. Tastes of bitter piney and citrus hops, followed by a little bit or caramel malts.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth.

d - This was a decent IPA. I thought the smell was very nice and balanced with some great hops and malts, but the taste was a little too bitter for me. I thought the bitterness overpowered the taste. Would give it another shot though.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2010 01:34:09 | More by mdfb79