Short's Pandemonium Pale Ale - Short's Brewing Company

Roman5150

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

bottle into pint glass

appearance: darker orange/amber with huge foamy white head

smell: earthy hops, resin, wheat, hay, citrus, lemon, grass

taste: follows the nose with an earthy hop bitterness without too much flavor complexity. however it's very drinkable, very down to earth beer that you can drink without much thought. Notes of rye, breadiness, while being slightly on the watery side.

mouthfeel: not much carbonation, feels like a macro lager

overall: not my favorite pale ale, but a very decent highly drinkable one. I would buy this again but not seek it out, it's a great pale ale but nothing super special. I could session this.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 05:40:17 | More by Roman5150

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

3.76/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - This ale pours a dark pumpkin orange with a thin white head that laces quickly but the rim has some serious retention. Scant amounts of carbonation available.

S - sharply hoppy without hop-bombiness, poignant but not strong, a malty backbone provides support but doesn't particularly add to the aroma

T - The hops pick up in the taste, at least initially. The first tongue splash makes you think this beer is going the (D)IPA route, but just for a split second. The hops plateau and the malt creeps up and balances ideally.

M&D&O - quite drinkable, the elements bland nicely, especially as it warms a bit. Blithely complex, with no pretension. A well crafted beer. Shorts...PLEASE COME TO NEW ENGLAND PERMANENTLY!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 20:45:42 | More by sinstaineddemon

MichaelNickerson

Michigan

3.66/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - clear, golden yellow with a nice two finger head

Smell - extremely hoppy with a hint of floral notes

Taste - dry and bitter with a hint of floral

Mouthfeel - very low carbonation and dry mouth

Overall - this was my first american pale ale and was a great beer to start with. Would like some more fruity or floral taste, but the typical hops with bitterness was sufficient for an above average score

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 15:19:30 | More by MichaelNickerson

finstadp

Michigan

4.19/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This was the first beer I have had from Short's Brewing Company and I was very impressed. The appearance was amber colored and murky. The smell or aroma was fruity and specifically cherry flavored. The mouth feel was very light and refreshing. The flavor has hoppy with fruit notes. This was a great beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 20:05:57 | More by finstadp

wyatt13

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Another Short's brew that my dad picked up while in Michigan recently. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my tulip glass.

A - An intentionally vigorous pour results in a blossoming two-and-a-half finger white head that sits proudly atop a honey-hued base. Retention is good and offers promises of substantial lacing to come.

S - Decent amounts of hops of the orange and grassy varieties, with a bit of earthiness or nuttiness. A relatively heavy malt backbone for a pale ale plays a significant supporting role.

T - Caramel malts and hops are fairly balanced here, with a lingering sweet aftertaste that is reminiscent of honey. I definitely feel that the hops are taking more of a backseat than I was anticipating in this one.

M - Low on the carbonation, but with a fuller mouthfeel than expected. Very drinkable, despite bitterness that expands throughout the bottle.

O - Not your typical pale ale, largely due to the different malt profile. Don't go into this one expecting your typical pale ale, but approach it with an open mind and I think you will be more satisfied.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 02:52:25 | More by wyatt13

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle was poured into a standard glass that was the only thing available in this condo.

Appearance: This beer poured a minimal head that has reduced to a thin layer. It is a copper color with great clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass. Some lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: Fruity, caramel and bready malts, and citrus hops.

Taste: Pretty standard pale ale. The bready and caramel malts balance out the citrus flavors and tingly hop bitterness. The glacier hops are nice.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, tingly bitterness, medium bodied, medium carbonation, a little dry, and easy to drink.

Overall: Pretty nice pale ale. I enjoyed this one a lot.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 18:54:18 | More by Flounder57

kylehay2004

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

No head on a murky brownish orange body. Orange peel, earthy hops, hint of lemon aroma. Flavor is more resiny and metallic with hints of orange and lemon citrus. Pretty simple overall and borderline drinkability. Medium body and moderate to high carbonation. Not much to say about this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 04:22:32 | More by kylehay2004

mactrail

California

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an attractive golden amber in the glass. Average head and lacing. Hops in the nose but not especially fragrant.

Some of the browned biscuit taste. A touch of darker malt with a fain winey flavor. The carbonation and mouthfeel are well, beery. Slightly sharp with a hint of pepper. Rather thin. Quite a bitter aftertaste that lingers long.

This stuff is just plain bitter without much else of interest. For the bitter enthusiast, this will do. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Grapevine Liquors in Denver.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 01:22:50 | More by mactrail

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled 8/7/2012. Pours lightly hazy golden orange color with a 1 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of orange, pineapple, mango, caramel, bread, herbal, floral, and light pine. Pretty nice aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of orange, grapefruit, pineapple, caramel, biscuit, herbal, floral, toast, and light pine. Light herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, caramel, biscuit, herbal, floral, and light pine on the finish for a good bit. Good hop flavor complexity, with a great bitterness/sweetness balance; zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good pale ale. Nice flavor balance and very smooth to drink. A very pleasant and enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 02:54:55 | More by superspak

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

i dont know, shorts has yet to impress me, despite what ive heard about them. this misses the mark a bit to me. it pours a fine enough looking hazy honey color, with a lasting white foam head. the nose is okay too, sweeter for a pale ale, a little fruity, maybe apricot, dried apricot, and a pineapplely hops as well. the flavor is funky in the wrong way though. it stars with a bland and frankly bad english malt profile, that the delicate fruity hops cant quite overcome. and the bitterness doesnt show its face until the end, which hurts this significantly i think. the sweetness takes over for one or two seconds too many. chemistry is just off. not bad, but just average. feel is okay too, well enough carbonated, and about a medium body on it, but it just doesnt refresh me, or fill me up, or quite get me drunk. like i said, i dont know. its an okay beer, but its lacking any sort of wow factor.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 05:05:08 | More by StonedTrippin

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a nice dark copper with a two finger white head. Carbonation bubbles and sediment continue to rise consistantly. Leaves a good amount of lacing.

S - Wheat, Citrus, and that's about it. Not impressive at all.

T- Medium amount of hops, water, slightly toasted malt, and that's about it. Tastes like an extremely weak IPA. Realistically thought, it is very easy to drink and pleasant.

M - Medium body with heavy carbonation and very high creaminess.

O - Overall, I'm surprised at the fact that this is a pale ale. In short, this is an easy to drink beer with some good flavor. I would have it again, specifically for a party.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 03:34:33 | More by SometimesIfart

Alextricity

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appears to be dated 11/01/11 .. 11 months old, and actually tasty.

Appearance: Pours looking super hazy. When held up to the light, the center of the glass is orange while the sides of the glass are more yellow. Nice off-white head sticks around, as does the lacing.

Smell: Unusual. I'm not sure what it is. Almost smells like a wet trunk, but it somehow manages to not be disgusting. There's a nice malt and hop aroma buried beneath that odd smell. Not the highlight of Pandemonium.

Taste: Gives the wet trunk vibe as well, but it's quickly made up with a nice balance of hops and malt. The finish is bitter with some bready malt flavors. Quite enjoyable.

Feel: Has to be the highlight of this beer. This has a pretty creamy feel, and also yields some nice carbonation.

Pleasantly surprised. I liked this beer more and more with every sip. This doesn't taste much at all like typical pale ales I've had in the past, so I recommend it pretty highly for that reason alone. Interesting for a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 19:56:57 | More by Alextricity

tectactoe

Michigan

3.59/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the Park Bar in Detroit. Nice opaque golden-amber color with a decent sized head for this style of beer. The nose hit you good, very floral and earthy with lots of hops, hop oils, citrus fruits (mango, orange, pineapple), and maybe a little malt. Pandemonium hits straight forward with a nice dose of hops (starts out much like an IPA), but as the hop sting fades, the floral and fruit flavors start to come out, along with a malt flavored finish. The ending is sweet and mildly fruity as the hop bite from the beginning may still be lingering in the background. The grains are somewhat noticeable, but pale in comparison to the amount of hops. The body is nothing special, medium-thin with a decent amount of carbonation.

Overall, a very nice Pale Ale with quite a hop bite that mellows into a more complex assortment of floral flavors. Very drinkable, would definitely have again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2012 14:12:14 | More by tectactoe

KDawg

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from tap into a pint glass. Pours a dark orange color with a small head.

Nice and pungent aromas consisting mostly of hops and various citrus tones. What it lacks for in complexity it makes up with some nice depth as well.

Medium bodied with a good feel, but is really lacking on the mid and finish. The flavors are dominated by hops and citrus as well

A nice pale ale, but lacking in complexity and depth of flavors on the feel. Still, very drinkable and enjoyable for a hot day.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2012 20:38:22 | More by KDawg

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a pretty nice pale ale. Good hop tones on it that keep it interesting enough, but well within the style parameters. A bit too hoppy to make it a session ale or one that I would consider an easy drinker. But it's nice. I'll never have an objection to trying anything from Short's.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 00:32:31 | More by RblWthACoz

blackcompg

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from their 12oz bottle -

Appearance - Poured a finger of golden head, body was a gorgeous opaque orange amber, very nice lacing left after the session.

Smell - Whole grain bread, earthy hops, and some minerals in the nose.

Taste - There is a bready malt character for the entire quaff - starts with floral and very earthy hops, baked bread, then light minerals long into the finish.

Mouthfeel - On the lighter side, medium carb provides alot of crispness and sharper edges - cleansing the palate to finish slightly bitter and dry.

Overall - This is a very good and uniquesly refreshing APA, a good thirst quencher, and very sessionable @ 5.4%.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 16:15:22 | More by blackcompg

alexanf

2.73/5  rDev -25%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A: Pours a dark copper.

S: Hints of fruit, zest, caramel, and hops.

T: Bitter start that transitions into a dry, zesty wood finish.

M: Smooth, but lingering bitterness.

O: I'm a huge Short's fan, but, I wouldn't go out of my way to drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 02:43:32 | More by alexanf

Beer_Runner

4.18/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

No enjoy by date on the bottle.
Slow pour into a standard pint glass.

A: Poured to a half-finger of khaki colored head. The brew is on the darker side of golden and very clear.

S: The aroma is mild and consists of sweet molassas and a bit of sweet caramel malt. There is also just a wiff of some underlying floral hops.

T: The taste begins with an earthy hops bitterness and then the sweet malt joins in to bring the flavors into a very good balance. It ends with a pleasant sweet malt aftertaste.

M: It has a medium body and is very smooth.

O: This is a pale ale that can standout in a crowded field. The balance of hops and malt is there; yet, each retains its unique taste. Also, the sweetness of the malts is very pronounced in this pale ale. And, that sweetness works very well here.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 22:56:28 | More by Beer_Runner

brystmar

New York

2.28/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Received as an extra in trade a few weeks back.

Pours an amber color with red hues. One finger of white head, good lace and retention. Decent aroma, though it's a bit heavy on the sweet malts. But that's where the praise ends...

Taste is awful. Bitter, dirt-y. Hints of sweet malt in the background, but mostly just terrible. Can't say I'm surprised though; this is about par for the course for a Short's beer. Time to meet my drain!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 02:46:37 | More by brystmar

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Perhaps there is some variability of this beer, batch to batch, but the pint I am enjoying at the brewery right now is truly magnificent.

A hazy copper coloured amber, with reasonable head (albeit no lacing). Beautiful aroma of tropical fruits, with focus on mango and pineapple. Flavours are well balanced, with caramelized malt sweetness leading directly into "west coast" hop bitterness. Citrus and tropical fruit elements make it an excellent APA (imo).

It's no Huma Lupa, but what is? Definitely a beer I'd choose again(if Huma wasn't an option!)

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2012 00:36:25 | More by hopsolutely

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours medium orange with a slight head that yields some surprising cream colored clingy lace.

Typical signature Short's sourness in the nose, like a reminder that beer is living thing. I also get a little tropical fruit.

Soft malt, bitter up front, some watery fruit and malt. Funny enough, the softness of this beer makes this easy to drink, although it is a touch mushy. Bitterness and funky malt work well with clean bitterness. Slight rind (that might have gone a bit off) in the end.

Medium bodied, under-carbonated.

I buy this brewer when I see it as I'm never sure if it will show up in MA again. One of the few brew that I could pick the brewer out blindfolded by smell and taste. The sourdough bread of brewers! This one is...different. I like the structure, and the bitterness in this beer. Unique for the style, and you need a bit of an open mind or a seasoned palate to, well, to...get it. Still, this review needed an edit from me. As I sipped the pint, and it warmed and..evolved, I grew to like this more.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 23:13:55 | More by OtherShoe2

Treebs

Illinois

1.88/5  rDev -48.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

12 oz. bottle served in a pilsner glass. Thanks to Holland (Eric) for the extra a while back. Found this guy floating around in the back of the fridge and decided to crack it open.

A: Pours a clear copper color with a solid light yellow head forming on the pour. The head slowly recedes to a thick collar with nice sheets of lace left behind.

S: The first whiff is not pleasant. Spoiled honey with slight souring note. Souring in a gone bad though. The bready malts are almost sourdough in nature.

T: There is a slight compost heap flavor with spoiled hops upfront, but those quickly fade to pale malts. The finish is sourdough bread malts with some unpleasant.

M: The unpleasantness of the nose and taste make this guy hard to get down. Luckily the flavors exit the taste buds rather quickly so swallowing isn't too bad of an option.

O: Well I don't know. It looked so good and I've liked other Short's beers. Their Mystery Stout is really good, but this one was just not good. The malt bill was not pleasant in any way, shape or form and the hops were just not there. Not balanced. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 23:33:17 | More by Treebs

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

2.63/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle courtesy of Stephen. Thank you again for sending me a variety of Short's stuff to explore! Into a Magic Chouffe tulip that's backlit by the sun fading through the trees. This weather lately has been simply spectacular and helped to shake me the, albeit mild, winter doldrums.

Darker copper orange pour crowned by a good two fingers of tall pillowy white. Retention is good and lacing is disappointingly low. When first poured it's a particularly good looking beer.

Smell is predominantly sourdough bread. Lingering beneath is under-ripe honeydew melon. A malt driven pale on the nose to be sure.

Taste is much the same. Big sourdough breadiness and an undercurrent of bitter melon that's not juicy, but rather dry and not yet fresh. Body is medium and carbonation is on the lighter end.

Overall, this is slightly below average pale. Not something I would go out of way to drink again, but happy to have had the chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 00:54:48 | More by BarrytheBear

Bendurgin

Maine

3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This one pours amber with a thin layer of white head.

Rich bready malts with a little bit of of floral hops in the background. Nothing special. Hints of caramel in the background. Nothing really special here. The pallet has a little bit of a doughy bread flavor with some floral slightly bitter hops in the finish.

The body is light with somewhat softer carbonation. Overall this one is nothing special. Drinkable but I don't know if this is something I would grab again.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 05:12:24 | More by Bendurgin

andrewinski1

Maine

3.08/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass. There is a nice copper, amber color. There is a small off-white head.

The aroma is slightly sweet pineapple, with some decent sweet malt. The aroma isn't particularly strong.

The taste is heavy on the malt, with a hint of sweet hop. The finish is malty; not quite crisp.

The body is light to medium. There is a nice lively carbonation.

This is fine, overall very middling. It's a serviceable pale ale for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 04:47:26 | More by andrewinski1