Short's Autumn Ale - Short's Brewing Company

Dope

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark amber with a good sized, dense and fizzy tan head. Great head retention and lots of fluffy lacing on the glass.

S: Malty, full of stale bread. A little caramel. Some herbal hops floating around.

T: Lots of medicinal, herbal hops up front mixing with a little caramel. Grainy, stale dark bread in the middle with a bit of nuttiness. A flourish of bitterness and more herbal hops in the finish with another brief hint of that caramel and nuts. Lingering drying resinous hops between sips.

M: Medium bodied, drying on the back end.

O: On the hoppy/bitter side for an ESB, definitely "americanized". Pretty plain and simple - largely unspectacular. Drying bitterness actually detracts here from the drinkability of a normal ESB it seems. Pretty decent regardless.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 03:41:34 | More by Dope

mactrail

California

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Brownish amber in the glass. Plenty of coarse foam. Really pleasant nose of roasted grain and fragrant hops. Quite light bodied with a sudsy mouthfeel.

Pronounced nutty flavor is the best feature at the first sips. It is soon submerged in the bitterness. Thin and sharp, followed by a long bitter aftertaste. It almost tastes like some old cinnamon spice is in the mix, making for a dirty taste in the back of the throat. Still, if you like a more bitter ESB, this one may be appealing.

From the 12 oz bottle bought at Grapevine Liquor in Denver.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 00:01:34 | More by mactrail

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Hazy copper color with a decent white head. Head retention is fair, but there is a nice amount of lace on the glass.

Biscuit-like malt up front. Some floral hop notes, a bit earthy as well. Suggestion of stone fruits.

Flavor is very similar to the nose. Biscuit malt, with minimal sweetness. Hop flavor is floral, with a hint of citrus. Bitterness balances things well.

Medium body, with soft carbonation. Easy to drink. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 02:44:59 | More by Bierguy5

CMUbrew

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams pint

A: Darker golden in color. White head vanishes quickly. Not much carbonation visible.

S: Light piney hops and a soft maltiness behind that.

T: The light piney hops are there. A pale and slightly caramel maltiness balances pretty well.

M: Mouthfeel is pretty nice. Medium body, soft, with good carbonation.

O: A decent beer. Not really the most exciting style, but I wouldn't mind having several of these to session.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 04:49:47 | More by CMUbrew

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From my Michigan haul:

Into a pint glass:

A: light hazy brown/copper colored body that leaves a small white headd that lasts twenty seconds before it dies into the body. The body is too dark for any carbonation to be seen rising. Minimal light lacing speckles the sides of the glass and clings nicely.

S: based around the malts and some light caramel here and there.

T: brings all of that back and adds in a bit of apple, very nice and subtle.

M: light and crisp with nothing harsh on the tongue, sessionable

O: this is a very good ESB that I would have again but can't necessarily find in the state of Maine.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 17:58:50 | More by kangarooAdam59

TGZ32

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at shorts brew pub on vacation

Sidenote: I love shorts beer, and love ESB's.. therefore this is incredible.

A: A slightly hazy light copper color.. leaves a little head but mostly bubbles and fades away.

S: Sweet malty smell with tropical fruit.. just a hint of it.

T: Crisp and clean for a ESB. really hits like a amber ale and the fruit and wild stuff come in at the finish for me... excellent

M: Solid and on par with ESBs ive had, very good. Chewy and fruity.

O: Thank you sir may I have another? Will continue to buy sixers of this magical beverage until they run out and am forced to wait until next year

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 17:49:45 | More by TGZ32

jkrich

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from an undated 12 oz. bottle: hazy, orange and brown, much like an autumn leaf. An off-white, foamy head quickly dissipated leaving the most lacing I have seen in quite a while.

Upon opening the bottle, the sweet, syrupy and complex aroma wafted upward. After the pour, the aroma was still inviting.

The flavor has a solid malty, caramel flavor with a nice hop complement to keep it refreshing and quite quaffable. A very faint hint of herbal tea can be detected in the aftertaste.

The ale was rather thin-bodied with a lingering bitter mouthfeel and robust carbonation.

The ESB style may have some of the most diverse interpretations. Some are malt driven while others push the envelope with hoppy bitterness. This one straddles the middle. While not hugely complex in flavor, the flavor profile keeps it interesting; an ideal quaffer for the beginning of Autumn.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 22:57:07 | More by jkrich

theecaleb

Alaska

3.65/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Lightly chilled 120z bottle, poured into a pint glass.

A: Cloudy, Amber in color. Great lacing, dirty white head.

S: Nothing fancy, does not really have any fall/spice/pumpkin smells that stand out.

T: Thicker than expected, decent taste of hops, strong spice taste but I can not determine what spice I'm tasting.

M: Good carbonation, thick and fairly rich, bitterness of hops stand out.

O: Not bad, better than the average autumn brew. It is definitely more of an ESB than a autumn ale. To me, most of shorts beers taste the same, hoppy. I would recommend this beer to a friend.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 19:36:31 | More by theecaleb

Lauthaha

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I drank this beer straight from the bottle.

Appearance: Through the amber glass after a few sips, I see a relatively strengthened head of about one cm inside the bottle. Sticky lacing on the side from which I am not drinking. Looks good to me!

Smell: Sappy citrus. Some coriander perhaps, and a lot of sour molasses. Sweet bread or fruitcake. Heavy on the malt nose.

Taste/Mouthfeel: I was a bit repulsed at first: a desired quality in an ESB, for me anyway. Bitter, sweet and sour all at once...the syrupy flavors intermingle with grapefruit-like sour citrus tones. Bready on the palate, but goes with very smoothly, leaving behind very little residue. A clean sip.

Overall: A win for Short's Brewing, again.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 23:36:45 | More by Lauthaha

Mora2000

Texas

2.65/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to Pawola22 for sending this beer my way.

The beer pours a hazy yellow-orange color with a gigantic white head. Looks like this may be another Short's beer with infection issues. The aroma confirms what I expected, there is something off with this bottle. I get some toffee and caramel notes in the aroma, but I also get a funky note I can't really identify. The flavor is similar, with some iced tea, toffee and lighter bitterness, as well as some light funk. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 03:47:10 | More by Mora2000

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

$1.99 for a 12oz bottle from Sicilano's

A: clear, chestnut color, good lacing, thin veil in end
S: full nose, fruity (mango)
T: medium bodied, hard to rate because it's an 'autumn ale' but the style is an ESB, dominates with fruity hop finish and a bit of hop bitterness, some roasted malt body
M: medium bodies, strong fruit/bitter hops
O: unusual style, need a bit more malt , odd style for an autumn ale

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 00:35:26 | More by wisrarebeer

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.53/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Short's Brewing Co.
Autumn Ale
Deschutes snifter

A: Pours a nice clean amber color. Half a finger of off white big bubbled head, fades quick. Cloudier with hazy notes. Not a terrible looking beer.

S: Smells of sweet malts and low hops. There is some fruitiness in there. But mostly malt: caramel and toffee are noted.

T: A little bit of bitterness on the tip of the tongue, but then it's a spicy malt beer. Like others have mentioned, I have had better ESBs but this isn't horrible. Sweet & bitter finish.

M: Light leading to medium.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 14:57:34 | More by inlimbo77

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Color is a clear amber color with a 1/4 inch of slightly opaque colored head. Lacing is good but minimal.

Smell is not bad for an ESB more sweet with caramel malts, little to no herbal tea quality, and a nice hop presence.

Taste is definitely one of the better ESB's more so an amber ale than an ESB. I get caramel and toffee sweetness next to a bitter hop presence that gives it a chewy mouthfeel. Light to medium at best but ABV is spot on.

Overall if I was a local I would consider getting it again but to go through the trouble of shipping from MI it wouldn't be worth a repeat visit.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 23:21:02 | More by DrDemento456

hopfacebrew

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from undated bottle to pint glass. The beer pours a light amber with a 1 finger bubbly head. Some retention and lacing but not much to report. The aroma is very malt forward with hints of toasted barley, toffee, and sweetness. A mild hop character as well, earthy. The flavor also starts with a heavy dose of toasted malt, toffee sweetness. Mildly bitter with a medium blend of earthy hops. The beer finishes light, smooth, and a lingering raisin-esque sweetness. Easy drinking. Lighter end of medium bodied. Overall, more malts than I anticipated from an ESB, though the beer is easy to drink and solid.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 14:09:34 | More by hopfacebrew

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled 10/12/2011. Pours hazy reddish orange color with a nice 2 finger dense light khaki head with nice retention that reduces to a thick cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of big orange, biscuit, lemon, spices, grapefruit, floral, grass, caramel, and yeast. Pretty nice aromas here, but they are a little bit odd and overly yeasty. Taste of big orange, grapefruit, biscuit, caramel, spices, herbal, grass, floral, and yeast. Decent amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, floral, herbal, grass, and spices on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a slightly creamy and smooth drinking mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with hardly any warming on the finish present. Overall this is a nice ESB offering. Very drinkable with good flavor balance.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 07:40:40 | More by superspak

Beaver13

Colorado

2.28/5  rDev -37%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12oz bottle. Pours a hazy tea-like amber with a small off white head that quickly goes to a thin film that leaves some lacing.

The aroma is sweet cola and maple with grassy hops.

The flavor is sweet cola, maple syrup and some fruitiness with a decent bitter grassy hop finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, I'm not a fan. It tastes like a hoppy maple cola.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 05:52:48 | More by Beaver13

elNopalero

Texas

2.9/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer pours a hazy tan, like a light-brown paper sack or a glass of apple cider. Actually, the cider description might be a good fit since it also has an old musty aroma, somewhat like cat pee or cider must.

Maybe—maybe—if I strain I can taste some honey sweetness. It has a heavy mouthfeel that lasts longer than I want it to.

I’m wondering if this is an old bottle by this point in the year—wish I could find a bottled-on date, as I just purchased this for consumption. Should know better to drink an autumn ale now since it’s December.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 04:11:08 | More by elNopalero

phaulie03

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Light amber color with minimal head, maybe a finger worth.

S-Before pouring, a distinct yeasty malty smell. Once poured a more distinct malty, sweet, toffee smell.

T- Initial taste is dominated by the malt flavors. A slight, hoppy bitterness is present and increases through the finish. Final taste is of mild bitter hops and a subtle sweetness almost raisin-like. Kind of unusual for an ESB...typical for shorts I guess.

M-Despite being predominantly dominated by the malts, relatively light, easy drinking. Hardly notice the alcohol.

O- Not enjoying overly hoppy beers, I enjoyed this very much and thought it was interesting enough to try again. The hops and malt interplay well. Good for someone trying to get into hops perhaps.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 05:17:20 | More by phaulie03

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle a deep amber color with a finger of off-white head. Little lacing.

Aroma of caramel malts and toffee and just a hint of citrus hops.

Taste was much like the aroma. Caramel malts, toffee and light hint of brown sugar and citrus hops.

Medium bodied and smooth with a moderate carbonation.

An easy-drinking amber from Short's.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 03:32:05 | More by Monkeyknife

BeRanger

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a hazy amberish brown color - about one finger of tan head.

S- Caramel/Toffee with traces of nuts and citrus.

T- Carmel malts starting off, with the same kind of after-taste added with some toffee/pine nuts. The finish is pretty smooth, not too much of a hoppy bite.

M- Light beer with hints of carmel, toffee and nuts.

O- Overall it wasn't a bad beer - one you could have one or two of but doesn't really have drinkability of a lot of the other Shorts Brews.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 02:30:15 | More by BeRanger

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark amber color with thin lacy cap of foam which clings to glass.

S: Aroma is of citrusy grapefruit with a bit of malts sweet and inviting.

T: Sweet malty blend into the light hops floral and spicey.

M: Medium body rich and smooth.

O: Overall a good beer to drink and relax and just chill not to high of ABV borderline sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 01:01:15 | More by nukem5

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

an amber colored ESB with a lovely 1 and a half inch head. smells like an english pale ale, with dusty malts and caramel notes. tastes fresher and more crisp than the nose, with a moderate hop bouquet in the finish. not your usual fall beer, but i like this one for the season. a bit filling with a heavier body keeps it from being a great session, but all in all its a pretty good beer, my first from short's

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 23:44:45 | More by StonedTrippin

claminat420

Michigan

2.33/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

(bottled on 8/23/11)
A- pours a hazy brown color with a tan head. left a nice amount of lacing with a hardy pour.

S- yeasty. as a brewer when you transfer your beer to the first fermentor to the second and you get that crud on the bottom of the first fermentor. that's what this beer smells like.

T- still yeasty but not as much as the smell. not getting much caramel malt. just biscuity yeast with some english hops. goldings i bet. lame.

M- medium/ light bodied. good carbonation.

Drinkability- drinkin my bro's remaining 5 beers and hopefully never have to drink this beer again.

Overall- i love short's but this beer sucks!!they are my favorite MI brewer but this is nothing to brag about. if i wanted an esb i would take southern tier's harvest which is actually bitter. i notice more than usual yeast at the bottom of my glass which makes me feel like it's a homebrew.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 02:31:34 | More by claminat420

33nickadams

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brown amber color with about a half finger of head. A medium amount of bubbles float to the top. The smell reminds me of melted butter and slight vinegar. (I've had Bloody beer before from Short's and it actually reminded me of it a bit.) The smell is a little off-putting. The taste has a nice bitterness up front, then followed by a surprising earthiness. A nice combination. It has a medium mouthfeel that seems appropriate. Overall, interesting taste and the smell is a little strange. I'm not sure I would get this every year.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 01:42:19 | More by 33nickadams

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up in a mixed of Short's for $11, overpriced. Tan-orange color with a white head, looks good. Smells like a malty ESB but nothing jumps out as special, average. Taste is malty and reminds me of an English ESB so that's good. This was a decent beer but for $11 I expect a lot more.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 22:17:41 | More by ArrogantB