Black Licorice Lager - Short's Brewing Company

techfed87

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a moderately sized head.

Color is jet black. Gives off a VERY anise-full scent, combined with a darker roasted character. I can definitely say that I've never smelled anything like this!

First sip is a bit of a surprise. What appeared to be something smelling quite heavily of liquorice has suddenly turned into a very satisfying, well balanced lager. And being about as heavy as one can get before turning it into an ale, I can definitely say I enjoy its malt complexities as well as its overall mouthfeel. Its carbonation is also nice, giving just enough of that bite that you expect from a drink that should be served cold, rather than at cellar temperature.

Cheers to you, Shorts, you really know how to make them!

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 00:30:24 | More by techfed87

gratefulbeerhead

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-18-2013 23:14:49 | More by gratefulbeerhead

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -22.5%

04-11-2013 15:58:54 | More by DaPan

Circleo12

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

03-01-2013 23:40:57 | More by Circleo12

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.38/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass. No bottle date and I don't even know where this came from. Maybe Marc? Just found it in the fridge and figured it needed to be consumed sooner rather than later.

Appearance - Nearly black body with just the faintest of red coming through when I hold it up. Nice khaki head that clings to the glass and maintains a thick collar with nice surface foam.

Smell - Musty mint leaf aroma. Chocolate malt and just a touch of licorice in the nose.

Taste - A lot more licorice here. Hits immediately with a dose of chocolate. Mint lends a bit of acidity to the flavor throughout. The blend is odd at certain points. I find myself focusing on different aspects with each sip. I don't discern the vanilla, though.

Mouthfeel - Pretty thin. Easy drinking, except for some of the wild flavors. Well carbonated.

Overall - Not sure how I feel about it. Sometimes I like the flavors, sometimes they seem off. As I click Review, I like it. That could change by the end of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:13:57 | More by Alieniloquium

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%

02-24-2013 11:40:27 | More by djrn2

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

02-24-2013 00:55:36 | More by acurtis

BentLegBrewer

Texas

4.66/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Had at tasting. vintage was 06 or 07 one of about 850. first appearance was great, it pour thicker than 10w50 moter oil dark as a cave 50 ft under the earth with a finger width tan to cream white head. aroma is certainly overloads of black licorice, hints of cookie dough and vanilla. taste see above with a short alcohol burn for the back of your throat very cream and full the whole way through. My advice is split it if ya have it it does have a level of sweetness and licorice to it that would make it hard to finish more than half a bomber. Overall a homerun especially in tasting eviroment

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 22:07:12 | More by BentLegBrewer

Andygirl

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

01-15-2013 22:03:36 | More by Andygirl

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%

01-05-2013 04:03:40 | More by t0rin0

ssimpson89

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

10-29-2012 00:40:27 | More by ssimpson89

DaveHack

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -16%

10-08-2012 23:47:01 | More by DaveHack

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I have to admit I put two strikes against this one since it was a licorice beer. However, interestingly enough, there seems to be a nice minty tone to this from the licorice. And thankfully the licorice doesn't overpower things at all. What you get is a nice, evenly robust lager with a nice little flavor ride. Odd as it seems for me to say, this may end up being one of my favorite Shorts brews.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 02:08:06 | More by RblWthACoz

Osky88

1.5/5  rDev -61.2%

08-30-2012 02:03:42 | More by Osky88

Zaphog

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

07-25-2012 19:15:23 | More by Zaphog

JohnQVD

New York

3/5  rDev -22.5%

06-02-2012 14:59:30 | More by JohnQVD

klipper

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-13-2012 21:28:03 | More by klipper

antoines15

Indiana

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-01-2012 00:53:34 | More by antoines15

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a dark muddy brown, almost black. Beige head looks very creamy. Good retention, slim rings of lacing. Looks appetizing.

S: Everything promised on the label is here. Fragrant black licorice is most prominent, but creamy vanilla, mint leaves, and layers of milk and baker's chocolate are all apparent too. Brown bread, toasted malt, grass, and that clean lager smell underneath. The nose doesn't beat you over the head with all this; everything is well-balanced and sometimes subtle, but in a good way.

T: Wave of creamy bourbon vanilla bean at the outset. Mint is more prominent than it was on the nose, as is the layered chocolate. The mint and chocolate really play well together. Dries a bit toward the end, and the black licorice really begins to come out at that point. Brown bread and grass too, though they are more subtle than the nose suggested. Finish is a pleasing wash of warm bourbon vanilla bean and baker's chocolate.

M: Medium bodied. Very creamy and silky-smooth. Moderate carbonation.

O: I'm pleasantly surprised. I've been very critical of Shorts to date. Of the beers that I've had from them to this point, I've felt they've been forced, gimmicky, or too busy and discordant. This beer has done a lot to restore my faith in them. It is delicious and perfectly balanced. Great idea, even better execution.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 04:33:25 | More by ryan1788a5

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Stephen for this beer...

A: Pours a completely opaque black, with about a half finger of tan head. The foam settles quickly and leaves a nice rocky ring around the edges.

S: Wow. The nose is exactly how I imagined it. It smells of mint and black licorice. There is also an bit of mollasses underneath the dominating scents.

T: It starts out sweet and minty, and transitions into big hits of black licorice. But uhh ohh, I'm getting some of that familiar Short's funk. Another refermented beer? The back end is stinging tart, and off flavors.

M: Medium bodied beer. It starts out smooth with the flavors developing nicely, but the twang in the finish is puckering and drying.

O: It's a decent beer, but the funky end is really off putting. I have had so many bad experiences with Short's beers that I will never trade for any of their stuff again. I guess I'm just gonna have to make it out to their brew pub someday.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 18:47:35 | More by trxxpaxxs

hosehead83

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Dark ruby/black with a huge head of tan foam
Aroma-heady mix of chocolate and fresh mint leaves.
Taste-Liquid peppermint patty, chocolate, mint leaves, roasted coffee, vanilla bean. Exceptional flavor and character. Every sip has a different flavor nuance. An excellent, flavorfull brew. Seek it out if you can. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 18:15:10 | More by hosehead83

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottling date. Pours hazy very dark brown color with a nice 2 finger fairly dense tan head with great retention that reduces to a thick cap. Some spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of big chocolate, mint leaves, licorice, vanilla, molasses, roasted malt, biscuit, dark fruit, and a bit of bourbon. Nice and very interesting aromas as I would have expected. Taste of big chocolate, roasted malt, light coffee, licorice, bourbon, vanilla, biscuit, mint leaves, dark fruit, and some herbal spiciness. Some light licorice tartness on the finish; with some lingering notes of chocolate, roasted malt, mint, and licorice on the finish for a bit. Finish is fairly dry. Very nice overall balance of flavors, with no cloying at all. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and slick mouthfeel. Very smooth to drink at 8%. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming on the finish. Overall this is a surprisingly nice and interesting black lager; that is very drinkable and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 05:29:02 | More by superspak

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

01-20-2012 23:33:26 | More by imperialking

Pecafaced

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.4%

01-14-2012 00:36:03 | More by Pecafaced

ngeunit1

California

4.65/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark black color with some brown around the edges and a thin covering of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some light lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted sweet chocolate malts with some anise, bourbon, vanilla, and mint. Really nice and complex nose.

T - Starts out with a mix of sweet roasted chocolate malts with some mint and anise in the background. Through the middle, some vanilla and bourbon come through alongside some more mint and a touch of burnt malt. The finish is a mix of sweet roasted chocolate, anise, vanilla, and a hint of bourbon booze.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a warming dry finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really big an bold flavors, but they come together really nicely and taste balanced. I really like the vanilla been and anise combination.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 06:28:28 | More by ngeunit1