Short's The Woodmaster - Short's Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

dark reddish tinted amber with a sparkling clarity to it. Lots of carbonation was visible rising up to the surface throughout the session. There was a good three inches of white pillow like foam

Lots of spices are evident on the first pass through and this is more or less to be expected. Nice notes of cinnamon, spiced apple and pear, and a touch of nutmeg. There was a good amount of sweetness mixed in with caramel and a roasted nice like smell coming off it as it warmed. Deep underling grain and malt base was apparent as well. Very sweet and entirely malt driven, this was not terrible, just underwhelming. Good bit of spice added in and a nice bitter hop driven finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 01:40:22 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

2.1/5  rDev -44.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Thanks to Iain for sending me this one.

A: The pour is brown in color with a tall off-white/khaki colored head.

S: Sour. What. The. Hell. Some nail polish remover, vinegar, and toasted bread. Just an awful combination. A bit of cherry cough syrup on the finish, too.

T: The flavor is a bit better as it lacks much of the nail polish remover and cough syrup. But, it's still vinegary and sour. A bit of toasted malts and bread and a little nuttiness.

M: Medium in body with a medium to high carbonation.

O: Dear Shorts, learn how to bottle a fucking brown ale without it going sour

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 04:56:09 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to jale for gifting me this bottle. Served in a Mikasa tulip.

Pours a very dark brown with a short, stubby off-white head and some spotty lacing. Galaxy swirl on top. The nose brings some light cherries and molasses along with some brown sugar and sweetened malt. Also a bit nutty. The flavor has a decent amount of maple and brown sugar plus some light nutty character. Mild toffee and caramel plus a bit of light cherry. Mouthfeel is medium and quite chewy. Nothing too great about this, though not bad either.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 00:29:33 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

1.35/5  rDev -64.4%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Thanks to GrandCruDrew for sending me this one!

Pours a murky dark brown with a 2 inch beige head that fades to a small cap. Nice rings of lace on the drink down. Smell is of hearty bread, roasted nuts, and maple. There is also a funky gym socks smell that ruins everything. I think this bottle may be infected. Taste confirms the infection. This is a sour beer on first sip, but I can taste the malty bread flavor, roasted nuts, and slight maple syrup. The infection issue is awful when combined with these flavors. Carbonation level is average. Overall, I bet this is a really good beer when it's normal but this was definitely infected.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 01:30:39 | More by UCLABrewN84

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy color that perfectly matches the bottle in which it was stored; a nice cap persists and dots with lace

Smell: Some caramel, a definite toasted pecan aroma but another aroma, too; I think a previous BA called it sausage, but that is too generous, I'm afraid

Taste: Opens with a lot of caramel and a building maple presence that turns nutty by mid-palate; unfortunately, the pecan flavors seem a bit rancid to me; after the swallow, the off flavors persist to the finish although at the very end, the toasted pecan returns

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body (creamy) with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I had much higher expectations for this beer; perhaps age has brought on the rancid flavors (as they would for Christmas pecans one kept around until summer); still enjoyed the adventure and look forward to trying the last of my Shorts beers soon

Thanks, hoppymeal, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2008 23:47:09 | More by brentk56

drabmuh

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a becher glass. Beer is brown but light brown, forms a thin broken head. Beer is clear and carbonation is low, no lacing left on the glass.

Smells sweet and woodsey, like slightly old wood. There is a liquor smell to this beer.

Beer is sweet and has a liquor like quality to it, a rather strong liquor like quality, bourbon almost. I guess the point of this beer is to taste like bourbon, congratulations, you did it, you really did. Drinkability is fine, mouthfeel is fine. I guess its an OK beer but not a repeat for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 00:05:52 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to RBlaszak for sending me this bottle.

The beer pours a dark reddish-brown color with a tan head. The aroma is very nice. I get some maple and caramel as well as some strong brown sugar notes.

The flavor is also very nice but is more complex than the aroma. I initially get a lot of brown sugar, caramel and maple notes. There is also some oak and pecan notes in the flavor. The alcohol is noticeable and the beer is very easy to drink. There is also the slightest bit of tartness in the flavor but I am not sure where it is coming from.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 20:24:53 | More by Mora2000

emerge077

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sample courtesy Jay23, via trade with Hoppymeal. Thanks!

Around an 8 oz. sample, poured into a Chimay chalice. Deep orange/brown body with pretty crimson highlights. Consistent head with spindly lacing. Good clarity on the first pour. Plenty of visible carbonation streams.

Dark and exotic aromas of vinous berry, dried apple, maple, with the mild lactic elements of a Flanders red.

Fairly mild apple tartness, brown sugar, a unique nuttiness (presumably pecan listed on the label), definite 100% maple syrup tones, and dried figs rounding it out. Bittersweet. The maple gives it a nice oomph in the body, along with a forest-like element. Taste=4.25 if I could.

Ultra malty, smooth, and medium bodied overall. There's a twinge of alcohol under the maple goodness, which slows you down some, but it's not distracting. Very creative and highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2008 20:19:17 | More by emerge077

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 25.7 oz bottle, from the 2007 bottling; purchased at the brewpub three years ago this week. # 631 of 936.

A: The brown ale is dark, a syrupy chocolate/caramel look, obscured and opaque. A thin head, mildly off-white, is just a thin band around the glass. Not back for being as old as my middle child.

S: Maple syrup, toasted pecans, and caramel. The richness of the aroma is very reminiscent of Utopias, the maple syrup adding a luxurious texture to the smell. Brown sugar adds to the sweet spiciness of the nose.

T: A little long in the tooth, but just a little. That age has mellowed out maple syrup a spell, coaxing more out of the nuttiness. That nuttiness is chewy and darker, a full flavor that segues into the nutty caramel flavors of the base brown ale. The maple syrup is sweet, a dark richness against the nuts. A little thin at times, the ale still holds up remarkably well. The maple syrup aspect lingers, a dry sweetness that packs a boozy punch at times. An excellent beer to nurse through.

M: The maple syrup and pecan are a good combination, nutty and sweet. Spicy brown sugar and raisins add to the wall of flavor. Damned, this one held up well.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 00:49:50 | More by akorsak

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My last Short's, thanks to grub.

Light fluffy 1/2 finger head and light lacing, murky dark molasses brown colored beer with barley light getting through.

Nose brings lots of interesting aromas, fruit, dark dried fruits, a light sour malt aroma, some toasty brown malts, creamy malts, little brown sugar, maple, toasted pecans, little raisin, little syrupy, crystal malts, weird but interesting.

Taste starts a bit sweet, malty, fruity, again toasty brown malts, creamy malts, light reddish malts, light sour malt as well and a bit spicy, little bit of booze with a bit of warmth and tingle, then maple syrup, a bit of dark fruit and hints of raisin, molasses, toasted pecans, it comes through a little bit syrupy and creamy. Finishes a bit boozy and slightly anesthetized, pretty syrupy in the mouth, little sweet still, and a bit malty, also some lingering maple and dark fruit.

Mouth is a bit heavier bodied, lighter but decent carbonation, and some warming and tingly booze, a fairly big beer.

Overall pretty good, creamy and a bit syrupy though which seems weird but not as bad as I thought, interesting malts, good fruits, nuts, maple, syrupy, and all those flavors add a weird light sour tart flavor, a bit boozy but designed for that I think, a big beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 22:33:57 | More by jlindros

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle. Huge thanks to rlcnmeyer for the DLD hookup!

Pours a clear dark ruby red, very thick off white head forms, settles down to a thick ring, good retention as it keeps up a solid layer, no real lacing on the glass though.

Smell is nice, very nutty, heavy toffee/caramel, lots of raisin and dark fruit, figs, bourbon, wood, vanilla, very rich and malty aroma, nice and biscuity, smells good.

Taste is better, very fruity and nutty, pecan pie, maple, alcohol, sherry, vanilla and oak, cherry puts, toffee and caramel, biscuit, more nuts, really cool flavour profile.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Smooth going down, this is nice stuff. Thanks Randy!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 19:02:34 | More by Viggo

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to StormKing47 for hooking me up with a 12oz bottle of this. Poured into a snifter, the brew appears a dark brown color with more of a mahogany clarity about it as it is held to the light. It displays a finger of tan head that quickly recedes to a thin film across the top and leaves fingers of lace sticking to the glass.

The aroma has a bit of tangy alcohol that I have noticed is fairly similar to other shorts brews. It mixes with some nutty grain sweetness. A bit of toffee and vanilla mix with a solid amount of brown sugar. As it warms up, it gets a little toasty smelling and some herbal hops emerge with a note of sulfur across the back.

The taste is herbal and nutty with a grain flavor that is toasty. Some brown sugar flavoring is present along with more nutty grain aspects that never quite get to be sweet. The alcohol is prevalent with a warmth and mild fusel character. The finish is primarily a mixture of herbal hops and a bitterness that includes enough alcohol to almost make this medicinal with a hint of raw woodiness.

This is a medium bodied brew with a moderate amount of carbonation. It is quite bold and shows hints of the character and ingredients displayed on the bottle. However, the description sounds better than this brew tastes. I think if the alcohol was toned down there could be more focus on the flavoring without it getting caught up in all the alcohol character.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 01:10:14 | More by stakem

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

afdempse hooked me up with a growler from Short's. Thanks Adam!

A: Thin, brown hue with only a small head that leaves little lacing.

S: sweet malt, nuts, wood

T: The beer has a pleasant taste, with maple syrup really coming through. There is also a good roasted pecan flavor in there. The downside is the sweetness, which is overabundant.

M: A moderately thin body and very sweet throughout. Also, I would prefer a bit more carbonation.

D: An interesting beer and fun to try. Best in small quantities.

Serving type: growler

08-13-2010 15:21:20 | More by Huhzubendah

largadeer

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle shared by ipa247 back in January. Thank you, Jeff.

Semi-hazy dark amber with a small off-white head that recedes to a thin collar. Toasted pecans leap out of the glass, slightly overwhelming the toasted malt foundation. Maple syrup is noticeable on a lesser level, lending only a touch of sweetness. Toasted pecans and maple follow through on the palate, though it's not especially sweet. Flavors of toast and roasted malt are stronger mid-palate along with moderate bitterness. This is enjoyable, but I find myself wishing it were less attenuated to balance the slightly chalky and astringent character of the nuts. The finish is dry and lightly bitter with a lingering nutty aftertaste. Pretty good, a different yeast, something with more of an English ale character, would have made this more enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2010 20:06:16 | More by largadeer

gford217

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of hoppymeal poured into a snifter.

Pours a dark cola brown with hints of amber around the edges and a small off-white head that doesn't linger long and leaves only a swirl along the top with no lacing.

The maple syrup is abundantly evident in the aroma, which is very sweet overall, with caramel and toffee coming through as well. There are hints of both the nuts and some booze which stings the nose slightly.

I think I would describe the taste as a slightly more abrasive version of the nose. It's got the maple syrup which sticks to the palate along with the alcohol which makes its presence felt in the finish especially. The overall character is slightly toasty with the pecans showing up in the background. As it warms, the abrasiveness fades a good bit and the flavors come together a bit better.

The mouthfeel is, not surprisingly, syrupy, and get almost cloying with the big maple syrup presence. The body is pretty heavy because of that and the carbonation is pretty light.

This is not one of my favorites in the imperial series (pretty high bar) and the sweetness is enough to limit the drinkability. Overall, it's a tasty brown and definitely better than most, just not quite as good as most of the other Shorts beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2009 01:52:10 | More by gford217

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle courtesy of jale (thanks Jim!). I've been looking forward to this particular beer more than many other Shorts creations.

It pours dark and murky, amber brown with what looks to be floating bits of translucence. A couple fingers of tan foam than never sink below 5mm or so.

It smells malty and a little sickly sweet, a noticeable hit of maple syrup, some light roast too. I want to say pecan, but only because it's on the label. It doesn't really smell nutty to me.

It's definitely easy to get the maple syrup in the flavor, evocative of several maple barrel aged beers from Founders. And in come the pecans, delicious! This really tastes just as advertised, much more than expected from the aroma. A little noticeable ethanol but not too much.

Thick and coating, almost oily feeling mouthfeel. Matches the flavors well, a beast of a beer and delicious. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 02:24:11 | More by TurdFurgison

tpd975

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to jdubfl for bringing all the Short's beers in for a tasting.

A: Pours a nutty brown hue with no real head. No retention or lace.

S: Aroma of nuts, caramel, brown sugar, and maple.

T: Nice big nutty pecan flavor up front. Slight maple and a nice blend of spice. Earty, with a hint of bitterness. Kind of like the bitter you find in the pith of pecans.

M: Medium in body, on the flatter side when it comes to carbonation.

D: Good, unique which is a trend in the Short's Imperial series.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 00:07:27 | More by tpd975

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 6/29/2010. On tap at Shorts. Pours a dark amber brown with barely any head. Aroma of sweet nutty malt. Flavor of maple (but not so much maple sugar), nutty pecan, also a strange saltiness (mushrooms?). Not overly sugary or malty as I was expecting. Still, it didn't quite sit right with me. An interesting beer to try, but I'd suggest a small sample!

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 01:28:06 | More by LilBeerDoctor

alexgash

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle from the brewery. I lost the trading card hang-tag, so I don't know the bottle number.

Pours a muddy, varnished brown. Small, gauzy, beige head. Some lacing. Nose has a bit of a sour edge to it. Tart cherry mixed with vinegar--kind of Flemish Red-esque. There are also maple syrup and graham cracker malt notes. I'm not sure if the Flemish Red character was intended by Joe, but hey, I like Flemish Reds!

Taste starts with semi-sweet cookie dough malt with a woody edge. Graham cracker mixes with light fruit notes. Subtle vinegar and tart cherries (Flemish Red or Oud Bruin) throughout. Woody, nutty (pecans?), with maple syrup and a faint smokiness in the finish. Lingering vinegar and cherry pits. Medium-bodied, with a smooth feel. I didn't expect this to be so Flemish! Reminds me of Goudenband.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2009 23:33:11 | More by alexgash

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Clear dark brown with a nice 1/2 inch of tan colored head with excellent lacing.

S - Well it smells very sweet with pecans, toasted malts, syrup, and a touch of brown malts. Maybe some chocolate but I got to reach for it.

T - Alcohol is pretty strong in the taste which is kind of a let down. Quickly it moves to pecans and then finishes sweet with what I hope is the syrup. Wished it was as balanced as the soft parade...

M - Medium to heavy. It's weird because I can taste the alcohol but I get little to no burn.

Overall I was kind of excited to try this, then reviews of bozzyness let me down a bit, finally the confirm that it taste boozy really sucks. So far my least favorite shorts beer. I guess to do an imperial brown ale with this high ABV then avoid boozy flavors is impossible.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 05:43:49 | More by DrDemento456

GbVDave

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into two St. Bernardus goblets. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist! Extra special thanks to Mentor for this from our recent trade! Also, thanks to Mentor for mailing me the hang tag/trading card. You rock, Paul!

Bottle # 496 of 936
Date Brewed: 3.20.07
Batch No: 289
Date Bottled: 5.9.07

A: Pours a muddy milk chocolate mixed with Grade B maple syrup color. Small khaki head gives way to thick bubbly ring and ample lace.

S: Aromas of tangy fruit, maple syrup, toasted nuts, cola nut, molassas, honey, vanilla, and pipe tobacco.

T: See above with a hint of brandy and/or rum, brown sugar, roasted nuts, and dry toasty malt.

M: Full bodied and sweet with the perfect amount of dry astringency.

D: Damn! We loved this beer! So rich and earthy, hopefully this becomes easier to find in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 19:50:24 | More by GbVDave

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass. January 2012 bottling. Pours lightly hazy dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of chocolate, toast, caramel, nuttiness, maple syrup, biscuit, toast, and earthiness. Pretty nice aromas with decent strength and balance. Taste of chocolate, biscuit, toast, caramel, nuttiness, maple syrup, herbal, and light earth. Lingering notes of chocolate, nuttiness, toast, caramel, biscuit, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Pretty good flavor complexity and balance; not as much maple syrup as I expected, but it was noticeable. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly creamy and slick mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a good imperial brown ale. Solid flavor complexity and balance; and quite smooth to sip on for the gravity. Enjoyable stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 04:11:17 | More by superspak

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter.

3.5 A: Murky dark brown color. One and a half fingers of tan head with average retention given the ABV and some spotty lacing.

4.5 S: Wonderful! All the best aspects of a brown are here - plenty of nuts, toasty, caramel, toffee, and brown sugar. Raisin fruitiness and tobacco. Then the maple syrup kicks in making this unique and the pecans kicks the nuttiness into overdrive. Booze is well hidden. Very well done.

4.0 T: The taste is sweeter than the nose suggests. The caramel comes out to play and brings the toffee with it. Nuttiness is there is ample amounts again with brown sugar, toastiness, raisin, fig, and tobacco. I don't know if it is partially due to the maple syrup, but there's a sourish sweetness in this. It isn't off-putting or anything bad though.

3.5 M: Medium body. A bit lighter than I would prefer for this beer. Good moderate carbonation. A bit chewy. Reasonably creamy and smooth.

4.0 D: I like me some brown ales and this is a good one. All the best qualities of a brown and some interesting additives to keep it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 01:20:09 | More by DavoleBomb

oline73

Maryland

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a murky reddish brown with a finger of off white head and good retention.

Smell: Very sweet, mildly tart malt with a ton of dark fruit notes. There is also a molasses note with some wood and spices.

Taste: Not quite as sweet as the smell, but the sweet malt and dark fruit notes are still there. There is a lot of alcohol and a mildly tart flavor to this beer as well. There seems to be a woodiness to this beer as well. Finish is bitter with a lot of hot alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with smooth carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: Way too much alcohol. I would have liked the more complex flavors to have room to shine. Oh well.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 01:55:00 | More by oline73

maximum12

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to GrandCruDrew for this bottle, an extra in a springtime trade off my wants list. I approach this Short's offering as I approach all of them: ready with a towel, or ready for a great treat. Which will this be?

Pour is an undeniable brown with a respectable, but not suspect, off-white cap. The smell, my lord, the smell. Like somebody dropped my mother's Christmas kitchen into a pecan pie, then topped it off with sweet malts & a coating of maple syrup. Unlike any aroma that's ever graced these nostrils; just fantastic.

Short's The Woodmaster almost lives up to this heavenly bouquet. Pecans & maple syrup blow out of the glass in a verdant wave of tastiness. Sub-tastes are raisins, figs, shoe leather, a more general nuttiness, perhaps a stray drop of malt or two. Enjoyable either way: surface or deep. The only drawback, & this is picky, is it ain't too drinkable. I've already had it popped for over half-an-hour, & perhaps 3-4 ounces are gone. One of the heaviest, most-filling brown ales I've ever run into.

But hey, whatever, this is simply an excellent beer that pushes boundaries in every direction. A showcase of Short's at it's best.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 01:47:22 | More by maximum12