Short's Controversi-ALE - Short's Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

3.94/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From the bottle, from the tap, I've had this beer plenty of times. Pours a lighter amber color with a reasonable clarity aside from a slight chill haze that subsides after a few minutes from the pour. Very nice off-white head that shows some nice staying power and leaves decent lacing along the top of the glass.

The aroma is thick with pungent pine and an aggressive assertion of hop oils. A nice collection of citrus aromas battle their way into the mix; grapefruit pith, tangerine pulp - bitter and assertive more so than sweet or savory. Lots of resinous aromas dance around a hefty blanket of sweet, pale malts. and maybe even a touch of caramel malt. Despite seeming abundantly hop-forward after the first whiff, the beer opens up to a much more balanced attempt at a hoppy-yet-drinkable IPA as it warms up.

Each sip contains a mouth full of raw hop flavors; pine needles, pine cones, resinous and lightly pungent hop oils, grapefruit peel, orange zest. Some mildly dank and peppery notes reveal themselves later on, but nothing too over-the-top or extreme. The malt is even a touch heavier on the palate than it was on the nose - lots of bread, butter, and a small amount of caramel; it adds a sweetening element that balances the hop aggression surprisingly well. Aftertaste is full of grapefruit pith, sweet bread, and resinous pine. Medium mouth feel, not quite sticky but heavier than slick. Medium carbonation.

A pretty good IPA from Short's, although I'm not sure I like this one more than their trademark IPA, Huma Lupa Licious. I will say, however, this beer delivers a huge resin profile without seeming too abrasive or unbalanced - very nice malt presence. Though it can be said for most beers of this style, this is one that definitely must be enjoyed fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2012 02:48:59 | More by tectactoe

imperialking

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-24-2013 16:36:14 | More by imperialking

sgoro

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11%

05-24-2013 02:05:51 | More by sgoro

cb8282

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-24-2013 00:38:10 | More by cb8282

Giggy

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-23-2013 23:05:34 | More by Giggy

Kevin55

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-23-2013 01:56:51 | More by Kevin55

exzacly_beer

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bought this because of the beautiful black/white label on the bottle. Really great presentation.

Taste is nice - beautiful presentation of Ale qualities, nice hop contributions to the flavors. Mouthfeel is nice and relaxed, I especially like the aftertaste of this beer. I have to say that the head on the beer seemed a bit thick, and the bottle date on mine makes me think this was not an error. So beware of the head :)

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 02:52:57 | More by exzacly_beer

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.39/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle from GRDave (thanks man!). No bottling date. Served in a Southern Tier tulip snifter.

Pours hazy deep orange with a finger and a half off white head that leaves a good bit of lace.

Smells of biscuit, pine and caramel.

Taste is pretty dang bitter. Grapefruit peel, lemon zest, biscuit, white pepper corn, straw and grass.

Light body with plenty of carbonation. Dry bitter finish.

Not stellar but an easy drinking brew. It has a nice bitter bite but lacks much of the hop flavor profile that I prefer.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 01:44:11 | More by ThickNStout

TypsiYpsi

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +11%

05-19-2013 20:22:36 | More by TypsiYpsi

buschbeer

Ohio

3.89/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 ounce bottle
Served in a perfect pint glass

A - This beer appears orange with golden highlights. A continuous stream of carbonation bubbles feeds a couple inches of creamy, off-white head.

S - I get a surprisingly small amount of citrus on the nose, but I do get some toasty, caramel malt.

T - The taste has a lot more citrus than the smell offered. The taste is just about the opposite of the aroma. I get a lot of citrus flavors and just hints of malt.

M - Medium with biting carbonation.

O - This is a solid beer. I did not think it was that flavorful at first, but the bitterness builds up as I consume this beer. I think Short's description as a strong pale ale is perfect for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 16:11:21 | More by buschbeer

NJB145

Michigan

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-19-2013 01:35:24 | More by NJB145

gratefulbeerhead

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-18-2013 23:12:44 | More by gratefulbeerhead

minterro

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bought at Spartan Spirits in East Lansing for around 2 bucks for a single.

Paired with homemade pizza

Very lively hazy orange colored beer. foamy off-white head, that has decent retention. Specks of lacing. Moderate citrus aromas, large then usually maltyness present.

The malty side of this beer really comes through in the taste. Bitterness is relatively low. This beer is extremely well-balanced (many a tad too much maltyness). Medium body, and on the higher side of medium for carbonation.

Overall: Very drinkable, very smooth clean finish especially for an IPA. I think I still prefer Huma as my go to IPA from short's, but this beer isn't a bad substitute and is at least worth a try. Kinda reminds me of a better version of 60 minute.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 23:27:28 | More by minterro

kjkinsey

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-17-2013 23:00:55 | More by kjkinsey

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.56/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

This beer isn't much to look at. The body is a translucent amber and it takes a decently strong pour to get half a finger of watery head that disappears. Lacing breaks up really quick before it can be called lacing.

The smell starts out bready and quickly takes on hop tones. I get a bit of sugar during the transition, then it's floral hops, grapefruit and I think mandarin orange.

Starts out bready but goes straight into pine with a hint of grapefruit on the tongue.

The mouthfeel is light-medium bodied. Dries the tongue quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 03:31:35 | More by CFHMagnet

Roman5150

Michigan

4.04/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

bottle into snifter

appearance: orange amber with slight white head

smell: citrus, floral notes, heavy grapefruit/simcoe, earthiness, lemon, hay

taste: pretty bitter, lot's of earthy floral notes and less tropical flavors than the nose suggested. Very well balanced

mouthfeel: average carbonation

overall: A bitter hop bomb of an IPA, if you like earthy hop bitterness you will love this. Heavy tropical and floral notes give it a refreshing, balanced kick.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 04:24:06 | More by Roman5150

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-15-2013 19:45:14 | More by HarmonMW

GinsuDave

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-15-2013 10:27:40 | More by GinsuDave

rgilbert

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -21.7%

05-15-2013 02:23:50 | More by rgilbert

baybassboy

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-14-2013 04:20:13 | More by baybassboy

JollyRoger

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%

05-14-2013 01:54:52 | More by JollyRoger

kirbmeist

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-13-2013 19:08:50 | More by kirbmeist

Slay40

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-10-2013 18:56:50 | More by Slay40

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pour is hazy copper with orange edges and tons of billowy off white head. The nose is citrusy with toasted grain and a fair bit of peppery spice, almost rye like. The taste shows a fair bit of toasted grain, bread crust, hops in back. Citrus, virtually no bitterness, grain lingers with assertive carbonation and a medium body. Bit of sourness in the finish, may have a very slight infection but doesn't take away from the beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 13:39:06 | More by cpetrone84

LuckyJohn

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-05-2013 05:09:01 | More by LuckyJohn