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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at the brewpub. Reddish brown toasty. Fragrant hop aroma. Average mouthfeel. Decent bitterness, some citrus. Nice pale. something to enjoy in a session, and demonstrating great craftsmanship, not everything has to be off-centered or unusual.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2009 12:49:32 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

so i decided last night to break out 10, thats right 10 new shorts beers for a nice sampling with the family. turns out my and my brother in law were the only ones willing to go down this road, so long afternoon for sure. serve cold and consumed on 10/02/2010.

really nice done beer here for sure. this one came across very nicely from the start with a rich and delicate profile that threw a few for a loop for sure. dark in color for the style with a nice and tight head of lacing that stayed on top throughout the session.

aroma is a mixed bag at first but wins me over in the end/ nice tight citrus hops are mixed with a dark malt base that at first takes you a bit off guard but comes around to win you over after a few more tastes. light and sharp the orange flavor really picked up half way through my glass. very well balanced with a smooth and unique taste that i really did not see coming. nice and clean finish left citrus and a rich sweet malt taste in my mouth with a nice dry finish.

overall one of the better offerings i had yesterday. solid.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2010 14:42:13 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of Iain.

A: The beer pours a slightly hazed golden amber color with a billowing white head. Beautiful.

S: Certainly some piney and citrus hops, but also a substantial malt aroma. It's surprisingly nutty, which I wasn't expecting. Bread and toffee with a nice floral character rounds out the nose.

T: Lots of hop bitterness to this beer. Not too much in the way of hop flavor, other than a bit of pine and grapefruit peel. Lots more of that nutty and toffee-like malt character.

M: Medium in body with a medium level of carbonation.

O: Good but not amazing. Certainly some better Shorts IPAs out there.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 19:32:18 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a nice amber color with a bit of haze and a white head. Nose brings some really nice citrus and floral hops. Strong notes coming through throughout, getting better as it warms. The taste brings a bit of sweet malt without as many hops as were in the nose. Good feel with a moderate amount of bitterness. Drinks well and I was glad to try one of the "normal" offerings from Short's, as it had been awhile since I'd visited with their APA and the like.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 00:27:58 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

3.48/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to GrandCruDrew for sending me this one!

Pours a hazy light orange color with a 2 inch eggshell colored head that fades to a small cap. Very thin rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smells of sweet malt and citrus zest/pine hops. Taste is of sweet malt, biscuit, and some herbal/pine hops on the finish. Medium hop bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. Mouthfeel is a bit flat but pretty smooth. A slightly above average IPA overall but better than others I have had in the past.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 03:53:34 | More by UCLABrewN84

oberon

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

One of three Short's brews on tap at Ashley's in Ann Arbor,came to the table in a standard pint glass a somewhat murky hazed auburn color with a very thin head that was gone quickly.Big resiny,piny hop profile bordering on IPA territory a hint of biscuit sweetness underneath.Now Iam a hophead and its hard for me not to talk glowingly of pale ales with a large dose of hops but this was a bit to one dimentional and dare I say bitter it was like drinking a grapefruit rind with not much else supporting it,very bitter with a bit of sourness.I dont get to try many Shorts offering only when I get back to MI and I was excited to try this new offering but I was really let down by this one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2007 22:51:58 | More by oberon

drabmuh

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A decent IPA, better than a lot I've had lately. Beer is yellow with a mild haze to it and a wispy white head of low character, retention and lacing.

Aroma is mostly piny with some citrus hops in there, smells like an IPA.

Beer is medium to light in body, no carbonation on the mouth, no malt on the get go, this is a good thing. The bitterness in the back is moderate, the midpalate is a lot of pine hops and a little chewiness. Overall a decent IPA. I'd have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2011 16:25:00 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to ericandersnavy for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours an orange color with a white head. The aroma is full of very resinous hops, as well as some toffee and dank notes. The flavor is similar. There is a strong mix of orange, pine and resin in the flavor, as well as some toffee malt which keeps the bitterness from being overpowering. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 03:54:49 | More by Mora2000

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light golden brown color with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains floral hops, fruity citrus and light caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of citrus and a little caramel followed by a strong bite of piney hops bitterness. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, there are better beers in the style but this is a very solid beer worth drinking for a while.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 03:54:16 | More by TheManiacalOne

emerge077

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served up in a tulip glass, this beer pours a hazed sunset orange shade. Thin skim across the top, not much head really.

Pungent at first, slightly resiny and green, hint of the dank and touch of cat box, thanks Simcoe. Eucalyptus and grainy pale malt come through after it sits for a bit.

Dry and bitter, resiny with some grapefruit and candied orange peel notes, dandelion greens, lightly earthy, grainy pale malt following up and lingering into the resiny, bitter aftertaste. Light body, airy feel with light carbonation. Not all that different from Prolonged Enjoyment, or local favorite Daisy Cutter.

Thanks to Justin for the trade...

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 02:59:46 | More by emerge077

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled as Hangin' Frank (and taken from notes).

Looks nice on the pour. There is a pungent and strong nose of hops. Flavor is rigid with hops and what I want to say seems like a nutty tone to it. Lots of spice from hops as well. If you like IPAs, you'll certainly like this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 00:28:43 | More by RblWthACoz

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This 12 ouncer glass container has no freshness info on the bottle or label. Purchased at Spirit Haus in Amherst Ma.

Pours almond amber, seemingly with a slight greenish olive hue. Moderate off light tan head. Respectable strands of fine lacing.

Tropical fruit tinged nose, lime, tea, light mint.

More light mint, fruits woven into this one. Also a moderate crunch of grapefruit infused hops. Easy drinking and pleasant enough. Decent, moderatly hopped sessioner

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 22:20:21 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle purchased as a single at Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" light beige head over the clear amber brew. Fluffy head lasts nicely, average lace. Aroma is stanky pine hops, in a good way.

Taste begins sweet, lightly fruity in the middle coupled with some citrus, and a pleasing bitter hops bite at the close. Mouthfeel is way smooth, and drinkability is awesome. Love this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 01:22:47 | More by ppoitras

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Thanks go to splax23 for a couple of these in trade.

Pours a lightly hazy copper, with roughly 3 rich fingers of slightly off-white colored head. The retention on this is awesome looking, with a hugely rich and creamy frothiness to it that just DRENCHES the sides of the glass with thick sticky lacing. Great look here! The aroma is pronounced medicinal band-aid smell to it that unfortunately really dominates this. I mean you still can pick up the rest of the IPA character here, with floral accents, some sweeter fruit, and honeyed grains underneath but those off-notes really take the nose out of the game here.

Fortunately, whatever was plaguing the aroma doesn't seem so bad here. Unfortunately, the flavors themselves just seem kind of soft and not up to the task at times as well. This is bitter to a point with grapefruit character but is lessened by some easy feeling herbal textures and a sugary blend of tropical notes and toasted bready sweetness. The finish lingers on the tongue with some green earth and spice. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, wit a mellow creaminess that melds well with some oily slickness. This almost feels a little too light and easy in the mouth. Bonus points though for absolutely no alcohol being felt in the body.

The off-notes in the aroma were definitely a bummer but even without that, I just didn't buy this as an American IPA. With its low-key hop profile and easy feeling body, this came off to me anyway, as more along the lines of a mostly quaffable APA instead. Either way, I was a bit disappointed in this offering.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2010 15:36:15 | More by Kegatron

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hazy orange with an off-white cap of fine and soapy bubbles. Good head retention with sticky, streaky lacing. Hoppy aroma, pine up front with a fruitier, nearly tropical nose filled with sharp citrus. A hint of hop spice hid behind biscuity malts. Bitterness was balanced up front and became sharper in the finish. Biscuity sweetness and citrusy, fruity hops were prominent at first, but fell away towards the end. Drying and medium bodied with lowish carbonation. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The hops were bold without bringing any harshness to the table and it smelled and tasted very fresh.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 21:25:08 | More by DrJay

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Churchkey in D.C.

The beer is yellowish and slightly hazy, with a thin white head that leaves a bit of lacing on the snifter. The aroma is pretty straightforward, bringing a nice pine character with some citrus notes. It smells like an American IPA. The taste isn't mind blowing, but this is a decent beer, and highly drinkable. The beer is light on the palate, bordering on thin. Not such a bad thing for a 5.5% abv brew I suppose. Overall, an enjoyable beverage, and something I would have again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2011 19:30:32 | More by Huhzubendah

Tone

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, gold color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Good retention and decent lacing. Smells of strong floral hops, sweet malt, and citrus. Fits the style of an American Pale Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. There is a strong bitterness level. Tastes of strong floral hops, citrus, slight sweet malt, and slight earthy malt. Overall, a good body and aroma, but really heavy hop blend.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2010 22:25:17 | More by Tone

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle with a cartoon of a guy hanging, must be Frank. Not sure about the backstory on that.

The beer pours a light orange color, a little haze, thin head. The aroma is a little malt-forward for an IPA, toasty biscuit malt mixed with hops of the citrus variety, very balanced. It tastes much the same to me, a very balanced IPA with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The hops give some light citrus flavors, and the malts do a little more than just support, overall it works well. Might be an APA but that's splitting hairs.

The body is about average for an APA/IPA, easy drinking. OK but not exceptional, as is becoming the case with most Shorts beers I've tried recently.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 10:56:04 | More by TurdFurgison

FosterJM

California

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1250th Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
12 oz

Thanks to ErikKoppin for this one

App- A deep mix of Orange and gold and falls to a lighter yellow bottom. A small 1/2 finger of head that was pure white, fell and left some mild cling.

Smell- Deep citrus aromas come up with some damp and thick grapefruit and orange. A bit doughy and earthy. Lots of caramel and bitter on this as well

Taste- Pretty thick and bitter for 5%. A large amount of thick orange and grapefruit flavors. Most of the aromas carries over to the taste as well with some more caramel and peppery spice.

Mouth- A pretty standard IPA feel except supposed to be a pale ale. A solid medium body with a medium carbonation level. Residual citrus and bitter flavors.

Drink- This is not my favorite profile but was glad to try it. Nice semi-balanced IPA with a lot of caramel and bitter behind it.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 03:27:22 | More by FosterJM

AgentZero

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Copper-amber beer with a huge white head that had nice retention and left some decent stickage on the glass.

S - Good amount of malts as well as some citrus and pine hops. There is a slight bit of bring in there, which detracts a little bit, but it's not bad.

T - Taste is okay. Tastes a lot like a Euro-DIPA or maybe one that has turned a little bit. Malts have gone a little sour/rotten, but some of the caramel sweetness still comes through. Hops are kind of bitter without much else character.

M - Medium bodied, good carbonation, no complaints about this.

O - Wonder if this is just old. If I get another bottle that is significantly better I will re-review, but this is just not something that was particularly great, although I wouldn't go so far as to say it is bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 20:48:39 | More by AgentZero

alexgash

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle.

Clear golden orange body. Pinkie finger of dense, persistent, light beige head. Nice sticky lacing on the sides. Juicy nose of citrus hops: Mandarin orange and grapefruit. Some fruity, toasted malts as well. Maybe a whiff of pine too. All in all, smells like a very fresh IPA.

Funky, resinous hop flavor and bitterness right up front. Toasted malt gives way to fruitier, slightly sweet notes mid-palate. Resinous hop flavor also becomes more citrusy and juicy toward the finish. Orange rind and some biscuit malt in the finish. Lasting bitterness. Moderate body with a slightly oily feel. A nice, straight-forward, well-made IPA, but I think I still like Huma more...

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2010 01:32:49 | More by alexgash

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Short's Brewery on 11/29/08. Served in a 14-oz. glass.

A - Hazy deep amber/orange body with slim creamy white head that transformed into a patchy film and left decent lace. Nice two-tone hazy appearance that reminded me of a few of Selin's Grove's beers!

S - Classic citrus hopped pale ale aroma with a healthy dose of toasted malt and sweet caramel malt.

T - Pretty straightforward citrus hopped pale ale with a nice toasted malt character and some caramel sweetness. Quite bitter for a pale ale with hints of orange and grapefruit notes.

M - Medium body with creamy texture, perhaps a little oily with some sticky hop residue. Finish is crisp, dry and bitter.

D - Nice job on this pale ale. While it's pretty one dimensional, it is well-balanced and has a tasty citrus hop character.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2008 00:43:56 | More by ffejherb

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle served in my Harpoon IPA Willibecker. No freshness dating. Pours a semi-hazy coppery-orange with a loose, frothy, half inch bright white head. Head eventually settles into a fairly consistent skim - tiny spots and thin slashes of lacing are revealed during the tasting. I'm really digging the nose on this - sweet citrus, grapefruit seeds and a suggestion of tropical fruit (perhaps mango). There's also a faint herbal quality that helps dissipate the fruity sweetness. Taste is interesting - characteristics present in the nose are also present in the flavor profile; however, there's something else going on as well - there's a slightly acrid character - piny hops and an earthiness akin to tobacco? Mouthfeel is light-medium with an assertive carbonation and a semi-dry finish. All and all a pretty good IPA, but the taste doesn't deliver on what is suggested by the nose.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 21:41:09 | More by Jwale73

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle into glass split with oglmcdgl, thanks to charliedvrs.

Hanging Frank(love the name) looks like your typical IPA, a nice bed of orange mixed with tangerine hues with a inch of semi thick white foam that fades and leaves minor stick. Not the greatest retention. Smell is lackluster, malts are forming a wall over the hops and I smell a IPA that is english in nature if my nose is correct. Biscuit with earth over light tropics, nothing to exciting. Taste is on par with the stank, or lack of stank. Not a hop forward westy or a malt ridden easty, this lies in the middle, kinda like Short's. Faint earth and grass with the lightest fruit essence with a bready malt bill, that does not overpower. Feel is a lighter shade of medium with a light carb that comes and goes. Good for a go, but not what Im looking for in a IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 05:22:49 | More by onix1agr

GbVDave

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into an imperial pint. Extra special thanks to Jayli for this nice surprise!

A: Pours a hazy, slightly tarmished copper penny color. 1 1/2 fingers of just off-white head build on top and shows off excellent retention. Lace was very plentiful with solid curtains of lacey webs left behind.

S: Initially there was much pine. As it came up to temp, out popped aromas of doughy yeast, mild tropical fruit, and some musky grapefruit rind.

T: Tastes very closely to the smell but I felt the emphasis was clearly on the piney hops. The doughy yeast, grapefruit, and short blast of tropical fruit are all there, but pine has the floor.

M: Loads of oily hops which dry out quickly and leave a spicy film coating the inside of my mouth. I found this to be on the thinner side of medium bodied.

D: Delicious and easy to put away. A very refreshing treat.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 14:03:30 | More by GbVDave