Anniversary Ale - Short's Brewing Company

Anniversary AleAnniversary Ale

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BA SCORE
88
good
-
269 Ratings
THE BROS
N/A

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send 'em beer »
rAvg: 3.95
pDev: 12.91%
Reviews: 166
Hads: 103

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Brewed by:
Short's Brewing Company visit their website
Michigan, United States

Style | ABV
Wheatwine |  10.00% ABV

Availability: Fall. bottle (147), on-tap (13), growler (5), cask (1)

Notes:
2009 Tap only
2010 Tap and bottle
2013 Tap and bottle

Same recipe every year, according to the brewer, though ABV varies slightly.

"Anniversary Ale~ A high gravity wheat wine made with blood oranges that render an alluring dark purple hue to the color. Flavor abounds from the spice of green peppercorns and tang from blood orange zest. Aggressive dry hop additions amplify the citrus overtones and spiciness found throughout. ‘Anni’ Ale typifies the full magnitude of Short’s Brewing Company by embodying all the complexities and fulfillment necessary to pay tribute to another year of brewing. 10% ABV 63 IBU's"
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Reviews

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Photo of minterro
minterro

Michigan

3.79/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

bought at Spartan Spirits for a little over 2 bucks a single

Paired with peanuts

Very powerful sweet moscato smell to it. Not much bitterness in the smell, but the alcohol tones are well pronounced. A lively beer with ruby red color. Head is very fizzy and fades very fast, leaving behind no signs of lacing.

The taste is not nearly as intense as I expected. The addition of peppery spice is made present (very much so) in the finish. Citrus hops are present but a bit overpowered by the spicyness. Dry but not bitter in the finish. Very crisp and sharp on the mouth. Alcohol is very well hidden, even as it warms.

I found this beer enjoyable, but would probably not seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:42:12 | More by minterro
Photo of Alextricity
Alextricity

Michigan

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

$2 bottle poured into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint".

Appearance: Pours a sunset sort of orange color with about a finger of a white head, that dies down pretty quickly. Decent bit of carbonation coming from the bottom of the glass. Quite significant alcohol legs.

Smell: Grapefruit, orange, and mango dominate the aroma... very fresh smell. Pleasant and inviting.

Taste: Interesting ... I've never had a Wheatwine, so I didn't know what to expect. This is very distinctive. The peppery note coats the mouth but isn't too pungent, and there's also a citrus flavor with quite a sour quality, which I'd assume is the yeast used in this beer. The aftertaste is heavy on the wheat, with almost a briny flavor as well... Summit hops? A strange mix, but it's manageable. Peppery, sour orange juice brine is the essential flavor here, with a wheaty, minorly burning finish. The feel is surprisingly light, as I was expecting a thicker beer. I'm glad it's not too thick though, as this beer could easily become cloying if that were the case. The aftertaste is probably my favorite part about Anniversary Ale. Love the wheat, orange, pepper flavor.

This just isn't quite my style. It's not bad by any means, though. In fact, I'd consider it to be a VERY GOOD beer just because I never thought "Peppery, sour orange juice brine" would be an appealing flavor. Definitely glad to have tried this, and it's a unique beer, but I'd not have it often.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 17:28:32 | More by Alextricity
Photo of SportsandJorts
SportsandJorts

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: a light orange color, good clarity. small white head that fades rather quickly to nothing

Smell: juicy oranges, more citrus, peppercorns and wheat. Pretty complex smell. the juicy oranges are a refreshing smell

Taste: strong orange flavor, comes in nice and juicy, some bitter orange come through, I believe its from the orange zest used, but it could be from hops. peppercorns come in slightly subdued but definitely there. all of this is lain over a wheat body. The juicy taste is just unbeatable. the balance is spot on and its very complex

Mouthfeel: kinda softer and lighter. actually refreshing which is weird but good for this heavy and strong of a beer. very hot on the backend too

Overall: i picked up the last one of these at the store when i had thought i missed it. and am i glad i did. this is a great beer. i wish i coulda got a whole sixpack. the tastes are spot. just delicous

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:24:09 | More by SportsandJorts
Photo of Slay40
Slay40

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice appearance overall

Very orange nose

Tasted peppercorn up front, with citrus finish

Very nice mouth feel

Overall another great offering from Shorts.

I can see why this is highly coveted very drinkable for a high alcohol beer
will buy this one year after year

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 04:00:31 | More by Slay40
Photo of tectactoe
tectactoe

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Mike for splitting this with me. Aged almost one year (2012 vintage). Pours a slightly red-tinted copper color with decent clarity and a light, off-white, wispy head that fizzles away in a short amount of time. The aroma is buckled down with a nice pungency of juicy oranges and tangerines. But not just any oranges - these are "blood" oranges.

I've never had a blood orange and I don't know exactly what they are, but if they're anything like blood diamonds, then I will not be having this beer ever again. I'm joking. But seriously, these oranges smell very fresh, ripe, and juicy. Light peppercorn on the nose mixes and fades in with the slight phenol character I'm picking up from the alcohol. It's not too strong, however - the oranges are always dominant. Light hop character, leafy and spicy, but not very "bitter" smelling.

This is another case of the taste being an exact replica of the smell in drinkable form. Oranges engulf the palate right out of the gate. For a second, they almost give a tart character - not quite puckering, but definitely borderline sour. Very fresh and vibrant as it slowly cascades into a bitter-sweetness. As this is happening, the phenol flavors come out a bit and the alcohol asserts itself - at 10% ABV, this beer is certainly no slouch.

Some other light citrus and grapefruit flavors are coupled with the oranges, but the orange definitely stands out the most. Peppercorns are barely noticeable, but can be found if you're looking. They provide a light spiciness that almost camouflages with the hop character - a mild leafy and herbal tone that adds more flavor than real bitterness. Medium-ish body, low-medium carbonation, smooth on the palate.

Another tasty beer from Shorts with another ingredient I've never tasted in real life and never would've thought to put in a beer. Nice execution with the "blood oranges" to give a very authentic and ripe flavor.

EDIT: 5/9/2013

Enjoyed a 2013 Anniversary Ale fresh. The blood oranges are a little more vibrant and assertive and the peppercorn is toned down just a touch, but it still an integral part of the brew. Hop character is also a bit more prominent. Mouth feel is better than I remember, and the juicy, sweet, and nearly tart blood orange finish is fantastic. Don't know if this is "better" fresh, or the 2013 batch was just a little more to my liking, but I've gotta bump the score. This is great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 22:11:48 | More by tectactoe
Photo of superspak
superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled 4/20/2012. Pours hazy reddish orange color with a small 1 finger dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lingers. Slight spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of huge orange, orange zest, orange rind, grapefruit, peppercorn, caramel, coriander, bread, floral, grass, earth, and herbal. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity; with a huge citrus presence as expected. Taste of big orange, orange zest, caramel, grapefruit, orange rind, coriander, peppercorn, floral, grass, earth, and herbal. Light citrus rind tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of orange, citrus rind, grapefruit, peppercorn, coriander, caramel, toast, floral, earth, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic citrus and peppery flavor balance with nice complexity; zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy, slick, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent wheatwine! Great flavor complexity and balance; and very smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 06:04:05 | More by superspak
Photo of bushbeer75
bushbeer75

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz brown bottle – 2012 Vintage

Shorts Brewing Anniversary Ale poured a clear light plum color producing a very thin almost non-existent head made of small bubbles that formed a collar around my snifter. The aroma, the best part of this Ale was dominated by citrus; blood orange, grapefruit and spiciness from the peppercorns. The flavor matches the nose with the citrus (blood orange and grapefruit) up front followed by a peppery and somewhat tart/sour finish that builds as you consume the Ale. The carbonation is to the light side with a medium body and somewhat thinner mouth feel than I was expecting
.
This is my first Shorts Brewing beer and Anniversary Ale is one of the most unique Ales I have had…I guess I am still trying to figure this one out. I plan to age a few of these to see how age affects this unique brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 23:10:22 | More by bushbeer75
Photo of RblWthACoz
RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Whew. Blood oranges. You get subtle hints of it on the nose, but there is nothing subtle about the blood oranges on the flavor profile. The bitter tones that taste like they are from the orange's skin are too prevalent. Beyond that, there is little that you get a ride from. As a wheatwine, this falls short. As a beer, it's alright.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 02:57:15 | More by RblWthACoz
Photo of Beerandraiderfan
Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark orange pour, glints of red, 5/8" head, this is a very dark orange, like the kind you see after a night of partying way too hard. Aroma, mild sweetness, not the usual citrus aroma a hophead would be used to.

Taste, blood orange all over this, sweet in a natural kind of way. The sweetness is really covering up so much of the alcohol. The peppercorn presence, I was not able to perceive.

Mouthfeel is nice, because even though this was drank at the end of July, it has that kind of mouthfeel that is made for summertime. The body is relatively light and easy going, and the alcohol is nowhere to be found. Nice caramel presence as well.

Quite the enjoyable beer, glad I still have one left, the only question is, when?

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 22:39:25 | More by Beerandraiderfan
Photo of CaptCleveland
CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, no dating, poured into SA glass.

Orange-red elixir, thin white head dissolves to rim. Minimal lacing.

Nice orange pulp, zest and grapefruit aromas. Herbal spice with a swirl of the glass.

Mix of orange, wheat and spice. Some alcohol at the end. Refreshing.

Medium body, tangy, smooth for this ABV.

A nice change. The blood oranges really come through. The peppercorn provides a nice bonus.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 22:26:06 | More by CaptCleveland
Photo of trxxpaxxs
trxxpaxxs

New York

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to wintbs379 for this beer...

A: Pours a semi-translucent red with hues of copper and amber. There is almost no head, just a thin ring of foam along the edges of the glass. No lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose smells of orange rind, grapefruit, slight cherries, and small notes of spice. It has a solid malt backbone that make it sweet, mixed with the super bitterness of the citrus.

T: Oranges, tropical fruits, cherry juice, bitter citrus peel, and hops. It starts out sweet, then transitions to big fruit notes, and then finishes super bitter. It's pretty intense, but the alcohol is hidden really well.

M: Medium bodied beer, The flavors are all over the place. It's like biting into an orange with the outer peel still on it. It's sweet to start, malty and fruity in the middle, and bitter in the finish.

O: I actually really like this beer. Honestly, it's like biting into an orange picked straight off the tree. Rind and all.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 14:07:13 | More by trxxpaxxs
Photo of smakawhat
smakawhat

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nobody has reviewed this out of the cask? Ha ha I shall be the first, into a snifter from the cask at Churchkey DC.

Great color on this beer. Deep cherry red and ruby, with a soapy classic sudsy off white and tan head, very cask bubbly in appearance, but also some real good staying power. There's a few little rising bubbles but not many, the color of this beer is fantastic.

Closed nose a little not too bad, bud a small vinous character seems to come of mild vinegar, and bitter zest sort of apricot more than anything.

Taste has classic chewy out of the cask and butter coating feel, with a great chewy orange rind and juicy grapefruit bitter. Citrus bitter pounds out of this with a controlled soft palate. There doesn't seem to be much of a pepper angle on this though.

Overall real impressive, it's like eating grapefruit rinds and all its bitter softness in a liquid form, with a chewy backbone. Neat.

Serving type: cask

06-15-2012 15:20:12 | More by smakawhat
Photo of largadeer
largadeer

California

4.4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a glowing red color, forming a thin but lasting head.

Awesome nose of grapefruit and blood orange amplified by citrusy hops. Slight marijuana and herbal notes. Peppercorns lend some spiciness. The fruit and hops work really nicely together.

Delicious grapefruit and orange flavors on the palate. Spicy, peppery, herbal. Some earthy notes mid palate. Finishes quite bitter and herbal. Dry and light bodied. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 03:40:57 | More by largadeer
Photo of sukwonee
sukwonee

Washington

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this one as an extra through a trade. Thanks (you know who you are!) I really enjoyed this one.

A: Reddish brown, transparent but a bit cloudy, half a finger head, some spotty lacing.

S: Blood orange... wow. It smells awesome. I can also smell something spicy (must be peppercorn as the bottle mentions), malt,

T: Ok, so... this beer is surprisingly bitter. I can taste the bitterness from orange zest towards the end. Starts off a bit on the sweet side, blood orange, some spice kicking in afterthat, followed by bitterness. Lingering taste is spice and orange zest. Quite unique (I haven't tasted anything like this before). I can also taste tangerine and alcohol as well.

M: I have never had a "wheatwine" before, but I was expecting something a bit thicker (like a barleywine). Its texture is closer to an IPA. Good amount of carbonation, and surprisingly refreshing. Dry finish.

O: I really enjoyed this, but I guess I haven't had anything else to compare this against. I will be seeking other "wheatwines" and compare. I also may be very partial here because I love the taste of blood orange. If you like blood orange and don't mind the alcohol heat, this is your beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 03:09:25 | More by sukwonee
Photo of ryantho00
ryantho00

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Version.

Pours a deep hazy auburn orange, with a slight finger head that settles down fast. The haziness cleans up after the beer settles and what reamins is deep, almost burnt, pumpkin color with a purple red brown undertone. I get a nice whiff of cirtus and orange, pineapple, tangy mango, and hops. The first sip starts on the tip of your tongue, fresh zesty tropical citrus, and then a blast of major hops blended with a sharpe tangyness that ends bitterly sharp. I would say sour, but I really don't enjoy sour beers, but this has enough sweet citrus and high bitter hops that balance out the sourness. I get a little sweetness on the aftertaste of smoky malt; most likely the peppercorn, as after a few minutes I can taste a spice on the back of my throat. Very well hidden alcohol, not a fast drinker though simply beacuse of the sharpness of the finish. Overall, well done, obviously a specialty brew traditional to Short's.

Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 21:43:18 | More by ryantho00
Photo of travMI13
travMI13

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 vintage. 12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Deep, ruby red body with one finger of fluffy, white head. Nice lacing and solid head retention.

S: Orange, grapefruit, peppercorn, and maybe some corriander. Very interesting aromas. It smells sweet, with a bite at the end of the nose.

T: And that is exactly what it tastes like. Very sweet citrus (grapefruit and blood orange) with a touch of the peppercorn on the finish. Short's nails the description on the bottle. Alcohol is well hidden. If memory serves me right, the peppercorn was more pronounced when this was fresh. There is a bitterness on the finish, as well. I'm surprised the hops held up enough to provide that.

M: The bitterness and sweetness both linger for quite some time. Again, interesting. It feels a bit cloying at times, but I feel like this is working, all in all.

O: I can't remember ever having a beer like this one before, which is why I pick it up each year. It is a unique flavor pairing, and it really challenges the tastebuds. Like many of the Short's brews, this is probably not for everyone. Though I enjoy it, I do have to be in the mood for it, but there really isn't anything quite like it.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 06:05:08 | More by travMI13
Photo of warnerry
warnerry

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 release

A - Pours a nice clear red-tinged reddish orange with minimal head and essentially no lacing.

S - Citrus and wheat are the dominant aromas. Citrus is more pulp than rind.

T -- Big citrus taste, both pulp and rind. Nice acidity, but not sour. A bit of bitterness. Wheat is also prominent. Finishes a little dry and bitter. Also nice pepper on the finish.

M - Has the pillowy (for lack of a better term) mouthfeel I associate with wheatwines. Sometimes this can be overwhelming, but not so in this case. Finishes with some lingering bitterness.

O - Pretty enjoyable wheatwine, and I enjoyed the citrus and pepper components.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 23:56:39 | More by warnerry
Photo of CliffBrake
CliffBrake

New Hampshire

3.85/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Aged bottle, vintage 2010, tasted on 20 Dec 2011.

Incredible red-orange color with moderately good clarity. Pours with a minimal head that dissipates quickly and leaves minimal lacing.

Funky nose with orange in the background. Orange flavor is apparent but is not so much fruity as it is dominated by the tangy bitter character of the rind and hops. Very sharp finish punctuated by the peppercorn.

For the abv, it seems fairly light bodied, smooth and dry. I was expecting something a little heavier and sweeter. Definitely a palate cleanser.

A unique beer with a lot of character - well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 02:43:36 | More by CliffBrake
Photo of sidetracked
sidetracked

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear orange/ruby red with a thin off-white, slightly orange-tinted head. Head dissipates quickly and lingers around the edge. No lacing.

Aroma is hard to place--very spice like. Some ginger? botanicals? piney Christmas tree? Little orange sweetness and pepper. Light alcohol heat.

Taste upfront is slighty sweet oranges with some peppery ginger and caramel malt sweetness. Taste follows through to the finish. Some bitter citrusy hops at the finish. Some white-grape/wine-like flavors throughout. Very floral.

Medium to full bodied and syrupy with a moderate bubbly carbonation. Clean, slightly dry finish. Very slight alcohol heat.

Really interesting and unique. Very distinct orange and ginger flavor. A definite sipper, but stays interesting. One glass is enough.

6/7/2011

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 22:36:16 | More by sidetracked
Photo of chugalug06
chugalug06

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Nice tan foamy head. Brew is cloudy orange color.

S - Lots of citrus! Some sweet fruits too. suagry. some orange and lime.

T - Unique bitterness. Lots of grapefruit. some unusual orange flavors and perfectly floral.

M - Smooth, sweet bitterness. Wonderful carbonation. No heat.

O - This brew optimizes what I love about Shorts. Very unique brew. Yum. Nice sweetness, very refreshing. Highly recommended, unique brew. Very sweet, but in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 03:32:14 | More by chugalug06
Photo of alpinebryant
alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pour is a dark orange caramel with a large white head and strong lacing.

S: Aroma of sweet orange peel and citrus. Perhaps the best wheatwine that I have smelled. Sweet caramel that is light with a refreshing hop presence and a touch of pepper.

T: Surprisingly bitter coming from the aroma with a refreshing hop presence. Healthy peppercorn flavors with a refreshing overall taste. A good dosing of sweetness mixing in with strong caramelization. At the end of the flavor profile the blood orange really comes into play. It would be hard for this to be done better, it really comes together extremely well round.

M: Light in body and a light carbonation, to style.

O: Extremely well rounded and great tasting. Definitely one that I would pick a bunch of and perhaps age if it ages well.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 02:25:41 | More by alpinebryant
Photo of MarkIntihar
MarkIntihar

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into my New Belgium Belgian glass.

A - Pours a beautiful orange amber, with half a finger's worth of slightly off white head. The color of this beer is absolutely incredible. It looks like the inside of a blood orange with just a hint of tan added to it. Simply marvelous.

S - Blood orange, honey, dry hops, blended together to make an incredibly unique aroma unlike any beer I've ever smelled. Reminds me more of a mead than a beer, but is definitely on par with what the label describes. Not picking up much green peppercorn, however.

T - Follows closely from the nose, with the blood orange being the dominant force here. Don't get as much honey in the mouth, but definitely pick up the dry hop finish, and in the mouth the green peppercorn is much more evident, which works well with the dry hop character to leave the mouth feeling cleansed after each sip. Once again, a truly unique blend and an altogether pleasant experience.

M - For a higher abv beer, this one is smooth. Does leave the mouth feeling a bit dry, but not to the point where it's upsetting. As mentioned in the taste, does a fantastic job of cleansing the palate.

O - Overall I am very impressed with this beer. I only spent a few months in Michigan, but Short's is definitely one of the breweries that I will truly miss.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 05:27:16 | More by MarkIntihar
Photo of Brenden
Brenden

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The color is a dark burnt orange-red in color, thick and opaque. One finger of off-white head shows good retention and manages to leave a good amount of lacing, mostly leggy with some light patching, in good quantity on the glass.
The aroma is very much to par with expectations. Lots of orange and strongly so, with the particular sweet/sour blend that distinguishes blood oranges from the usual. The peppery note is easily detectable as well. A bit of wheat forms the backing for the rest of it.
The taste follows suit. The spice from the peppercorn is distinct, with an almost earthy vegetable element along with white pepper notes, all in a good way, behind sweet orange with just a bit of sourness and a touch of rind bitterness pulling through. The wheat is in here, but a stronger backbone would pull it all together to be even better, perhaps exceptional. It's certainly good, though.
There's no doubt this is crisp, and a medium body shows some depth to it, with a good smoothness that a little more of would serve to put this one a step above. It goes slightly slick in the mouthfeel toward the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 13:00:45 | More by Brenden
Photo of BeerAndBourbon
BeerAndBourbon

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A. Pours a thick orange/ red with just a wisp of a head that recedes to nothing.

S. Sweet honey with citrus and some spice. Citrus comes through as both juice and peel with some hop citrus notes as well. A lot of sweetness in the nose that is only partially balanced by the spice notes.

T. Much more balance on the palate. Starts off with honey sweetness that moves into a nice bitterness on the tail that seems to be both a pithy bitterness - like biting into an orange peel - as well as citrus hop notes. The spice doesn't really come across in the flavor. The blood orange character really comes through in the flavor - a nice citrus character with some amber and caramel malt with a bit of tartness.

M. Thick body with a moderate level of carbonation that keeps the brew from overwhelming the palate.

D. I'm on the verge of liking this. Probably the hoppiest BW or WW that I've had and enjoyed - the citrus hop character really helps to accentuate the citrus in the beer. It just - idk- it doesn't quite hit me like I want it to, but a good beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 19:20:55 | More by BeerAndBourbon
Photo of claytong
claytong

Vermont

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

appearance - a true blood orange in color. impressive. eggshell head that is fluffy and sticky and sticks around till i finish my sample.

smell - orange peel and juice, some tartness... not sure where thats coming from, spices (hard to name), perhaps white peppercorn and others. some citrus

taste - follows the nose. very original, crazy but in a good way.

mouthfeel - drinkable, medium to thick bodied, curious how this would age. good carbonation for the body.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2011 14:31:22 | More by claytong
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Anniversary Ale from Short's Brewing Company
88 out of 100 based on 269 user ratings.