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Anniversary Ale
Short's Brewing Company
- From:
- Short's Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Wheatwine
Ranked #16 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #13,465 - Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 12.69%
- Reviews:
- 208
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 12, 2022
- Added:
- May 08, 2009
- Wants:
- 59
- Gots:
- 75
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"
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"
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by GRPunk:
Reviewed by GRPunk from Michigan
4.65/5 rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.65/5 rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Drinking an anniversary beer on my anniversary.
Bottle poured into a tulip glass.
A- 1/2 finger, off-white head quickly drops to a light, spotty lace. The body takes on many hues from ruby, to brownish, to nearly pink at the edges. Good sticky spots are left as I drink. The body's slightly hazed with light carbonation.
S- Initial fruity punch. Something of an apricot/peach mix with citrus. I'm gonna' have to guess that's the blood orange coming through. It comes across as a fine fruited spirit or liqueur. I don't pick up a ton of other aromas, but what's there is so unique and welcoming.
T- Oh, man!!! The blood orange is just a player on a team of flavor. Warm, fruity alcohol is like a nicely flavored brandy, perhaps. Wheaty aspects mix with a slight, pleasantly musty features. It has a spicy, peppery bite that combines with an almost pithy, citrus bitterness. A mix of sour/bitter citrus and pepper dry the finish allowing some of the sweetness to linger just a bit.
M- Alcohol bite borders on burn, staying just on the right side. Light carbonation helps smooth the full bodied, viscus brew.
D- It's a definite sipper. So complex and "fun" that I'm disappointed that I likely won't have a chance to try it again as it's a "one off brew." I'm pretty sure I got the last bottle at my local shop. The abv is the only thing holding me back from wanting to lock myself in my room with a sixpack. I have to give a shout out to one of my brewsday buddies for giving me a sample of this fine brew. I was pretty geeked to find my own bottle last week.
Jul 13, 2010Bottle poured into a tulip glass.
A- 1/2 finger, off-white head quickly drops to a light, spotty lace. The body takes on many hues from ruby, to brownish, to nearly pink at the edges. Good sticky spots are left as I drink. The body's slightly hazed with light carbonation.
S- Initial fruity punch. Something of an apricot/peach mix with citrus. I'm gonna' have to guess that's the blood orange coming through. It comes across as a fine fruited spirit or liqueur. I don't pick up a ton of other aromas, but what's there is so unique and welcoming.
T- Oh, man!!! The blood orange is just a player on a team of flavor. Warm, fruity alcohol is like a nicely flavored brandy, perhaps. Wheaty aspects mix with a slight, pleasantly musty features. It has a spicy, peppery bite that combines with an almost pithy, citrus bitterness. A mix of sour/bitter citrus and pepper dry the finish allowing some of the sweetness to linger just a bit.
M- Alcohol bite borders on burn, staying just on the right side. Light carbonation helps smooth the full bodied, viscus brew.
D- It's a definite sipper. So complex and "fun" that I'm disappointed that I likely won't have a chance to try it again as it's a "one off brew." I'm pretty sure I got the last bottle at my local shop. The abv is the only thing holding me back from wanting to lock myself in my room with a sixpack. I have to give a shout out to one of my brewsday buddies for giving me a sample of this fine brew. I was pretty geeked to find my own bottle last week.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can. Poured out a clear, golden color with ruby highlights and a good-sized, pillowy white head of foam. It left behind sticky patches of lace on the glass. It smelled of peppery spice, cracked wheat, orange and other fruits. Lots of orange taste with some pepper, wheat and yeastiness.
Jul 01, 2022Reviewed by Valdez_Mescalito from Michigan
4.8/5 rDev +21.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.8/5 rDev +21.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
April 2022 Specialty Release - 4 pack
16 oz. can dated 040122 (04/01/22) - 9.4% ABV / 50 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a dense and fizzy, orange-tinged grey colored head. Dark orange amber appearance with some streaming bubbles.
Smell - The scent is mostly orange zest with a hint of booze. You can also pick up the citrus of the blood orange.
Taste - The taste follows the nose, but you get a lot more of the peppercorn, and a good amount of bitterness in the aftertaste. The combination of flavors masks the booze well.
Feel - Medium bodied with a thick and sticky mouthfeel and finishes very dry.
Overall - A unique blend of flavors makes for a tasty brew that is dangerously easy to drink.
May 01, 202216 oz. can dated 040122 (04/01/22) - 9.4% ABV / 50 IBU
Brewed and canned in Elk Rapids, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a dense and fizzy, orange-tinged grey colored head. Dark orange amber appearance with some streaming bubbles.
Smell - The scent is mostly orange zest with a hint of booze. You can also pick up the citrus of the blood orange.
Taste - The taste follows the nose, but you get a lot more of the peppercorn, and a good amount of bitterness in the aftertaste. The combination of flavors masks the booze well.
Feel - Medium bodied with a thick and sticky mouthfeel and finishes very dry.
Overall - A unique blend of flavors makes for a tasty brew that is dangerously easy to drink.
Rated by vfgccp from New York
3.75/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
SAVOR DC 2018
Jun 03, 2018Reviewed by DVMin98 from North Carolina
3.96/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Shared 12 oz 2011 bottle. On the day Short's sold out to Lagunitas. Amber color. Smell is orange zest. Spice. Flavor is big on the blood orange (surprised being 6 years old). Spice. Still decently carbed. Overall, pretty nice. Glad I split this though. Would have been too much to drink solo, unless over an hour or two. Good blood orange Heineken :P
Jul 27, 2017Reviewed by Blackop555 from Michigan
4.12/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours cloudy orange. Foamy, short, off white head fades fast.
Smells fruity, citrus, light oxidation
Tastes sweet orange, malty. Fading to a tart citrus and heat from peppercorns. Finish is semi dry with citrusy linger. Medium body and smooth lower medium carbonation
Apr 04, 2017Smells fruity, citrus, light oxidation
Tastes sweet orange, malty. Fading to a tart citrus and heat from peppercorns. Finish is semi dry with citrusy linger. Medium body and smooth lower medium carbonation
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.42/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 4/18/14; drank 5/23/14 @ the Yarchives.
Poured from the bottle into a glass.
Cloudy orange hue.
Off-white head; almost no lace.
Orange citrus nose; very bold!
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Blood orange & grapefruit citrus tartness; a nice balance of sweet & sour. No booze heat. A delightful, easy-to-drink summer wheatwine.
Nov 10, 2016Poured from the bottle into a glass.
Cloudy orange hue.
Off-white head; almost no lace.
Orange citrus nose; very bold!
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Blood orange & grapefruit citrus tartness; a nice balance of sweet & sour. No booze heat. A delightful, easy-to-drink summer wheatwine.
Anniversary Ale from Short's Brewing Company
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
534 ratings
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