Short's Key Lime Pie - Short's Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

3.49/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Old Chicago. Pours a soft amber color with a weird, olive-green tint to it - not heavy, but a little "sickly" looking. Translucent with a bit of haze in the middle. Head nearly nonexistent, except for a small, white ring around the edge of the beer, possibly due to the pour, however. Aroma definitely had some light grahama cracker, alongside toasted caramel from the malt. Lime? Yeah, it's there. Or, something is, rather. The aroma doesn't give off immediate sensors of "lime", but SOME kind of fruitiness that seems more flat and sweet instead of tart and vibrant. Zesty, but not exceedingly so.

The taste is.... strange, to say the least. Starts off with a bit of citrus flavor; lime and lemon - again, moreover it's just sweet and kind of "laid back", not at all tart or sour like lambics, wild ales, or some other fruit beers. Bread from the malt, as well as an even lighter presence of caramel, adds a bit to the sweetness. Lack of a bitter counterpoint can make this beer seem too sweet after a while, but my 12 oz pour was very manageable. After a while, the flavors grow, but they don't necessarily evolve. Sweet, light citrus finish with little hints of malt. Thin body with a heavy carbonation handle.

The first time I tried this beer, I wasn't exactly sold on it. But the more I drank it, the more I liked it. It's interesting, extremely unique, and very refreshing. Not my favorite Shorts brew by a country mile, but enjoyable nonetheless, especially when you feel like stepping out of the box just a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2013 17:56:38 | More by tectactoe

elNopalero

Texas

3.8/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This appears a tan-straw color. There’s a light aroma of freshly squeezed limes and lime zest. The key lime really comes through when tasted—but not such much key lime pie as (in my mind, at least) tiny, tart, fragrant limes picked at their peak from the Florida keys. (Or the citrus growing region of Florida in general.) It’s a beer that’s more tart than bitter—mouth-puckeringly tart— and an interesting brew. I could easily pair this with a tequila, but I don’t see myself drinking this on its own.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2011 19:25:57 | More by elNopalero

oline73

Maryland

2.78/5  rDev -19%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

I had this on-tap at the brewpub. Poured into a sample glass.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy amber color with very little off white head that disappears completely. Not very attractive.

Smell: Very mild, not what I was hoping for. Sweet and mild citrus hints, a bit creamy.

Taste: Really sweet, too sweet in fact. Citrus fruitiness and a creaminess as well. I think there needed to be more lime flavor to balance out the sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium to thick body with smooth, tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I wish there was more lime here. If you're going to do a beer like this, I think it's best to go big. I think I remember having this at the Extreme Beer Festival, and it reminded me a lot more of the pie. Don't think I'll have this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2011 21:05:54 | More by oline73

ModemMisuser

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap @ Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids. The bartender offered my wife and I a sample pour.

I was ... amazed. It tastes like a very mild beer with key lime pie - exactly as you'd expect. All of the tastes of a key lime pie are there - the lime filling, the cream topping, and the crust.

Definitely not a beer to drink when you want a beer, but if you want something different - this is a good drink!

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2011 16:09:13 | More by ModemMisuser

metter98

New York

3.5/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear orangey amber in color and has no signs of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of malty sweetness in the nose along with some notes of lime.
T: The taste has a light to moderate amount of sweetness and notes of limes in the flavors.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and somewhat smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer isn’t that difficult to drink because it’s not that sweet and the lime flavors are subdued.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2011 00:43:40 | More by metter98

browna71

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a bright orange/amber, no head
S-Limes! Bright citrus, predominated by the scent of sweet limes. Very nice.
T-Similar lime sweetness up front, transitions to a milky, malt sweetness. Sweet lime flavor balanced very well with the creamy body.
M-Heavier than it looks- definitely has a chewier, syrupy quality to it. Not overpowering, but I suppose what you’d expect with a “pie” beer
O- Good beer, pretty impressed with this one. For all intents and purposes, this is key lime pie in a glass. On that note, not something I could sit a drink all night, as Im not a huge fruit beer fan, but a must-try for sweet, fruity beer lovers

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2011 15:38:37 | More by browna71

zoso1967

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Key Lime Pie is served up at Short's pub a murky brownish amber with no head at all. I was pretty surprised by the color, but then again what was I expecting; a green beer? The few bubbles that were hanging around the top of the glass looked beige in color and did not leave hardly any trace of lacing.

The aroma is sweet with a definite malted barley (cracker) sweetness. The other aromas were much less beer like with a tinge of lime and some graham cracker notes.

The flavor is pretty nuts. It definitely has a malty beer like backbone, but other than that it does, in fact, taste similar to the dessert that it is named after. Plenty of zesty lime and graham flavor are bolstered by some serious sweetness. I am tempted to say it is too sweet, but for a beer that's modeled after a pie; I think this sweetness is needed.

The body is medium with a mouthfeel that has a good amount of carbonation, but is awfully sticky. The finish is both sweet and zesty, with some graham cracker also lingering on my palate. This beer doesn't have best mouthfeel, but it is a dessert beer after all.

This is definitely not a brew that I would crush, or get a growler of. Also, it would be pretty tough to drink more than one of these beers in a sitting. However, I think Short's meant it to be a fun beer that could be treated like dessert. In that aspect, I they were successful. It is definitely worth the price of admission.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2011 18:14:13 | More by zoso1967

nerdrocker101

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've had the pleasure of trying this both in bottle and on tap. Both were solid.

Murky, golden orange with half a finger of dirty white head that quickly becomes just a ring. No lacing around the glass.

There are muted hints of tart lime and copious amounts of graham cracker on the nose.

A quick bite of lime up front, but further sipping reveals some notes of marshmallow and graham cracker. A little bit of funk perhaps.

Medium body, plenty of carbonation. Bit of a dry finish.

This beer definitely drinks like a key lime pie with a bit a burnt pie crust.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2011 14:45:47 | More by nerdrocker101

goast8127

Michigan

3.33/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed 10/21

I had heard many good things about this beer, and although I'm not a fan of real Key Lime Pie, I felt it necessary to give it a try. The pour is a translucent medium brown color, with a thin, slightly creamy foam. You definitely get a nutty aroma right away. With a creamy, graham cracker taste up front, the beer finishes a little warm, with a slight, lasting lime taste at the end.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 17:19:28 | More by goast8127

barmut2

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +39.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I have tried KLP on tap and in the bottle. I enjoyed it on tap, I drank four of them. You get a taste of key lime, the crust and some whipped cream. Crazy in a good way. Smell is good you think its going to be really sweet but is balanced nicely. Try one or four!

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2010 20:37:23 | More by barmut2

kbeals

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +32.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured into a snifter glass unveils a red/orange brew with a finger of off-white head. Good head retention with just a bit of lacing.

S- Hints of tart lime and a bit of sugary, marshmallow like sweetness. The graham crackers come through slightly, but I really had to dig to find it in the aroma over the limes.

T- WOW! One of the best tasting beers I've ever had. It tastes exactly like Key Lime Pie. Lime flavor is both tart and sweet with the graham cracker coming through nicely. A hint of marshmallow in there too. Soooo good!

M- Light-medium body with some prickly carbonation.

D- I could drink this beer all night long. This was most definitely the highlight of the night and is quite possibly my new favorite Short's beer. They definitely need to bottle this at some point.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2010 13:25:46 | More by kbeals

tmoneyba

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured hazy reddish brown color with an average fizzy white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate to heavy complex lime aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture and soft carbonation. Heavy creamy lime flavor with a medium to heavy sour lime finish of long duration. Refreshing brew that is a standout.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2010 01:12:46 | More by tmoneyba

GbVDave

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a tulip glass at Sheffields 4/7/10.

A: Served a rich golden brown. Smallish wafer of off-white head on top sticks around for a while and leaves a bit of lace on the glass.

S: Very interesting aromas of key limes, lemon, and crackery/buttery malt.

T: Opinions may differ, but I thought this tasted really close to Key Lime Pie. Fresh, home made whipped cream, key limes, and both (BOTH!) types of KLP crust. Dry, cocoa-y Oreo cookie crust and buttery Graham cracker crust. Incredible!

M: Slick and smooth with a nice tangy edge that keeps it from being too sweet. Excellent balance.

D: I has a little more than a glass and was pleasantly surprised when I went back the next night and it was still on draft. Completely oddball beer that Shorts managed to pull off.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2010 01:58:43 | More by GbVDave

Sean9689

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On-tap at Sheffields Short's Event. Poured into tulip.

A - Pours a golden hazy with a very slight head that quickly vanishes into a thin ring around the glass.

S - Tart lime, sugary sweetness...not getting the graham cracker that others spoke about. Pretty much just some tart notes mixed in with some sweetness.

T - Tart lime, zest, sweetness. Huge tart lime kick on the finish.

M - Light bodied, good carbonation, dry finish.

D - One of these and I was done. Not something I could drink multiples of at all. That said, it's def a nice change of pace beer. Short's comes up with some crazy stuff, this one included.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2010 03:34:28 | More by Sean9689

bmanning

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +36.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I'm reviewing this beer from notes at EBF 2010 in hopes that Short's will bottle this beer. Of all the incredible beers that I sampled at the Extreme Beer Fest 2010, this was the highlight of the day.
The sweet, tart lime and graham cracker aroma hits you immediately after this beer is poured. It smells like my mom's key lime pie just as it comes out of the oven.
The taste is fantastic. You know that sweet, tart, rich creamy taste of a well made key lime pie right as it hits your tongue? Well this beer nailed it - it tastes JUST like that. How they pulled it off, I have no idea.
For the mouthfeel, this liquid key lime pie has the acidity yet creaminess of the real thing with just the right amount of sweetness to balance it out.
Drinkability - If I could, I'd buy several cases of this and drink one every night for dessert.
Please Short's - bottle this! It's the best thing you've made so far, and that's saying something as you guys have made some great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 14:30:52 | More by bmanning

emerge077

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A couple goblets tonight at the Short's party in Chicago.
Brewed w/ lime puree, graham cracker, marshmallow and milk sugar; 5.75%

Tawny orange copper color, slightly hazy, a quick fizz of foam that fades fast into a ring. The color is nice, almost suggestive of a pie crust.

Aroma was the highlight, very desserty, sweet with hints of graham cracker and crushed oreos. Possibly some lime zest under that but subdued.

Creamy oreo filling, mild cocoa, marshmallow/toffee, and graham cracker, some tangy lime zest upfront that fades into the sweet confectionary pie crust buttery breadiness. Not especially tart. A bit thin in the body, but the creaminess saves it. Had to have two, although others were not as enthusiastic about it.

Super interesting Willy Wonka style experiment, not your typical fruit beer, very ambitious and successful at recreating the nuanced elements of key lime pie. Sounds crazy but it's true!

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 02:39:04 | More by emerge077

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Many, and I mean MANY, samples at EBF 2010.

A-Hazy golden brown color with a thin white head that reduced to a thin veil and left spotty lace.

S-Graham cracker and caramel sweetness with a backing dose of tart lime and bit of citrus.

T-I was initially worried that this beer would be too sweet and thankfully I was pleasantly surprised! A near perfect balance of graham cracker sweetness and the lightly tart bite from the Key limes. The malt sweetness is slightly dominate but most likely because that is the initial flavour. The Key Lime zing comes in quickly after and lingers on and on.

M-Medium-light bodied with good lingering flavours.

D-BAM! Short's does it again with an amazing fruit beer that no one has done (to my knowledge) and they freakin' NAIL it. I am a HUGE Key Lime Pie fan and this is about as close to it as a beer could get IMHO. Kudos to Joe and the crew for once again creating a masterpiece,

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2010 12:06:37 | More by Deuane

jrallen34

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I drank this from a tasting glass at EBF.

The beer is a murky brown color with a white head that doesn't provide memorable retention or lacing.

The aroma is very sweet, lots of lime and citrus dominating. At the end a hint of graham cracker.

The taste is very sweet, that's all you get. Its a little to sweet for my liking without being rewarding, like a Belgian Red for example that is super sweet but provides a little sour balance. The sweet is all limes, but should limes be this sweet? I wish somehow the graham cracker presented itself becaus it would totally balance this out and maybe make quite an interesting beer. I know this is a lot to ask but I wanted just a little green in the color here too. They do it for St. Patty's day, this would be an awesome addition.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 03:06:54 | More by jrallen34

wrightst

Maryland

2.79/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

A strange beer to be sure. I went out of my way to find me one of these. You know what they say - be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
It pours a relatively normal beer - medium amber, no head.
The nose is key lime pie all right. Lime citrus is unmistakable. The graham cracker I was promised and the marshmallow were not detectible in the nose or the taste.
The taste was reminiscent of krieks with the up-front tartness. Like the nose, the key lime flavor was obvious and in your face. Too much so.
I love being a beer drinker in the current age; so much experimentation going on, and I'd like to get a sample of just about all of it. The bolder the experiments, however, the more likely to miss. I applaud the attempt. Keep trying Shorts! I'll keep coming back for more.
I did grow accustomed to it, and was able to finish it.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 02:37:01 | More by wrightst

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

2.4/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2

Bottle shared by Sammy, 12oz into a tulip.

Dirty darker orange, offwhite head without any retention or lace. Nose has artificial lime notes (extract?), almost some minty mouthwash character as well. Everything else appears to be muddled together. Taste has more artificial lime notes, minimal malt character (although it's perhaps a bit crackery), leafy and spruce notes I think. Thin body, low carbonation. Almost unpalatable, couldn't finish my sample.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 15:32:57 | More by liamt07

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Spruce aroma. Decent mouthfeel. Carbnation is there. Lime and spice, spruce and sugar in the taste.Marshmellow. Bottle from Steve in Warren. Somewhat green colour.A bottle proved to be too much to solo.Would like more real lime and less sweetness, bring it on.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 03:34:03 | More by northyorksammy

Phelps

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip.

Caramel-orange, almost totally opaque. One finger of fizzy, light tan head fizzles away very quickly.

Ooh, weird. Lime zest, vanilla an toasted marshmallow met with a weird bready, biscuity note. Honey, something funky.

The flavor starts with bitter, pithy lime. A touch of sweet marshmallow, a flash of tangy sugar, a hint of toasted bread. Becomes more rounded as it warms.

Medium-light body. Mild carbonation, a touch of fizz. Clean, spritzy finish. Bitterness like gin and tonic.

Weird coagulated bubbles in the appearance. Too much marshmallow? Good, though. Tastes like the name says.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 17:39:34 | More by Phelps

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Love it or hate it, this is one of the most amazing beers I have ever had. One gets all of the qualities of the desert while still being a beer. A big warning to drinkers, the quality of this beer does not age well. The taste was better when I first bought the beer than it was two months later.

Poured into a snifter from the bottle, one gets a big hit of ... dessert-like lime. A dark straw color was the appearance with a soft white head. The initial taste was the tartness of lime, the crispness of the graham cracker crust, and the creaminess of the lactose sugar. The lime really hits the sour parts of the tongue and leaves a strong impression. These elements come together to make the key lime pie impression. The lime lingers heavily in the aftertaste. It is not the like the lime that one gets in a Corona to add taste to an otherwise bland beer. While the lime taste dominates Short's Key Lime Pie, there is a lot going on in this beer. The aftertaste holds the tart lime without being a full assault. The smoothness of the lime makes it even more pleasing. Nicely done Shorts! And this comes from somebody that is not a fan of the desert.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 02:45:45 | More by JohnnyHopps

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to grinnellj for sending me this one. This brew poured out as a copper/orange color with a fizzy white head on top. There are also some floating chunks on top of the beer also. The head fades and doesn't leave much lacing behind either. The smell of the beer is definitely Lime, major Lime aromas spewing out of this beer. The taste is a combination of tart lime, with some additional sweetness in there and finishing with the graham cracker. The mouthfeel is smooth, creamy and gently carbonated. Overall this is a pretty interesting brew, I can't say I would drink this again but I am pretty glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 00:47:39 | More by Knapp85

chugalug06

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 2 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks, Adam!

Hazy orange color with reds and browns. Very little white creamy head.

Holy Key Lime aroma.

Smooth, creamy, delicious. It's like pie in liquid form.. Flavor is spot on key lime pie with appropriate bitterness and sweetness. Carbonation is a bit on the low side, but it works.

A really strange brew... A very fitting flavor for the label. Highly recommended if you like experimental/unique brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:17:18 | More by chugalug06