Short's Bourbon Huma - Short's Brewing Company

Fanhitter

4.7/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served in a pint glass on 10-18-2012

When served, a nice half inch of creamy, white head balances atop a rich, golden hued basin of brew. It looks magnificent. A small amount of lacing is visible due to the small amount of head.

I'll admit, I have the remnants of a cold but the aroma here is still strong, of sour berry and sweet cream. I sense a tad of dryhop, to be expected--as this is Huma--but in contrast to the original beer, the hop character on the nose takes a backseat to a nice fruity tone; unexpected and enjoyable.

This beer tastes great. Definitely not overbearing as other bourbon barreled brews can be at times. The dryhop bite that HUMA is known for is toned down a bit, but moreso blended in with flavors of butterscotch, vanilla and a slight marshmallow/mint flavor which I believe to be the combination of hops and sweetness from careful aging. I can say that compared to other barreled beers, this stands alone for an IPA.

On the sip, the beer is very similar to the original, not mellowing too much from a nice nap on wood. As the original is somewhere between 6-7%, the bourbon barreling acts as a nice compliment to the flavor without changing the texture. It doesn't seem to be any more syrupy than its original counterpart, which is nice.

Overall this is a great beer. I remember the first time I had it, I had a pint at the pub and immediately got a growler, which was wonderful, even 4 days after I cracked it. A year later, this is still the great beer I have sought after and will continue to do so for as long as Short's continues making it. They seem to have the barreling process down for not going overboard on how many beers they barrel. Anyone who bashes this beer is basing it on their elitist pride. This beer is as balanced as a bourbon-ed beer gets, and may be the easiest drinking barrel aged beer I've had. It's a great beer that I would recommend to anyone, novice or pro, as far as tasting goes.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 01:13:40 | More by Fanhitter

SaisonRichBiere

Michigan

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

Served on tap at Ashley's in Westland, MI.

Appearance- Slightly hazy golden copper, with some agitated spring water bubbling going on, with a creamy 1/4 inch of head. Tons of webby lacing hangs out on the glass.

Smell- Smells like a strawberry shortcake. Straight up. Syrupy fruity, sharp and tangy strawberry note, honey, big biscuity malt undertone.

Taste- Big tangy hop attack, Canadian whiskey smoothness, citrusy, grassy hops, caramel, and acidic mineral water. A bit of yeasty, malty note, before a smooth big, charred bourbony smooth finish. Complex, but very direct bourbon + IPA combo.

Mouthfeel- Smooth and creamy from start to finish, with a hint of bourbon burn on the palate.

Overall- This is a great example of a bourbon barrelled IPA, and a Michigan gem. Very well balanced between the bourbon bite, and the hop bite. One of Short's brewing's best. If you have a chance to get it, try it. This is a no BS brew. How it should be done.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 00:48:04 | More by SaisonRichBiere

BeRanger

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On draught at Grand Trunk for a Short's Invasion.

A: Pours amber with a finger of white head - a little header to decipher the color since the bar was darker. Good amount of lacing.

S: Citrus, grapefruit, vanilla, carmel and slight hops.

T: Amazing. The regular taste of the IPA comes through, very tropical fruit but a minimal amount of hopiness. The bourbon barrel taste comes through as more of a dry oak or bourbon taste. It was hard to describe but was perfectly blended.

M: Light bodied, good carbonation - finishes very clean.

O: This was outstanding. I wish this was more readily available or something they would put in bottles. The bourbon barrel "taste" meshed with the overall IPA perfectly. Well done Shorts!

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2012 04:39:04 | More by BeRanger

minterro

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes at Crunchy’s

Leftovers from the “Short’s Night”

A & S: candy sweetness is very strong but not complex. Mostly clear light copper colored beer. Decent lacing.

T & M: Smokey and sweetened malt. Hints of bourbon and woody tones are prevenlent but more background. Moderately bittering in the finish, semi dry. Medium bodied, sharp carbonation

O: Thought it was an interesting idea (the reason I tried it) but I didn’t think that it was better then the original. And so the saying goes “if it aint broke, don’t fix it”

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 18:47:08 | More by minterro

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.03/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 6/29/2010. On tap at Shorts. Pours a clear orange with a white head. Aroma of bourbon and faint grainy malt. Flavor of bourbon with sweet malt and sweet citrus. I didn't much care for it, but I've never been much of barrel-aged IPA fan.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 01:29:50 | More by LilBeerDoctor

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -20%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had this at Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Fest

Pours a creamy white head. Color is a bronze hued gold.

Aroma: Bourbon, oak, vanilla, caramel malt, floral hops and grapefruit.

Taste: Big and malty. Bready malts with oak and light bourbon comes through. Vanilla, floral hops, and citrus at the end.

Mouthfeel: Bitter, dry, and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends stick with a hop resin feel to it.

Overall, this one wasn't for me. Another ba ipa that I just didn't like because too much malt showed. IPAs need to be fresher than this.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2010 19:59:39 | More by mothman

alexgash

Connecticut

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Ashley's.

Mostly clear, golden-apricot body. Small, wispy, eggshell-white head. Good lacing. Definite bourbon on the nose: oak, vanilla, and leather. A little toffee and fruit malt underneath. Muted citrus and pine hops try to stand out.

Toasted malt flavors up front. Vanilla, oak, and bourbon follow. Smooth. Some fruit mixes in. Piny, herbal hop bitterness settles in and fills up the background. Finish shows some caramel/toffee, more oak/bourbon, and increasing herbal hop bitterness. Medium-bodied with a smooth, creamy feel. Caskish. Very tasty and interesting, but light on the hops.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2010 20:22:45 | More by alexgash

womencantsail

California

3.78/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The pour is a bright copper/amber color with a bit of white head on top.

S: The nose is much more IPA forward than I was expecting. Good piney hops along with some hints of citrus. Not really all that much bourbon, perhaps just some oak and vanilla notes.

T: Again, the bourbon really isn't noticeable here. I pick up a slight bit of oak and tannins, but not that usual booze and sweet vanilla. Still a fair amount of pine to it, maybe a touch of sweetness at points. A hint of diacetyl on a couple sips, too.

M: The body is medium with a pretty good level of carbonation that pricks the tongue.

D: Overall, not bad, but I still prefer IPAs to be as fresh and free from -bals as possible.

Serving type: growler

08-05-2010 18:57:03 | More by womencantsail

liquidcraft

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this a couple different times and I'm a fan. It starts like a fresh IPA and segues nicely into a smooth, soft aged beer; interesting. So many barreled beers have that unmistakable mellowed character from sitting in a cellar for however long, but this is a classic mullet. Crisp up front, long and smooth in the back, dipped in bourbon. The vanilla and oak at the tail end of the drink leave a nice aftertaste, making drinking a breeze. Can't hate on the price either, I think it was $4.50 or something for a tulip at Hopcat when they had it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2010 21:23:09 | More by liquidcraft

MbpBugeye

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewers guild fest in Ann Arbor 2010. A bourbon barrel aged Huma-luma-licious.

A bourbon barrel aged IPA is nothing Ive ever had before so I went right for this one.

Smells strongly of bourbon. Its not intense, hot bourbon, it smells like a good scotch. Lots of vanilla, pears, and oak coming from the bourbon. Under the strong, smooth bourbon is some raggedy hops. Bitter and piny smelling.

More oak and vanilla with strong yet smooth bourbon. Hops come around towards the end and wash it all down. This isnt a really bitter beer, nor is it a very boozy/bourbony one. Some how it is very well balanced and it works out great.

This one was a big surprise.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2010 22:15:57 | More by MbpBugeye