Bludgeon Yer Eye PA - Short's Brewing Company

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I"m glad to see this listed as an American Black Ale, rather than IPA. To me, the IPA means more hops, which would not cover this beer. It's a black ale for sure. Dark color, good head at first that dwindles to a thick collar.

Hoppy aroma, nothing very strong but clear evidence of piney hops. A slight chocolate and roasted characteristic underneath. Some citrus mixed in there to quell hop onslaught. Some hints of anise

Flavor is porter underneath. Cocoa, toffee and roasted biscuit. The hop flavor is there, but it grows more so than a usual English (old) porter. Pine and citrus battle to gain dominance, with pine winning ever so slightly. Lingering bite, albeit not all that strong. Seems a bit thin in the end. Like a light porter, with more hops. Perrty good

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 06:59:02 | More by Mebuzzard

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle gifted my way by jale (thanks Jim!). This pours dark brown-black with a finger or so of tan foam.

Not being a big fan of Black IPAs, I was surprised to find this smells really nice. A nice mix of roasted malt and intensely piney hops. Reminds me a little bit of HF James, I'd say this is definitive. It all comes through in the flavor too, pine needles and citrus, toasted/roasted malts and a bitter but flavorful aftertaste. No real sweetness anywhere, but not overly bitter either.

I could go for a few more of these, this is probably my favorite of the style. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 02:07:00 | More by TurdFurgison

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks for this one, Jeff.

A: The beer pours a dark brown color with a finger of off-white head.

S: Has that sort of funky aroma that a lot of black IPAs have. A decent bit of hoppiness, a bit of grass and pine. There is a light fruitiness, also a touch of fruit/plums. Maybe some chocolate, too.

T: Kind of sweet, a little bit of chocolate. Sort of hoppy, some sweet hop flavors, a bit of plum, some citrus hops, too. A light pine bitterness and a bit of roasted malt.

M: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation.

O: Not as hoppy as I would have liked, but pretty decent.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 01:25:38 | More by womencantsail

mactrail

California

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Black but lighter bodied hop fest. Truly full of hops, listed by the brewery at 145 IBU, if that's possible. A nice noseful of pine, hot resin in the flavor. Very bitter after a while, but it does moderate to near the drinkable level. Lower alcohol for an IPA variety at 5% ABV. This is so dark I would think you could taste the burnt malt, but it seems to be buried. Just the sourness of the charred barley comes through. Fine for the hop enthusiast, but a bit much for sipping.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 03:11:35 | More by mactrail

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.38/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks to MarcatGSB for this bottle.

Appearance - The bottle opens with hardly a hiss and pours a deep brown body that looks black in the glass with a small off-white head. The head is gone in a flash and there's no lacing at all. It doesn't look all that alive.

Smell - A hop aroma of pine and a ton of grass. Roasted malts behind are an afterthought to the hops.

Taste - Grassy and earthy hops up front. Strong grassy flavors that aren't very appetizing, but drinkable. It's followed by a malt bill that backs it up surprisingly well. It's a smooth transition to chocolate malt and a slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Low carbonation on this one. Medium bodied and it's pretty drinkable. If the grassy hops had made it bitter, it would be tough to put away, but it's more in the front of the flavor.

Overall - Not bad, but not great. Black ales are tough. They're so difficult to balance. This one had unbalanced flavors that managed to work well together. Surprising, but still not a favorite.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 02:16:50 | More by Alieniloquium

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to lurchingbeast for sending this recently.

Pours a dark chesnut brown color that appears black in the glass with mahogany edges and a half finger beige head that quickly settles into a thin ring.  Minimal spots with some steaks of lacing.  

Slightly sweet aroma with a nice balance of earthy and citrus hops along with toasted/roasty malt.  Hints of pine needle and grapefruit, resinous hop oil countered by toasted makt with hints of chocolate, toast and licorice.  Finally a black ipa that smells more of hops.  Hopefully the malts are as tame in the flavor.

Medium bodied with a nice balance of dry, earthy hop bitterness and sweet roasted malt.  Not as hop dominant as the aroma suggest but the flavor is still strong.  Dry, floral, earthy and bitter up front with lots of sticky, dry, piny hops that are countered by hints of toast, coffee, chocolate, caramel, dark fruit and licorice.  Slight heat toward finish.  Again the malts are there but not overly sweet letting the hops do their thing.  Still I wish it was a bit more bitter with less malt.  That being said, it's one of the better examples of the style I've had.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 02:44:33 | More by corby112

Bung

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. Pretty dark pour, not much light around the edges. Just a ring of white bubbles.

Aroma is an impactful piney and herbal presence. There is some toasted malt and anise.

Taste is slanted to the hoppy side of balanced. Pine stronger than herbal or citrus. Back half has a nice roast, licorice and bakers chocolate. If I'm honest with myself it's a bit bitter.

Light side of medium bodied. Carbonation is more than it appears. Drinks well. Cerainly a hoppy take on the style, even for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 01:59:05 | More by Bung

salvo

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours dep rich dark brown towards black under a tan creamy head that sticks around and etches the glass.

An excellent black IPA; recognizably an ale rather than stout or porter. Nose is rich with soy sauce and licorice over floral and herbal hops. Some sweet malt also in the nose.

Drinks smooth and dry with loads of body and IPA complexity, balancing the hops throughout the tasting as the roasty malts give way to layers of complexity. The soy sauce saltiness and pungency stays through the unwinding flavors of roasted grain. Ends salty-licorice, then dry herbal hops. Deep dark chocolate once the beer warms to room temperature.

Medium to rich mouthfeel. Not buttery, but moving towards full bodied. Short's nailed this one, and the label art is eye-catching.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 02:46:11 | More by salvo

oline73

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

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

Appearance: Pours black with a little light coming through at the edges when light hits it. There is a finger of light tan head that clings to the glass well.

Smell: Very mild smell. Citrus hops with some roast and a mild sweetness.

Taste: Citrus hops up front. The roast shows up in the middle with a very bitter finish. There is more roast in the taste than the smell.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with mild carbonation and a smooth, dry finish.

Overall: I thought the hops and roast were fighting each other a little bit. The bitterness in the finish was a little too bitter, but it was still a pretty good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2011 23:28:01 | More by oline73

Beejay

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to RocPorterFanatic for this brew!

A: Pours as brown as the bottle, in the glass it is black with a tan head on the top of it.

S: Lots of pine, some grapefruit, and earthy resiny thing going on. All with a bready undertone. There is a hint of something in the finish that I am not in love with.

T: A slight pine flavor right at the beginning, followed by an almost metallic flavor. The finish is dark roasted grains. I feel like the smell was pretty good, but the flavor doesn't back it up much.

M: Medium in body, with decent carbonation.

O: Overall, it's ok. I wouldn't go out and buy a bunch of it. Another Short's beer that I am under-impressed by.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 02:57:35 | More by Beejay

afdempse

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks again to Huhzubendah for the bottle!

Pours a very dark brown/black. Tan head that provides nice bubbly lacing.

Aroma is huge. A heady west-coast hop experience, but with a hint of roasted barley that adds a very nice side-note.

Powerful pine up front with a surprisingly smooth bitterness for a beer of this level of hoppiness. Roasty malt underscores the multiple layers of hoppy goodness. Finishes dry with nicely hidden alcohol.

Overall, this is a very drinkable Black IPA that balances fresh hops and dark malts with ease.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 03:21:38 | More by afdempse

zachary80

Indiana

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Dated 7/20/11

Short's India Black Ale has a black body with a moderate-sized white head that quickly fades and leaves nice lacing down the glass.

The aroma is primarily of fruity hops balanced by an almost chocolaty malt.

The malt and hops flavors meld exceptionally well, and neither is very strong. The finish is like an overhopped stout

The mouthfeel on this one is far too thin, and is borderline watery. The carbonation is fine.

Overall this is a very good beer and I wish I would have bought more. And at less than $2 a bottle it's a good deal too

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 23:20:03 | More by zachary80

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer is near black with a finger of thick, beige head. Plenty of lacing cascades down the walls of the pint glass.

Great aroma with pine, malt, roast, hops.

Nice flavor as well. Surprisingly good. I just never know what to expect from Short's. The roast and hop components are blended beautifully.

Lingering pleasant hop bitterness in the finish. Thin to medium bodied. Nice feel.

A stellar example of the style. I would definitely have this again. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 03:38:27 | More by Huhzubendah

prototypic

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bludgeon Yer Eye is a dark, chocolate brown color. It’s not opaque. Backlighting reveals some burgundy highlights throughout. It’s topped with a nice tan head that stands over a finger tall. It’s somewhat slow to recede and leaves a sticky web of lace trailing down the glass.

The nose is good. It starts out with a rush of piney and citric hops. Grapefruit and mango are noted. They smell mostly of pine though. There are some dark malt scents. It smells like a mix of roasted malts and cocoa. They’re secondary to the hops. No doubt about that. More chocolaty scents emerge late. They don’t exactly smell sweet. Alcohol is masked well. Doesn’t come through strong at all.

The flavor is excellent. Hops attack the palate immediately and have a strong piney, resiny flavor. There are some citric grapefruit and mango flavors, but pine rules the day. It is quite bitter and dry. The hops work very well with the dark malt base. Roasted malts are the base, but are complemented by cocoa and bittersweet dark chocolate. It all works together to produce a really nice flavor. Alcohol is barley noticeable. Finishes bitter, dry and very roasty.

Bludgeon Yer Eye has a medium body and light carbonation. It is nice, smooth, and easy to drink. I wouldn’t say it’s creamy, but it goes down extremely easy. Several bottles would definitely be possible.

To date, I’ve been really impressed with Short’s Brewing Company. Bludgeon Yer Eye isn’t exactly one of their trailblazing beers, but it’s definitely a high quality American Black Ale (or whatever you want to call it). I think the aggressive hops are the most impressive aspect. They’re full of flavor, but somehow complement the dark malts rather than overshadow them. Works really well. If you haven’t had the opportunity to try this one, it’s definitely worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 01:45:38 | More by prototypic

lnashsig

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Many thanks to GordianKnot for the chance to try this one. Poured from bottle into DFH snifter. Pours a pitch black creamy pour, nice off white fluffy head with great retention. Smell- nice citrus hops, roasted malt. Taste- awesome hops presence here- it creates prickly bitterness, followed by nice citrus and tropical hops, followed by that mocha, roasty finish. This one is a winner. Mouthfeel is really nice and creamy- full bodied for sure, esp more evident as it warms.

I would seek out again for sure, and thanks again for the chance to taste!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 18:39:12 | More by lnashsig

FosterJM

California

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

753rd Review on BA
Bottle to pint
12oz
No date

Thanks to Kzoobrew for this one.

App- Pours just like a soda. Dark dark brown with a little amber mixed in in the light. One finger head a lot of nice cling lines and a little bubbly on the top.

Smell- Roasty and a lot of it. Soft coffee, a little hoppy and a touch of malt.

Taste- Its a nice little tasty beer with some nice softer-ish dark roasted flavors. This seemed a bit unbalanced w/o an abundance of hops to balance the roastedness. The roast becomes a little one sided as it warms.

Mouth- A nice soft medium bodied beer with a medium carbonation and a little bit of roasted malts on the finish. Much harsher due to to the roast without the hop balance

Drink- It's a tasty beer but seems a bit unbalanced with the roast on the warm side. This was probably the 3rd shorts beer Ive had.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 23:09:22 | More by FosterJM

MarkIntihar

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into my Bell's snifter.

A - Pours opaque black with a finger's worth of pale tan head. Nice looking for a Black IPA, but nothing earth shattering.

S - Very hoppy, floral up front, followed by a faint hint of burnt malts. Not overpowering on the nose, and a bit disappointing, to be honest.

T - SUPER hoppy and citrusy up front, with a nice hop dryness/bite to it. This citrus is followed by a bitter, roasted, burnt malt type of taste that is not very pleasant. Doesn't totally kill it, but not a great follow up to the hoppy start. Almost a dark licorice type of finish. Interesting, and much more complex than the smell.

M - As mentioned in the taste section, a nice hoppy bite to it to start, with a finish that almost dries your mouth. A bit strange, but not unpleasant.

O - A bit disappointed with this one, as I suppose I was expecting something more to the "black" part of the beer from Short's. Still a decent offering overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 02:05:14 | More by MarkIntihar

techfed87

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a big, frothy head. Smell is super hoppy, almost as floral as their other IPA's. Color is stark black. First sip immediately reminds me of my other favorite combination of chocolate and peanut butter. This beer combines my absolute favorites of darker, more malty beers, like black ales, and hoppier, lighter beers like IPA's. The flavor attributes of both blend so well together that this may end up being one of my favorite beers overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 01:52:25 | More by techfed87

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz into nonic pint. No bottle dating...

A- Very dark carmelly brown color. Pours a cm light khaki, head. Sticky lacing.

S- Light citrus aroma, but followed closely by a very sweet caramel, nutty aroma.

T/M- Bitterness is much more pale ale-like; though there is a lingering bitterness at back of throat that comes out of nowhere. Hops are more earthy, woody, and slightly spicy. Malt is more bready. Taste is way different than the nose. Very light and highly carbonated with an acetic finish. Leaves the tongue with a weird feeling.

O- This is ok. Not anything to write home about, I'm fairly surprised by high score actually. Much more similar to a black pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 03:24:18 | More by TheGordianKnot

mattcrill

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: Big resiny and citrus hop notes up front. Powdery hop resins dominate the aroma. Clean fermetation character. No fruity esters or malt character noted. Balance is an American hop bomb.

Appearance: Dark brown with shoe leather highlights. Sudsy and sticky off-white head.

Flavor: More citrus and pine hop flavor up front. Light background biscuity malt notes that are quickly beaten back by the American hops. Balance is firmly bitter with a hint of background roastiness. Finish is clean and dry. Lingering hoppy goodness in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. No astringency or alcohol heat.

Overall impression: A nice, firmly hopped Black IPA. The IPA character is firmly in charge here and most of the time except for the color I was thinking IPA all the way. Still, the dark roasted malt character does make a quick appearance here and there and keeps it interesting. Another winner from Short's.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 17:15:27 | More by mattcrill

GRPunk

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a nonic pint.

A- A moderate pour left a 1-finger, light brown head atop a rich, mahogany body. The head sustains at a nice, foamy lace and leaves fantastic sticky webs about the glass.

S- Wonderful, resiny hops rush forth as the bottle pops creating a citrus and earthy scent that seems really fresh and clean. A little warmth brings out an underlying grainy aroma that offers the slightest chocolate and light smoke. Relieved that it wasn't too hop centric.

T- Very hop-centric at first. Lots going on within the hoppiness like citrus, grass, and herbal flavors. Light, grainy flavor peeks through on further inspection, bringing a needed balance. Warmth increases the malt profile suggesting a little chocolate and cereal (cocoa puffs?). A the while, this is still a hoppy beer. It is labeled a Black IPA after all.

M- Moderate carbonation and body. Slight, grainy texture is pleasant.

O- I initially thought this was just a one-dimensional hop bomb. Glad it wasn't. Just enough from the malts to keep it in balance. It's really an easy drinker. I could put back more than a few in a single sitting. Short's has definitely moved up the ranks of my favorite breweries with consistently solid traditional beers to compliment their ongoing experimental stuff. Which is an American Black Ale? Let the debate begin.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 15:58:47 | More by GRPunk

DannyDan

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a black mahogany with a tan white head that has good lacing and retention. The nose has a nice pine and floral hops aroma with some roasted and smoked malts trying to come through. The taste starts out with the hops and is followed with some coffee, caramel and chocolate malts lingering in the back and than the pine hops hits you again in the aftertaste. the mouthfeel is medium bodied that clings to the tip of the tongue and sticks to the lips. Overall, this is a very pleasant surprise and one I'll be drinking more of in the future.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 05:45:49 | More by DannyDan

dirtylou

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on-tap, Brickhouse - Madison

from notes

appearance: served in a shaker pint, dark mahogany body, quickly dissipating tan head

smell: piney hops - very green, charred malts, roasty, smoke

taste: really great - instantly one of my favorite black ipas...lush evergreen, dark chocolate, char, smoke, burnt malts, heavy roasted dark malts.

mouthfeel: rich medium body

overall: nice

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2011 16:29:59 | More by dirtylou

ahq514

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12 oz bottle into shaker glass.

Pours a deep brown with very little head. Little evidence of carbonation. Almost no lacing.

First thing that hits my nose is hops, floral, pine and subdued citrus. Also get some chocolate roast and deep caramel aromas.

I get a lot of dry roast and some coffee in the taste, not a whole lot of chocolate which I got in the nose, but some decent caramel flavors. Some bitter hops come through with mostly floral and pine hops. The bitterness fades away and the dry roast flavors stick in the mouth for awhile.

Mouthfeel is good. On the lower side of carbonation, but I don't mind that too much. Pretty medium bodied.

Overall this is a solid american black ale. Probably right smack in the middle of other ones I've had. Something off about it I can't pick up on, but fairly enjoyable overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 03:17:33 | More by ahq514

alexgash

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle.

Dark maple syrup to cola brown body. Small, tight-laced, light khaki brown head. Some lacing. Pungently appetizing resin and pine hop aromas up front. Some mint as well. Strong chocolate and roasted malt backing. Hints of licorice and caramel too. Very nice.

Singed malts and coffee bitterness percolate to the front. Hop bitterness builds with notes of mint, pine, Scotch tape, and maybe a hint of lime. Strong roasted malts and dark chocolate balance the hoppiness. Notes of caramel, licorice, and earthy peat also mingle in the palate. Finish is a bit dry, with lingering hop bitterness. Delicious! Medium-bodied, with a slightly chewy feel. One of the better black IPAs I've had.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 20:55:37 | More by alexgash