Freedom Of '78 - Short's Brewing Company

masey222

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Pours a slightly cloudy golden pee color not to different from a macro american pilsner with a small to non existant head and a good lacing all the way down...
It smells of the guava and mellon like sugars, delicious to me, with a tinge of really sweet floral hop...
god, it doesn't taste like anything I have ever had, the guava really comes through in the beginning with a really rich sweetness then as you swallow the hop comes through and dries out the palate and leaves a really nice and dry floral IPA taste in your mouth, all and all the beer is very well balanced and interesting to drink, an adventure in every sip...
It has a light carbonation that isn't abrasive and is crisp which really adds to the flavor and over all drink of the beer but the consistency is like tonic so a little thin for me...
It drinks well and is a very intriguing one of my more preferred fruit beers thus far.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 20:27:29 | More by masey222

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-21-2013 14:35:49 | More by xnicknj

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This brew was served from the tap at HopCat in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It arrived in a generic tulip, glowing a golden honey coloring. It held a one finger head of off white bubbles, showing good retention, and leaving patterned lacing around the glass. The beer was hazy, but without sediment. Carbonation appeared to be light. The aroma was fresh and fruity, with overt guava, strawberry, pineapple, and grapefruit. The malts were pale and fire roasted, while the hops were bright, citric, and syrupy. With warmth came vanillas, icy coolness of herbs, and honeysuckle. Our first impression was that the flavoring showed excellent fruit up front that was not overwhelming, and nicely clean hoppiness to balance. As we sipped, the taste began with sweet guava juice, apricot, and pineapple sitting against a lightly toasted pale malt base, citric and floral hops, honey, wet wheatiness, and mustiness. The middle showed a more simple side, with bittered grain of pales, black pepper spice, floured dough, wet leafiness, and herbal hops. Washing through the finish was that same herbal hop, eucalyptus, guava flesh, soured lemon bite, sugar dipped dried mangos, and gritty yeastiness. The aftertaste breathed of herbal and citric hops, ethanolic pepper, guava, grapefruit, tangerine, and bittered lemon rind. The body was medium, and the carbonation was high, with prickle to the lip. Each sip gave good pop, foam, froth, and smack, with limited slurp and glug. The mouth was left crisply dry following a wet, cooling coating. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was the elegantly included tropical fruitiness through both the nose and the flavoring. At most points the guava came across as highly authentic, and the sweetness actually helped quite nicely to match the prominent malt profile. The hops added lightness, but were a bit simplistic and underdone. When closer to tap temperatures the sip was bigger and much frothier, but with warmth it muddled, making for a slower drinking beer. This is a refreshing warm weather beverage, nicely fruited, and full, but the final balanced just never quite came together for us, as things felt, at times, disjointed and awkwardly superimposed.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2013 02:32:26 | More by TheBrewo

TheConnMan

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-20-2013 14:38:33 | More by TheConnMan

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.06/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from GRDave (thanks man!). No bottling date. Served in a Terrapin snifter.

Pours hazy amber with a full finger white head that fades fairly quickly and leaves a nice bit of lace.

Smells of tropical fruity hops. Orange, guava, papaya and candy.

Taste bursts with juicy guava followed by grapefruit, peel, a little sugar and cracker. The guava dominates.

Slick light medium body with moderate carbonation. Dry grapefruit finish.

Shorts was not kidding about the guava. It's a very unique and juicy IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 04:44:42 | More by ThickNStout

drewone

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-20-2013 00:32:15 | More by drewone

AlMarzo

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -20.7%

05-19-2013 06:35:02 | More by AlMarzo

Holland

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-19-2013 04:14:28 | More by Holland

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-19-2013 01:15:02 | More by Photekut

pmarlowe

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-17-2013 03:25:32 | More by pmarlowe

SpongeRuiner

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +15.9%

05-17-2013 02:51:36 | More by SpongeRuiner

TypsiYpsi

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-16-2013 23:13:50 | More by TypsiYpsi

Texasfan549

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-15-2013 23:02:02 | More by Texasfan549

kjkinsey

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-15-2013 23:02:01 | More by kjkinsey

Eddyfunt

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -14.6%

05-14-2013 21:20:58 | More by Eddyfunt

Etan

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12oz into a tulip.

A: Pours a clear light brass with a small white head.

S: Perfumy guava juice dominates the nose with a hint of oily hops and alcohol.

T: Taste brings guava mixed with piney, earthy hop bitterness. Mild notes of tobacco, light fruity acidity, caramel malt.

M: Between light and medium-bodied with very light carbonation.

O: The guava came through nicely. The combination of guava with the hops used wasn't amazing, but it's drinkable and decent. A bit under-carbed, though.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:45:54 | More by Etan

miwestcoaster

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%

05-11-2013 20:28:43 | More by miwestcoaster

bvdubn

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%

05-11-2013 00:54:15 | More by bvdubn

Slay40

Michigan

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-10-2013 18:55:16 | More by Slay40

Bitter_Echo

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-09-2013 03:04:44 | More by Bitter_Echo

hilgart1

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%

05-09-2013 02:30:38 | More by hilgart1

andrewjraab

Michigan

3.91/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up the LAST bottle at Copper Vine in Grandville. Poured in a SAPP glass.

Pours a golden amber with good clarity. Fluffy white head quickly dissipates. Decent lacing and stick to the glass.

Smells amazing - big citrus aroma, mixed with a sweet smell of caramel?

T - mouth watering citrus hop juiciness. Finishes with an off balanced bittersweet. Brown Sugar?

O - This was highly drinkable and I'm glad I got a chance to taste it. I wish I could have gotten my hands on more. This is an really solid collaboration and well done summer IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:16:27 | More by andrewjraab

MrBIP

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-08-2013 01:05:39 | More by MrBIP

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to mrbubbler for sharing this one at GRG1313’s tasting.

Pours a clear orange with a foamy white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, guava, citrus, and weed aromas. Taste is much the same with guava and weed flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with some interesting aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 03:48:24 | More by UCLABrewN84

Extrajoker00

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-05-2013 20:50:39 | More by Extrajoker00