Freedom Of '78 - Short's Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a color best described as light-amber and deep-gold; highly translucent with a good amount of clarity to it, especially once the chill haze subsides. A creamy white head forms and dissipates pretty quickly leaving some moderate lacing behind. Had this one a little over a year ago and loved it. Pretty excited to have it again, super-fresh.

The aroma is a beautiful collaboration of "tropical" and "hoppy". Intense guava aromas are the most notable simply due to the fact that you don't often find guava in beers. Juicy, ripe, and insanely sweet guava, also giving off some mango-esque notes, too. The hops are full force as well, sitting perched withing the web of fruity goodness; weedy and grassy with some lightly resinous pine. Mild bready malt is apparent in the finale, yet still plays a tertiary role.

I take a sip and I'm in heaven for a moment. This seemingly flawless execution of a guava-nectar injected India Pale Ale is even better now than I remember. The guava jumps out immediately, sending a rush of sweet, tropical fruits all across your palate. Gushing with juiciness and packed with flavor, the guava meshes perfectly with the hops; the grassy, perfume-like, and light pine characteristics happen to pair excellently.

A little bit of a bitterness spike happens halfway through, as if to remind you that you're drinking an IPA and not a cup of guava juice. Malts are a little heavier on the back end, bringing a nice bread and butter flavor to the table. Medium bodied with an ample amount of carbonation, giving a crispy mouth feel. The finish has a nice guava character with a stingy, yet balanced piney hop bitterness.

One of my favorites from Shorts. I don't know if the guava addition could have been executed any better. Definitely a treat to drink anytime of the day. I wish they made this stuff year round.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 21:01:13 | More by tectactoe

chippo33

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%

05-23-2013 01:28:00 | More by chippo33

UHCougar12

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-22-2013 23:16:09 | More by UHCougar12

amishbooze

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%

05-22-2013 22:13:09 | More by amishbooze

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