The Bellaire Brown

Shorts Brewing Co.
Bellaire, MI

Available: MI

On May 1, Shorts Brewing Co. sponsored the first Short’s to Short’s Paddle from the original brewery in Bellaire to a new, second facility. The 26-mile trip on a chain of lakes took most of the 30-50 participants 12-16 hours on the water.

ABV: 6.3
ABW: 5
Color: 23-25
Bitterness: 11.5
Original gravity: n/a

Turbid brown color with tan head delights the eye, for but a fleeting moment as the head dissipates too quickly. Malty nose of treacle and chocolate is engaging, like smelling a freshly picked flower. Clean and well-balanced mouth-feel is lightly malty and slightly thinner than the color suggests. The underlying fruit is a welcome addition, giving the beer character and making it a good choice to accompany food. With friends, we enjoyed it with fresh wild Alaskan halibut topped with a chimichurri sauce, just-picked organic Yakima Valley asparagus, and potatoes au gratin.
- Charles Finkel

Chill hazed light brown ale portrays substance. Fruity aroma of banana combines with cocoa malt character. A bit of wild yeast character challenges expectations. Medium bodied and somewhat absent of complexity. Equilibrium tends towards drinkability, but the flavor and aroma of wild yeast characters don’t serve to endorse the overall balance. Approach with an open mind, it may serve you well. It may not.
- Charlie Papazian

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.

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