Shorts Bourbon Barrel Sustenance Black Beer

Brewed by Shorts Brewing Co.
Style: Schwarzbier
Bellaire, Michigan USA

Date: December 12, 2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Appearance: black with ruby edges, wispy beige head
Aroma: light roasted aroma, touch of dark chocolate, just a hint of vanilla and bourbon sweetness
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, dark caramel and vanilla sweetness brings out the rich chocolate, light bourbon grows as it warms, just a touch of balancing bitterness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Name: Sustenance
Date: July 11, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: RBSG 2009
Appearance: clear dark brown, fine tan head, drippy lace
Aroma: sweet chocolate aroma, light dry caramel, light oak and earthyness
Flavor: rich caramel and chocolate flavor, just a touch of caramel sweetness, lots of earth and oak

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

(22oz bottle, thanks kmweaver) Clear red-black body topped by medium beige head. Aroma is moderately sweet, chocolate, roast, some cherry, smoke, light Bourbon. Taste is medium sweet, chocolate, roast, some cherry, Bourbon, light smoke/burnt.

Thank you Derek for this 22oz bottle! Poured a dark brownish color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of wood/oak, vanilla, some bourbon, nutty, chocoalte, roast, and earthy. Tastes of vanilla, bourbon, dark fruits, chocolate, nuts, roast, and wood. Very nice!

22oz bottle @Pauls Gathering Thanks JoeMcPhee-pours a brown ring for a head and dark brown color. Aroma is sour, bourbon, medium/dark malt. Taste is bourbon, medium/dark malt, secondary earthy hops. Somewhat hot.

Bottle… O’sS&BS-I-T-YVBThrowdown… Pours very dark and burnt orange with a small, creamy, off-white head. The aroma is a monster blend of heavy, acidic sourmash, moderate dark chocolate and a touch of vanilla. Medium-bodied with a watery mouthfeel and tingly carbonation. Chocolaty, bourbony and a touch acrid. Lengthy, mildly sweet, sourmash and chocolate finish. Thanks to GoT for sharing the bottle!

Deep black pour with a sticky off-white head. The nose is fairly unusual. Toasty/cocoaish malt with a bit of lightly salty toasted malt. Fairly salty with a kiss of toasted malt and light cocoa on the back. Meh.

Bomber. Nearly perfect black body was topped with a khaki head. The aroma was fairly strong bourbon with the oak and some vanilla. There is also a leathery note. The little bit of cola is behind that character. The taste is like bourbon and Coke more than anything else. Once you get past that mixed drink character, you get a little bit of peanuts and chocolate. But again, bourbon and Coke dominate, something I do not recall tasting in a beer. This may please those that love the sweet Schwarzbiers, but I prefer the ones that have mroe roasted character. Huge disappointment as I normally love Shorts.

Pre MiBGF taste at northernbrews, thanks Jeff: Basically opaque with a creamy head and spotty lace. The aroma has notes of bourbon (oak, vanilla, alcohol), chocolate and heavy roasted black malts, hint of lactic acid and brett, nutty. The taste has a nice fruity start with toasty and nutty malt profile before heading off towards a acidic finish and oak undertones. The mouth feel is lush and oily, dry finish. Outstanding balance and complexity, show the Schwarzbier character without overpowering Bourbon flavors.