Shorts Bourbon Barrel Sustenance Black Beer

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

Another bonus bottle from mbirder. Way to rep the MI, my man. Really strange beer, but Shwartzbiers certainly deserve barrel treatment as this one proves. Nose is probably the best scent I have come across in a BA selection: nice round bourbon, vanilla, fruity wood, spice, light banana from the base beer, roast. Flavors of the same with wheat and light grains showing up and milk chocolate. The finish is sudden and belies the thinness of the base beer which kind of separates the end from the big beginning. However, as roasty and fulfilling as most stouts in the world.

Poured a lightly hazy black / red color with a medium sized, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of vanilla oak, bourbon, roasted malts, some chocolate, and brown sugar. Taste of more roasted malts, light smoke, cocoa, dried fruits, toasted oak, vanilla, and a bit of bourbon in the finish.

bottle from mibirder. This is a great example of the depth and complexity that bourbon barrel aging can add to a beer. Bourbon really complements this brew. Very good, very smooth, and very drinkable.

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!

Pours black from the bomber with a shade of ruby from the bottle with a trim tan head. Brimming with vanilla bourbon roasted coffee and red grapes. The best beer Ive had from Shorts thus far. Awesome.

Bomber from masonjer. Thanks. Shared with my girlfriend Cyn and friends over dinner. Pours black with a tan head. Nose is sweet, smoky, malty with a touch of bourbon. Taste is sweet and malty with a big malty back bone, well balanced and tasty.

22oz Bomber Recieved this in an ongoing trade with hoppymeal, thanks again Derek! Sustenance pours black with deep chestnut highlights when backlit. A creamy two fingers worth of mocha head rose on the pour and as it slowly fell left thick sheet lacing down the glass. Each drink leaves great, thick drink lines behind. The head eventually settles to a half finger cap atop the black body. The first thing that hits my nose is the effects of the barrel "soaking" as the bottle implies. Damp oak, bourbon, and vanilla come forward in that order of intensity and although the barrel aging is most prominent it’s soft and allows the schwarz to come through nicely. Each swirl of the glass brings along a solid roastiness and espresso. A mouthwatering beer the second I bury my nose in the glass. Flavor keeps in stride with the aroma. Roastiness and coffee grounds upfront lay the foundation for the barrel aging. The maltiness is present throughout the drink allowing the bourbon to be a complimenting, as opposed to dominating, characteristic. The damp oak falls back compared to the aroma. The bourbon is brought to the front, followed closely by vanilla, and last but certainly not least is the damp oakiness. The bourbon finishes things off with a nice heat and hit of booziness. This is a super high quality schwarz from Short’s. One of the reasons I love schwarz biers is the body. This follows stride with some of the best but adds a bit of creaminess from the barrel aging. Medium body that leaves a slickness on the tongue. For a barrel aged beer this is highly drinkable. The lighter body and a manageable abv keep this flowing without a problem. As a matter of fact I’m drinking this glass way too fast. I can’t slow down. I thought this would be a good beer, just as all Short’s beers are, but I didn’t expect to be drinking something so good. This is a phenomenal beer. So many barrel aged beers are over the top in whatever liquid the barrel previously held but Short’s hit it on the head here. Another great beer from a brewery that’s becoming one of my favorites with every passing beer I drink. 6/7/08

Thanks to hopdog for sharing this. Pours a deep brown/black with a small bubbly off white head. Aroma of oak, vanilla, bourbon, oranges, chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, nuts and earthy. Flavor of vanilla, caramel, bourbon, chocolate, nuts, cocoa and roasted malt.