Shorts Ginger in the Rye

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

Big thanks to Derek for another rare Shorts beer, 750mL bottle, number 7 of 1104, poured into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy bright orange with an enormous three inch head that leaves clumps of lacing on the glass and remains a cap for the duration. There is also a constant stream of bubbles streaming up to the top. The aroma has a fairly strong ginger presence and plenty of typical hefe aroma hiding behind it - some banana sweetness and cloves. There may be a bit of rye spiciness as well but I’m not sure I can differentiate between that and the clove. The taste is really interesting and doesn’t taste exactly like the aroma. It’s a got a zing of ginger up front and the hefe characteristics are certainly less evident as in the nose. Unlike the aroma, the rye really comes out in the finish with a spiciness that lingers between sips. The mouthfeel is extremely smooth, likely due to the rye, and has a ton of carbonation, probably too much. As with many of the Shorts beers I’ve had, this one really pushing the limits of styles and the flavors are bold and aggressive, definitely limiting the drinkability. I’m not convinced it all comes together perfectly, but it’s a creative effort (as always) from Shorts.

Bottled (Pikkulintu, 0,75 ltr). Clear amber color, small white head. Ginger, lemon in the nose. Light palate (for 7.8 % beer). Ginger dominates the flavor, some sweet citrus. Christmas-likey, a bit too simple ginger flavored.

Light hazy orange, amber colour with a dense off white head. Ginger spicy and light malty sweet aroma. Malty, light grainy flavor with notes of hay. Ginger spicy finish.

Bottled@Konttori, Tampere. Amber colour with mediumsized big white foamy head. Aroma is some grassy and fruity hops with spices, some mild gingery notes. Flavour is spicy, fruity and also quite yeasty. Yet another Shorts that is quite strange, but yet balanced and drinkable.

Bottle at Tuulensuu, Tampere Mid- to darkish-orange Doesn’t smell hugely gingery - the main aroma I get is something I associate with saliva (no, I did not dribble in the glass) - but ginger is there. There is ginger also in what I’ll call a general beery taste. Slight banana perhaps from the yeast. Unusually, Phil did not share this.

(Bottle at Pikkulintu, Helsinki, on 2009-04-24 -- shared with teme, thanks!) Amber / copper colour and almost clear. Large white head. Ginger, hops and fruitiness in aroma. Medium bodied, dryish and lightly oily palate with medium carbonation and burning feeling from ginger. Frutiness, Belgian like yeastiness, ginger, hops, bitterness, grapefruit and hint of butter in taste.

Strong fragrance and flavor. Lots of rye and just a bit of ginger. Fairly bitter on the finish. Not bad, but not easy to drink.

Not for me. Not a big ginger fan and this is definitely ginger. A bit spicy and malty with hints of citrus fruit.