Shorts Nicie Spicie

Brewed by Shorts Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Bellaire, Michigan USA

I’ll start with the aroma this time. As soon as I twisted the cap, I could smell the black pepper. And some lemon. Inhaling deeply, the pepper tickled the nose. Some slight breadiness and yeastiness to go along with the pepper and lemon. Very unique, very pleasant. Pours a hazy yellow-gold, with an inch of acid-white head. The foam dissipates completely very quickly and leaves minimal lace. The beer itself remains perfectly carbonated. Tons of pepper and lemon in the initial sip. And in all the subsequent sips. I know there’s coriander and orange in there too, but really, the lemon pepper predominates. The lemon grows stronger midway through each sip, and then it backs down again only to finish dry with some fire from the pepper. Light body with a strong pepper aftertaste.

Multiple samples @ WBE: This beer was badass. Pours like a dirty banana. Smells of citrus, and black spice. A very unique flavor, this tastes of citrus fruit, yeast, and fresh black peppercorns, with black pepper finishing on palate. I can see this beer being a perfect compliment to summer fare. Best wheat ale I have ever had, but be warned that you must be a black pepper lover to attempt to enjoy this. I literally was burping up straight pepper all afternoon. Unique and fantastic.

Nicie Spicie, released from it’s growler, pours a lovely ginger hue, active carbonation rushing up, to greet a thinnish white head. Aroma is warm spice, ginger, cinnamon, and coriander, a whisper of pepper, but dominated by orange zest. Very pleasing to this nose, a gentle mix of fruit and spice. Zing, goes the tongue, on meeting this brew, a burst of tidy spices entangle the buds, sweet citric fruitiness blends in next, and all is settled well. Flavor never wanes, and in fact, gets juicier and plumper further in, tastes of apricot and peach shining through, with the pepper laying out new levels of spiciness, without getting hot and spoiling the feeling. Nearing the end of my first glass, I feel the peppery heat more and it dominate the palate in ways I’d never imagined when first sipping this serving. This carries over in the finish, where previous I felt it was mildly possessed by pepper, it now almost carries a sting, and has claimed a long stake on the senses. (We must pour a new pint to be sure..) On this pour, the head is larger and takes longer to shift in size...I’ll bring it up 1/2 a point for that... This time, the nose takes pepper in largest, mixed well with lemon & orange...yeah, that’s a hot tamale! Soaking the brew on my tongue again, it only feels hotter, and commands control of the mouth. Tempered well by the fruit, matched with the malt, this hot, spicy quality sits at attention and barks, but doesn’t bite. It slings a powerful heat, yet holds it back in abeyance, making a very palatable, tasty brew. Long, hot finish, medium body, unique and memorable. I’ve yet to encounter a beer quite like this, and congrats to Short’s for coming up with something so bold, yet easily drinkable! (I’ve had a few that go the other way, making even one pint a chore.)

Aroma has weak orange, yeast, wheat, citrus and pepper spice. Hazy medium orange hue with a mostly diminishing head that left ok lace. Flavor is spicy orange, yeast, wheaty malt. Watery soft and light bodied. Leaves a nice crispy spicy bite on the finish. Nice and refreshing and leaves a spicy kick. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Northernbrews for the Short’s hookup. A ton of aroma for such a light brew. Peppercorns, lemons, wheat and everything nice. Flavor is more of the same. Nice and light, but still full flavored. I could drink this all day on a golf course in the hot sun. Great flavor, but still good for a hot Florida summer day.

Growler courtesy GOT. Light hazy amber pour with a fluffy head. Spicy pepper, lemon aroma and a hint of hops. Taste is light and smooth with notes of hops, pepper, lemon, wheat malt. Really tasty, great warm weather beer.

Growler shared by GodOfThunder. Pours cloudy yellow orange color with a white head. Strong pepercorn aroma with some wheat. Very peppery flavor with some citrus, lavender and light wheat. Medium body with average carbonation.

Sampled from growler, courtesy northernbrews. Hazy orange color with a light off-white head. Nice aroma, the citrus peel and peppercorn are clearly evident and meld well with the tamer traditional wheat base. The taste is much the same, with a basic wheat base livened up by a peppery and floral background. Interesting and well-done.