Short’s Brewing Company- Huma Lupa Licious: No Shortcomings For This IPA

A while back I headed to downtown Chicago for some poker and Craft Beer festivities at Wes’ place.  That evening I got to meet Wes’ brother and a variety of their friends from northern Michigan.  During one of our many conversations regarding Craft Beer, one of Wes’ brother’s friends started telling me about this brewery that (in his opinion) makes some of the best brew he had ever had.  He was saying that they were relatively new and only really known by those that reside in Michigan.  He promised that on their next voyage to the Chicagoland area they would be more than happy to bring down a variety of Short’s brews and that they should be back sometime late summer.  Upon hearing this I was both excited and a little disappointed that my wait would be in excess of 3 or 4 months.  Until last week on my trip to the beverage depot I found out that Short’s made a onetime shipment to the Chicagoland market in honor of the Craft Brewers Conference.  Lucky me was able to get my hands on some Short’s Brewing Company’s Huma Lupa Licious IPA and I am excited to see what this Michigan brewery has to offer this lover of IPAs.

Shorts Brewing Company classifies this beer as an IPA and their website describes Huma Lupa Licious as, “Named after the hop flower, this best selling India pale ale style beer has enormous amounts of hops which really seems like a punch in the face.  Hop flowers from the numerous strains used in this recipe render a delicious bitter taste and enticing citrus aroma.  Flavors from a hearty malt bill meld with the hops to balance this ale and provide a ridiculous urge to sample more.”

Huma Lupa Licious pours a hazy golden orange color with a ¼” off white head that quickly disappears and smells of hop, grapefruit, faint malt sweetness and a slight orange zest scent that seems to have a sweat orange slice candy hint to it.  This brew is 7% ABV.

Michigan must have the magic touch when it comes to Craft Beer.  Michigan breweries continue to impress and amaze me with quality and innovation in the originality and flavor of each of the brews I have had from this great state.  The list is endless and one brewery that should be firmly placed towards the top is Short’s Brewing Co.  Huma Lupa Licious is a true original that is unlike any previous IPA that I have tried.  Aside from the trance inducing aroma the flavor is just short of intoxicating.  It starts with a brief malty sweetness that is caramel in character which transitions to a bitter grapefruit/hop bite that finishes smooth and leaves your mouth & taste buds wanting more.  The label does not lie, as stated “A complex malt and hop theme park in your mouth.”  If the flavor of this IPA was a theme park then I’d have to say that it would rival Cedar Point Amusement Park.  It’s one of those Craft Beers that is not only worth the trip to consume but worth taking a week off work and hitting the Short’s Brewing Co and touring the rest of Michigan’s Craft Brew scene.

ABV: 7.0%

Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case