Shorts Brewing Company- Pandemonium Pale Ale: My last beer from my Michigan road trip.

So I have one bottle of Shorts left from my trip home to Northern Michigan in July. I remember trying this beer, but I don’t really remember trying it, if you know what I mean… I figured this would be another pale ale to notch in my belt and I eagerly gave Jason a bottle as well. Let me just say I was a little less than excited by Jason’s scathing review of Pandemonium. It was time to form my own conclusion.

Pandemonium is a little darker and fuller than most pales, it has a beautiful copper hue.  This brew is definitely more carbonated than a typical pale as well. Pandemonium has a thin and wispy snow white head. You can detect hints of citrus and bittering hops. There is also a dairy like scent that I find appears in a lot of amber ales like Fat Tire. Short’s has a very gorgeous beer here; It looks like something you want poured fresh of a tap.

I am not sure exactly how much glue Jason sniffed before he reviewed this beer, because it is insanely delicious. Pandemonium has a great citrus punch that accentuates the hops beautifully. This is one of the hoppest pale ales you will ever find. The hop bite is that perfect amount that dries your palette and makes you want to keep raising the glass to your lips, over and over. All the while, a slight roasted malt presence also makes itself known.

If you’re a real man, this is your pale ale stretched to the extreme. Short’s Pandemonium Pale Ale lives up to its slogan, “Behold the Bitter Hysteria.” Don’t get me wrong, this beer is not for everyone, whiny little beer bitches need NOT apply. But if you are looking to test your notions of what a pale ale really is, you better get ready to survive the Pandemonium.

ABV: 5.4%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case!

Short’s Brewing Company- Pandemonium Pale Ale: Pandemonium Prevented

If you’re in baseball, batting .500 is a dream.  When you’re a weatherman, if you’re right 50% of the time, you keep your job.  In High School, if you got a 50% on a test, you got an F.  So when is going 50%, 1 for 2, 2 for 4 and so on a good or bad thing?  For me, if I try two beers from a brewery and they go one for two I’m always a little hesitant to try a third.  My hesitation usually subsides if my third try is a style that I highly enjoy.  Right now, Short’s Brewing Company is one for two in my book.  Their Huma Lupa Licious IPA was really good and their The Magician Dark Red London Ale was downright disgusting.  I’m a little more at ease with trying a third from Short’s as their Pandemonium Pale Ale falls into my love of Pale Ales.  The other reason is that my boy Wes hooked me up with a variety of Short’s brews when he came back from northern Michigan in June.  I pray that the Pandemonium that will ensue is a good thing.

Short’s Brewing Company classifies this brew as an American Pale Ale and their website describes Pandemonium Pale Ale as, “Our classic American pale ale lends its copper color to the rich specialty grains. This craft ale is balanced with four kettle hop additions to a near IPA quality.  It is one of the few beers we finish through whole leaf hops lending a nice fresh earthy aroma and flavor.”

Pandemonium Pale Ale pours a Golden/Orange color with a ¾” cream colored head and aromas range from slight peach, biscuit, muted malt and faint citrus and is 5.4% ABV.

The label art is of the Devil himself with his chin in his hand as if he is pondering something.  In addition, the label also reads “Behold the Bitter Hysteria”.  I can only imagine what the Devil is thinking.  I can tell you what I’m thinking is that I’m not all that impressed.  Where’s the Pandemonium??  Or is the Pandemonium going to ensue once I realize that this beer fell short (no pun intended) of my expectations?  The overall flavor is rather bland and if it were any more pale it would be translucent.  With the description stating that there were four kettle hop additions I would have expected a more pronounced hop character but it’s just not there.  Pandemonium starts with a minimal hop bite and then transitions to a peach/citrus finish that leaves you asking, “Was that it?”  I’m pretty sure that I am going to infuriate my native northern Michigan partner in crime with this review, but he is the one that gives me a ton of crap and says that I only review beers that I like.  Well, I did not like Pandemonium Pale Ale but I know that I will give Short’s another try because you can’t like em’ all.

ABV: 5.4%

Consumed: Nonic Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Six Pack