Short’s Liberator and Freedom of 78: Pure Guava IPA in bottles!

Two Short’s beers hit the shelves this week for the first time!

As you will find in the description below, this beer was a special one for SBC. Created by Tony Hansen, this beer was an opportunity to thank Joe for providing us all w/ the chance to create our own niche in such a unique industry which is unlike any other. What better way to do it than through the hoppiest monster we have ever made!?! The hardest part was not the immense hop additions every four minutes throughout the boil, or finding a malt bill that would be big enough to showcase all of this hop intensity. It was actually the juggling of the beer from tank to tank for over two months, with the hopes that Joe wouldn’t catch on, that made this one so challenging. You try hiding a brand new beer style, made in secrecy for the founder of the company, in his own brewery……it’s not as easy as it may sound. The good news is that Joe loved the beer, was so impressed with it, that we decided to bottle it last year. The even better news is that all of you really loved the beer, and wanted more than we were capable of providing! As the e-mails poured in, months after the bottles had come and gone, we realized that this year was going to take a lot more in order to satisfy all of you thirsty “Hop Heads”. Therefore, six batches of Liberator later, it returns to retail shelves today!! Make it a point to seek this one out, because once you taste it, you will understand how it liberates the senses of what a double IPA can or should be.

Liberator~ To pay homage to the original hop headed hero of Short’s Brewing Company, this beer was made as a 30th birthday gift for Joe Short. Our first official double IPA, this beast employs a sizable malt bill, but it’s the ridiculous amounts of hops added to the boil every 4 minutes for 120min that showcases this beer. A fruity, floral, piney intensity of hops penetrates through the caramelized malt profile. The finish is bitter with a punch of fresh citrus compliments of fresh lemon and orange zest added after fermentation. A true IPA drinker’s paradise.

ABV: 7.5% IBU’s: 300+ (basically, it’s immeasurable because it maxed the IBU scale out at 125)

If the rumors of the Freedom of 78′: Pure Guava IPA haven’t hit your ears yet, it will as of today, for it too is finally out in retail stores! This one will go fast!! With extremely limited number of cases produced, the employment of guava nectar, and the fact that this is our first collaboration brew ever, I would not expect this beer to make on shelves through the end of the week. If you missed it, and will not be able to forgive yourself for not having the chance to try it. Then come on up to Bellaire, check out the amazing renovations that will have just been completed at the pub, and purchase some of this awesome IPA from our private stash. Besides, who couldn’t use another reason to come up north for a pint or two.

A nice medium bodied IPA with a wonderful bright clarity and pleasing bronze hue. The aroma is a unique fusion of citrus fruit combined w/ subtle pine qualities. The distinct characteristics of the guava nectar are impossible to miss as the sharp sweetness and slightly tart flavors snap across the palate. Comparable attributes of tangerine, nectarine, and even some faint honey flavors are detectable. The finish quickly turns to a bitterness expected of an IPA, that resonates and turns dry during prolonged tastings.

Freedom of the body, freedom of the mind, this bitter nectar does it all ABV 6.9%

Cheers!

SBC