My love of Short’s Brewery began long before they were available in Indiana. On many trips to Michigan, I would pick up their beer, often bringing it for friends. And it was one Christmas in 2010 when I remember stocking up on at least a half dozen six packs of their beer that I picked up at a store in Niles. The beer was great, and it was always special because it was something I could not get at home.
Joe Short and company began brewing in 2004 and it wasn’t soon after that I began enjoying everything from the Bellaire Brown to the excellent Soft Parade. I enjoyed reading about all their events, and at the time the northern reaches of Michigan just seemed so far away from me. But I was in southern Michigan a lot, and over the years, I purchased quite a bit of their beer. I remember picking up a sampler pack in 2012 that included some of the very interesting Local’s Light. Short’s was making good beer, and I was willing to drive for it!
So you can imagine my excitement when it became available in 2016 here in Indiana, and I was asked to cover the release party. It was held at the now defunct Redemption Brewing, which is where the 2Tom’s Indianapolis location sits. I enjoyed drinking the beer, and was very happy to be able to get it regularly. I bought a lot of their six packs when I worked at Crown Brewing, and remained a fan throughout the last decade. When I was not able to attend an event held at the other Avon Crown store because I was working, my manager was nice enough to give me a hat that was autographed by Joe Short from the event. I also got a T-shirt, and when I made a trip to Michigan during Covid, I wore it with pride as I drove up to Northern Michigan, hoping to visit the brewery.
I got a spot at a local campground in Bellaire, and walked down to the brewery only to find that since it was Covid, and the Fourth of July weekend, I was not going to get into the brewery. That didn’t stop me, and I was able to buy quite a bit of beer to go, and enjoyed it with food in the outside eating area across the street. There was a busy cider house next-door with great music, and I also enjoyed some time there, making this quite a memorable evening.
I continued to buy Short’s beer, and enjoyed what I brought back from Michigan. And then just last week, I was able to attend a tap takeover that my friend Matt Cepican held at the Brownsburg Books & Brew. It was neat to have so many beers from this great brewery available, and I got to spend time with the local Short’s rep as well as a lot of friends as I tried nearly half a dozen different Short’s beer including my favorite IPA, the Psychedelic Cat Grass. I had fun on this wonderful evening, and it has made me adamant that I will stop in at Short’s Brewing the next time I am in northern Michigan. And I will get into the brewery this time!
So if you haven’t enjoyed any beer made by Short’s, they are available most likely where you live, and I encourage you to enjoy their beer. They are creative, and make some very interesting beers as well as a lot of beers true to the style. I can’t say enough about this hard-working brewery that is now one of the biggest in Michigan, and I’m glad that they’re available here in Indiana.
I want to close saying by thank you to Matt for hosting the Short’s event. He will be doing tap takeover’s from Hoppin’ Frog and Urban Artifact later this year, and I encourage you if you are in the area to visit at the Brownsburg location of Books & Brew. My friends Chris and Monika work there, and they always have great beer as well as excellent food. The Hoppin’ Frog event will be on Wednesday, August 23, and you don’t want to miss it. I will be there, and should you make it, let’s have a beer together!
So Much Beer So Little Time 