(Bellaire, MI) – Short’s Brewing
received label approval this week for its fourth bottle release to hit the mass Michigan market. The Soft Parade will arrive this summer, with the latest word being a Facebook note from the brewery that the ETA for the beer is June. The release of this beer comes a few months after the brewery’s first bottled beers hitting the mass Michigan market: HumaLupaLicious IPA, Bellaire Brown, and Pandemonium Pale Ale. So why the wait?

There has been some discussion in this BA thread that reveals, in part, why there have been delays. Because this beer contains fruit, as noted below, the TTB pays extra attention to how those fermentable sugars affect the end ABV level of the beer. BA user, TheBlackMallard, astutely pointed this out in the thread citing the multi-million dollar TTB-Samuel Adams settlement from earlier this year: “[The brewery] allegedly manufactured products that exceeded the authorized percentage of alcohol by volume derived from flavoring and other ingredients for classification as malt beverages.” Those products are generally registered as distilled spirits instead but the brewery received “malt beverage” clearance on this one last month.

OK, enough law talk, more beer talk. From the brewery’s website, the beer description reads: “A fermented potion we call fruit rye ale. This gourmet specialty is engineered of toasted rye flakes and two row malted barley. These ingredients make a beer that we ferment with freshly pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. The result is a sweet effervescent fruit delicacy most notable for its alluring color and drink ability.”

Brewmaster, Joe Short, mentioned that the retail price will be the same as the brewery’s other offerings.

This news conveniently comes on the day before Short’s 5th Anniversary Party. Info from the website: “This year’s Anniversary Ale is a wheat wine based Nicie Spicie-ish beer with 225lbs of blood oranges. Food available off a special menu. Reggie and the After Party will be performing in the evening. Brewers will be on site manning a special booth and giving tours! Huma 6-packs and 22oz Bourbon Barrel Sustenance bottles will be available to purchase. This year’s Sustenance will be on tap.”