Short's Huma Lupa Licious
No ratings yet — be the first to log it.
Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with a heavy surge of hop character — pine resin, citrus peel, and a touch of tropical fruit that signals the beer's hop-forward intent. On the palate, the bitterness is assertive but not punishing, with grapefruit and lemon rind up front and a dry, resinous finish that lingers. The malt backbone is lean, just enough to keep things grounded without steering the beer toward sweetness. It finishes firm and dry, which is exactly what the style calls for at this level of hop intensity.
About the Brewery
Short's Brewing Company is based in Bellaire, Michigan, in the northern Lower Peninsula, and has been operating since 2004. They built a reputation on adventurous, often eccentric recipes — flavored ales, experimental adjunct beers, and a wide-ranging tap list that made them a standout in the Michigan craft scene before the state's brewery density exploded. Huma Lupa Licious is one of their more straightforward, hop-focused offerings and remains a flagship in their lineup.
Food Pairings
Burgers with sharp cheddar work well because the cheese fat tempers the bitterness while the hop bite cuts through the grease. Grilled chicken with a citrus marinade echoes the beer's grapefruit and lemon notes without fighting them. Spicy dishes like buffalo wings find a decent counterpoint in the dry, resinous finish, which resets the palate between bites. A firm, aged gouda also pairs reliably, its caramel nuttiness providing contrast to the beer's dryness without overwhelming the hops.
Style Guide
American IPAs are defined by prominent hop bitterness, aroma, and flavor — typically showcasing citrus, pine, and tropical fruit from American hop varieties like Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe. The style grew out of the West Coast craft movement of the 1980s and 1990s, diverging from its English IPA ancestor by dialing down the malt and pushing bitterness and dry-hop character to the forefront. Body tends toward medium-light, and ABV generally runs between 6% and 7.5%, though this example sits slightly above that range. It's distinct from a Double IPA mainly in degree — less alcohol, less bitterness, but the same hop-first philosophy.