Short's Imperial Peaches and Creme

Short's Imperial Peaches and Creme

Imperial Peaches and Cream is a high gravity, golden ale, fermented with lactose and fresh peaches. Joe Short used this eloquent bi-line to describe the beer’s flavor profile: “Cream softness fused with the delicacy of Prunus persica.” We used a half pound of real, fresh peaches and approximately 1.5 ounces of milk sugar for every gallon of beer produced.

Peaches n’ Creme was originally brewed in Bellaire on April 25, 2007 and was the 301st batch of beer brewed at Short’s. It was the 12th beer of the 13 beer Imperial series. The Imperial label artwork was created by Fritz Horstman, which also got carried over for the artwork used on the 6 pack
3.4
208 reviews
Bellaire, United States

Community reviews

3.6 Bottle. Pours clear orange with a small white head and some lacing. Aroma is totally peachy - like canned or cooked peaches, some honey as well. Flavor is medium plus sweet, a surprising amount of zesty bitterness, perhaps from the skins. Light body, super creamy mouthfeel, a bit harsh on the finish. Definitely shows its abv, drinking almost like a peach liquer. Very interesting beer, would be better without that harshness.
3.8 Bottle thanks to mike! Strong fruity and sweet nose. Bright clarity, soft red color. Minimal head. Candy sweet flavor up front with strong peach and fruity flavors. Exactly as the name describes. Finishes sweet but not cloying. Like a candy. ---Rated via intercellular device
3.9 Another fruit beer done well by Shorts. Would like to have this one again. Exactly what you would think.
3.4 Bottle. Pours light gold, slight white head. Aroma is amazingly spot on peaches and cream. Not much else can be said there. Taste is just a bit of a sweet malty, boozy mess. It works, but it’s not great. Nice light, warming booze burn.
3.9 Bottled 8/14/13. Poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint. Appearance: A slightly hazed orange/peach color. Two and a half fingers of a rich, creamy off-white head. Lacing is pretty good at the start, but then disappears. Not too shabby. Smell: Faint. It’s not as face walloping as I was expecting. Sweet peaches and cream, with maybe a slight spice character. Taste/feel: Silky as all hell. That’s the first thing I notice. Unbelievable smooth drinking beer... like peach fuzz on your tongue. But... in liquid form. And... not unpleasant. Peach is obviously there, with a creamy milk sweetness. Coats the tongue nicely. Aftertaste is peach with a slight spice, and a very, VERY slight alcohol flavor and warmth. It’s hard to believe this is about 9%. I could sip on this all day if it weren’t so sweet. Truthfully, probably the sweetest beer I’ve ever had. I’m not shocked at all by that fact, as it’s what I figured. A 12oz bottle is almost too much for me to handle due to its sweetness, but this beer does what it wants to do, and does it well. As silky as the mouthfeel is, and as sweet as the beer is, I don’t ever find that it becomes cloying in a syrupy way -- it just has a huge amount of sweetness. An awesome dessert beer, but it’s a specialty beer and a limited release for a reason, I think. I’m glad I didn’t buy a six-pack, but instead got two singles. A very tasty beer, but not one I could have often. Get your hands on this, especially if you have a sweet tooth -- I tend to not generally care much for sweets. UPDATE 9/22/13: Having just aged this beer a month, the sweetness has toned down quite a lot, making this an easier-to-drink beer. It’s still very sweet, but it’s mellowed out very nicely. Changing my taste rating from 3.75 to a 4.
3.5 Real peach aroma and taste. A bit too sweet. Clear amber color with average head. Rich body.
3.6 Very sweet, floral, and very peachy. Probably too sweet, but otherwise good and as advertised.
3.4 Bottle. Clear amber. Not a strong aroma but smells like peaches and malt. Very very sweet. Probably too much for me. Flavor is sugar, peaches, malt and citrus.
2.8 12 ounce bottle thanks to umich03jm. Thanks! Pours a darker copper with a beige head of foam. Good retention. The aroma has cooked peaches and some whipped cream that has gotten a little past its prime. Taste is soft peach nuances with an astringent, chemically bitterness. That taste really sticks, too. Not digging this one, unfortunately.
3.2 Had this in a flight at the local craft beer bar. Did not take extensive notes this time. This is definitely a fruit beer. Tastes of fresh peaches, and it has a lasting lingering peach taste. It tastes more of a fruit drink than a beer. It is a good tasting beer, but is sweet and I would think one bottle of it is enough in a sitting. It does not have a strong alcohol taste. I like the experimentation, and the results promise what the label states. It is just not my style.
3.8 I like it, but don’t love it. Was real excited to try it and even grabbed some for trading partners. Pours a rust color with a cream colored head. Aroma is a little weak, peaches and bad milk. Taste is very sweet, cream, sugar, and after taste of some peach. Big body and somewhat dry bitter finish. More fresh peach flavor please. Getting more into the bottle the peaches shine more.
3.7 Bottle. Pours a robust amber with bright white head. Aroma is very sweet peaches and cream. Taste is also very sweet. Peach, milk, sugar. A bit surprising that it has that high of an abv.
3.1 12oz bottle received from Summer Secret Santa 2013 Pours cloudy golden with a medium sized off-white head and good lacing. Aroma of rich sweet malts and fruity. Flavors of sweet malts, peaches, sugar, with a bitter citrus finish A decent beer, sweet.
3.7 12 oz. bottle received from RamyG4, thank you kind sir! Pours a dark orangish-gold with a nice white head that dissipates quickly. Aromas of light peach and some cream waft from the lip of the glass but not much else. The flavor is very nice, true peach flavor (sweet, earthy and tart) come through over a traditional Golden Ale backbone and cream/butter textures dance around these flavors. This is a big beer and it shows it in the mouthfeel; it’s heavy and thick on the tongue and a beer that has to be sipped to be fully enjoyed though the flavors make you want to drink it fast. Overall this is a good beer in a style I rarely drink. It shows a lot of promise after missing on the aroma. Definitely a beer to drink at least once.
3.3 Bottle at James’ place. Pours orange with a thin white head. Canned peaches and vanilla. On the sweet side, obviously, but not too much so. Fine for a glass but I wouldn’t want very much of this.
3.4 Bottle at James’ place for a tasting. Pours a clear golden amber with a touch of haze and a thin white head. Soft peaches on the nose, peach juice from the can. Medium bodied, sweet, light bitterness. Toast and more peach syrup. Decent enough.
3.9 Bottle shared by Ramy at tasting at my house. Pours orange with off white head that quickly dissipates. Nose and taste is super fresh peach, peach pit, peach jelly and milk and candy sugar. Medium body. Soft carbonation.
4.1 Draft at beggar's banquet. Golden color with minimal head. Smells like peach juice from canned peaches. Tastes like a peach white wine with a dry finish.
3.4 75 cl bottle @ Konttori. Rated on 02.05.2009 Aroma has peaches, some fruity notes and hints of spices. Flavour has sweet caramel, peaches, creamy notes, some milk and hints of spices. Also alcohol on some sips.. This one is quite what the name promises. Really weird stuff but somehow I like it. Could not drink big amounts though.
2.7 12/24/12. Uber backlog. 12oz bottle thanks to cbfobes! Lightly hazed orange pour with a small khaki head. Sweet, peachy aroma with plenty of sugar. Really, really sweet flavor as well with milk sugar and tons of peach that adds a touch of bitterness. I’m not a fan of peaches, but I can see that fans of sweet and peaches would dig it.
5.0 My perfect fruit beer. Sweet, sweet, sweet. The balance between bitter and sweet is amazing to me. Comes across your palate like your biting into a drippingly juicy, perfectly ripe peach. The lactose blends with the sweetness of the peach, and finishes dry with just enough hoppy goodness to cleanse and purse your mouth for more. Its a beautiful thang. I always want more than I can get.
3.8 Thanks Mike! So I really enjoyed this one, and I hate peaches. I really do. They’re not pleasant.. and aren’t they fuzzy? I can’t handle that. Anyway, I was bummed when I got this in a box and then I was really surprised with it. I’m not gonna eat peaches, but I was happier than I was before, I suppose. Pours a hazed golden color with full finger head. Nose is juicy peaches and peach preserves with sweet candy sugar and sweet fruits including pear. Seriously, this beer tastes like gummy bears.. It’s beautiful. I don’t normally like sweeter beers, but this was alright, and at 9.5%, it was pretty drinkable. More sugar, candy, and peach sweetness in there as well.
3.6 GABF 2012. Just like the description says. This is a sweet beer with lots of fruit. Thick and smooth palate, and it reminds me of peaches and cream ice cream.
3.5 Shnapp’s au pêche, on peut très bien percevoir le lactose, l’alcool est aussi présente. En bouche c’est tel qu’annoncé,l’alcool est présente mais c’est moins pire qu’au nez.
3.2 12oz bottle via trade. Poured a thick deep burnt orange body with an average sized frothy light beige head. Aroma is milky with light sweet peach notes, apricot and some grains. Medium to fuller bodied with average carbonation and a lingering sweet aftertaste. Flavor is sweet peach upfront along with dry toast and fruit skins. Not bad but a tad sweet for me.
3.4 12 oz. bottle from a friend. Pours a bright orange with a small white head. Aroma of strong breaches, mild milk sugar, some creme. There’s some cake and cookie-like malt sweetness. Flavor is sweet with a mild tartness. Lots of fresh peach and a touch of booze. Medium body, light prickly carbonation. Overall, a good beer from shorts.
3.5 Bottle. Pours a sort of orange. Aroma is lacking and flavor is exactly like peaches and creme. Scary similar.
3.3 Courtesy of northernbrews Bottle: The aroma consists of huge peach and little else. It pours a transparent amber with a small white head that quickly fades to a thin ring around the edges of the glass. The flavor starts with a ton of peach. The finish has some faint grass and maybe some cream (probably power of suggestion). It’s light-medium bodied with mild carbonation and a sticky mouthfeel. Overall, I’m not a huge peach fan, so take my rating for what it’s worth. You’re take on this beer is probably tied to how much you like peaches.
2.9 Bottle. Pours a cloudy gold with small white head. The aroma is a strong peaches and fruity malt. Thin mouthfeel with a sweet peach flavor and light malt finish. Peach flavor a little overpowering, a decent fruit beer from Shorts.
2.1 Bottle and served in my NG Flute glass: Pours a lovely deep golden hue with an initial frothy head which fades and left spotty lace. The aroma is peach puree, slight metallatic and medicinal, some flowery and earthy Belgian yeast like esters, and a touch of sourness. The taste is fruity but not fresh, like old syrupy peaches that have started to ferment. Additionally there is a boozy character that is off putting. Then we get to the finish, that is just strange and lightly sour but not tart due to all the sweetness still left in the base beer. This is simply not enjoyable in the least. Drain pour second half of the bottle.