BELLAIRE — In 2004, Joe Short set out to share his creative approach to brewing with the world.

On Saturday, Short’s Brewing Company celebrated its success with a special anniversary celebration. The Short’s 10 Year Anniversary Party honored what the Short’s team is passionate about and the Northern Michigan community that has supported its success.

“It took a lot of community support to help Short’s become what it is today, so this party is just as much for the community and our fans as it is for the Short’s team,” explained Pauline Knighton, PR Coordinator for Short’s.

Planning such a celebration has taken years for the creative Short’s team. “The planning has been one of those stereotypical labors of love that the entire Short’s team is unbelievably excited to share with the world,” said Knighton.

Wishing to share their passion with the world, Short’s expanded beyond their pub and took over the streets of Bellaire. Lines wrapped around the block as thousands flocked to the brewery’s small hometown to honor its creative energy and passion for craft beer. There were 99 different brews on tap, along with a creative food menu and great live music throughout the evening.

With 99 different beers to choose from, it was a bit intimidating to figure out what to sample. I was able to try new twists on old favorites while also trying styles I had yet to experience.

Brewed specifically for the Anniversary Party, sampling Stache Bender was a must. Stache Bender was a double IPA brewed with grapfruit zest. With a 9.5% ABV, it was a strong IPA and had hints of grapefruit at the front and a rush of hops at the end. With summer in the near future, this would be a great brew for any IPA fan.

I then tried my first cream ale, the Electric Mullet. Sweet and creamy at first, Electric Mullet finishes with a slight hop bitterness. It was a combination I was surprised by, yet enjoyed.

Last on my list was one of my favorite styles of beer: an oatmeal stout. Unlike other oatmeal stouts, the Uber Goober was fermented with peanuts. The creaminess of the oatmeal and peanuts paired well with the traditional roasted flavors of a stout.

Short’s creativity was present in each brew, with a wide array of ingredients present. Other choices ranged from Anniversary Ale 2014, a wheat wine made with blood oranges, to Anny ‘06 Part One, a bourbon barrel aged Triple IPA. There was also an Imperial series, which included Imperial Soft Parade.

Short’s has seen large success with its creative brews in recent years. It is currently expanding both its brewpub in Bellaire and its production facility in Elk Rapids. These efforts will drastically increase the brewery’s ability to reach its continuously growing community.

Knighton explained this journey by saying, “What began as one man’s dream to restore a 100 year-old hardware store into a brewpub in small town Bellaire, has become a community gathering spot for people from all over the United States.”

This certainly seems like a reason to celebrate.