I was very excited yesterday to receive a great box of Shiner samples from Spoetzl Brewery….so today I’m just amazed at what arrived. Jimmy Mauric, Master Brewer at the Spoetzl Brewery was nice enough to complete the set…so now I can try 14 different Shiner beers! In order we have (from left to right): Shiner Bock, Shiner Hefeweizen, Shiner Kosmos Reserve, Shiner 102 Double Wheat, Shiner 101 Czech-Style Pilsner, Shiner Spring Ale Dortmunder, Shiner Light Blonde, Shiner Blonde, Shiner Bohemian Black Lager, Shiner Oktoberfest, and Shiner Holiday Cheer…..a FULL SET! Thanks again to Jimmy Mauric and everyone at Spoetzl….it will certainly be a Shiner weekend at the beerbuzz house. Be sure to check back here and on Facebook as we enjoy each of these.
We had a busy weekend enjoying some Shiners….so here’s the UPDATE on Sampling:
Ruby Redbird: While the initial sip was unexpected, I really like this beer a lot. I’m a huge fan of grapefruity-hoppy beers and this one has a ton of grapefruit flavor going on. Very easy drinking summer ale and a real clean flavor. If you’re old enough to be a fan of the original squirt soda, you’ll love this. If you’re a fan of grapefruit flavor, you will love this. I’m surprised to say THIS is my favorite so far.
Shiner Hefeweizen: Very easy drinking traditional Hefe. Cloudy with some great flavor and body makes this one a perfect summertime deck beer (5.4% ABV).
Shiner 102 Double Wheat: We enjoyed this brew right after the Hefe. This one has a slightly heavier body and a richer taste. Color is more copper and crystal clear. This one has a little more boozy flavor, but it’s still an easy drinking beer (6.2% ABV)
Shiner 101: Classic Czech-Pils…this one is so basic there’s nothing to hide. This is an easy drinking slightly (very slightly) hoppy classic Pils from Jimmy and we really enjoyed it. This one didn’t stand out for me, but that’s the point of a great classic Pils (4.6% ABV).
Shiner Bock: We sampled this in cans and bottle and I “can” say even side-by-side, there is no difference. This one has a huge malt presence, lots of grain in the flavor and a touch of caramel at the end. Very drinkable bock, which can’t be said for many. This one feels much bigger than the 4.4% ABV which surprised even me.
Shiner Kosmos Reserve: I wasn't real familiar with this one, but surprisingly I liked it. Pale Lagers aren’t my cup of tea normally, but this one had a great hop presence that I liked and actually felt a little sweet to my tongue. I can see how this one would be very popular, especially in summer (4.98% ABV).
Shiner Spring-Ale Dortmunder: I don’t cross paths with enough Dortmunder-style brews, so I’ll admit up front I probably don’t have the palate to describe this one. This one tasted grainy and a bit earthy to me…maybe even a touch grassy. The carbonation felt low, but that may be indicative of the style. I also perceived a touch of floral or citrus hop in the late flavor and overall I ended up liking this one (5.5% ABV)
Shiner Light Blonde: While this one was very easy-drinking, and I’m sure the caloric content will bear this out, I just found it to be a little too light for me. I can see this being a great summer beer for someone looking for a lighter body, but probably not a style I’d be chasing after.
Shiner Blonde: This one had a taste that was whispering “pilsner malt” to me. Light bodied, slightly grainy and something sweet in the palate…maybe honey or corn? I also was pulling out some sort of spicy flavor, but still a very crisp & clean finish.
Shiner Bohemian Black Lager: This one was right up my alley….dark as night, lots of flavor, lots of body and a finish that held on my tongue nicely. Surprisingly low ABV for this big roasty malty flavored beer especially since it ends in an almost coffee-like or chocolaty finish (4.9% ABV).
Shiner Holiday Cheer: What an interesting brew. Lots of flavors going on here in the nose and tongue…molasses, nuts, fruits. I think for me there was a great ending flavor of spices and caramel, but I was surprised to find a citrusy or apricot flavor up front. Not what I expected from a Dunkel, but I liked it a lot.
Do you happen to know anyone that can ship Shiner to an APO AP address? My husband and I are stationed in Korea and can't find Shiner anywhere! Any leads would be great.
ReplyDeleteI don't Jenelle but maybe someone else can comment in. I know MOST of the beer stors that ship excplude MANY states and usuallo APOs.
ReplyDeleteShiner Bock and all beer's with that bear the name Shiner are amazing. While I was stationed in Houston I became a fan of Shiner. I even reenlisted at the Shiner Brewery. Amazing beer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris....I really enjoyed sampling and would love to see them imported into PA in the future.
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