Shiner Bock

Brewed by Spoetzl Brewery (Gambrinus Company)
Style: American Dark Lager
Shiner, Texas USA

Not a bad brew...don’t pay a premium price for it, but otherwise its smooth and enjoyable.

A nice beer to have around. Smooth, drinkable, with a maltiness that makes it stand out from other very commonly available beers.

Clear reddish-orange color with a thin off white head that completely disappears. Nutty bitter chocolate aroma slight cherry wood. The body is fairly creamy. Taste is very nutty, malty with a hoppy bite on the finish followed by lingering steel and black cherries.

The classic "high-end" beer of many midwest bars. It’s okay. Pours nut brown, small white head. Flavor is malt with no hops. Kind of light. It’s easy to drink but nothing much to it.

This is a bock? Oh yeah, it’s got a ram on the label. Lots of bready malts on the nose, more of the same in flavor. Definitely drinkable, just not very exciting. Not "distinctive [and] full-flavored" like it’s advertised.

Bottle. Pours a clear amber with a 2 finger white head that receded faster than the balance of my mutual fund portfolio. Zero lacing. Nose is mainly sweet caramel malt. Taste is caramel and wheat bread with a hint of hops. Light mouth feel. Meh, it’s not horrible and I’d probably drink it again if offered at a party.

Bottle at Vickery’s (Charleston). Served a medium brown, off-white head in a chilled mug !!! WHAT!!! I waited several minutes until the chill wore off to rate properly. Aroma is a touch of caramel, some malt. Flavor is pretty much the same thing, caramel and malt.

My first shiner was a decent one. Nothing jumped out at me with this dark lager, except that it wouldn’t bother me to keep drinking it, which should count for something! It was very unremarkable, but very drinkable. I’d never say no if someone offered me one, but I’d probably opt for something with just a bit for character if I had some other good choices.