Shiner Bock - Spoetzl Brewery

lacqueredmouse

Australia

1.9/5  rDev -38.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Purchased at the orders of @LaitueGonflable, who'd never tried a beer from Texas, and knew that this beer existed. So be it.

Pours a pleasant deep amber colour, quite clear, with a small, but fine-bubbled head of white. Very light body, especially for a bock (although, probably not for a bock weighing it below 5% ABV), although it hold carbonation quite firmly, making it seem bigger than it is. Some patchy lacing when it's tilted. Not bad, but not great.

Nose is grainy with adjuncts, giving a cornmeal and unprocessed wholegrain character, with a sweetness that speaks of faux vanilla essence. Slight sharpness on it as well, partially from the carbonation, partially from maybe something else—it lingers, suggesting some kind of volatile from hops or grain.

Taste is exceptionally weak and bland, almost excruciatingly so. Slight corn characters on the back, and another tingle of that vague volatile character, but nothing else whatsoever. It's tasteless—offensively so.

Extremely bland, and extremely pointless. It's barely above the watery nothingness of an American adjunct lager. Bock?? Yeah, just fuck the hell off.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 03:33:52 | More by lacqueredmouse

joedon

Minnesota

1.93/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Served overly chilled in "frosty" mug. Dark brown with almost no head; possible due to the near freezing condition.

Smell mostly of sour apples and a bit of brown sugar.

The taste is pretty nasty. Very sour with a bit of dark sugar-caramel flavor. No discernable hop taste or bitterness. Aftertaste is sort of sour vinegar.

Really thin, watery body. Nothing to make you think of German beers. I could finish the mug but would not order another.

This "bock" is nothing like the real thing. Sort of like a PBR with caramel coloring. Actually gives bock a bad name.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2008 05:01:53 | More by joedon

Arbitrator

California

1.93/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Chilled 12oz bottle into a glass.

A: Pours a medium brown color in the glass, essentially translucent. The head is a limpid finger of short-lived foam. No lacing.

S: None to speak of, really. Not a very aromatic beer, although you can detect some small hop and malt content.

T: Much like the smell, a thin taste. Mostly watery with some roasted malt hints and light hoppy taste.

M: Very thin, light body.

D: This runs at a relatively premium price but offers little in the way of complexity. I'd probably downgrade to a cheaper beer if I just wanted something to drink or upgrade to a better one if I wanted something to enjoy. Not a very good balance.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 04:30:39 | More by Arbitrator

timtwoface

British Columbia (Canada)

1.93/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I am absolutely NOT a fan of this beer. The price point at $1.99 was fine, so I could swallow that, but I couldn't really swallow the rest.

Was it BAD? No. Was it GOOD? God, no. I can only regard this beer as...well...bland. To be fair, it pours a very nice clear darker colour so I was excited by that, but the taste had...well..nothing really, beyond carbonation and a very weak light lager sort of taste. I was honestly unsure as to whether there was actually any alcohol in it - and for a beer, that is somewhat important to me.

Sadly there was no wow factor that made me want this beer, it was just far too week for my tastes. If you want something rather cheap, go for it. Otherwise, I wouldn't really recommend this to suit your needs.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 03:22:17 | More by timtwoface

Beerevity

1.93/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A - Bronze caramel color with a frothy white head that doesn't last.

S - Smells of rice and very light malt.

T - Boring malt with a bit of, is that tin? There is no real way to convey this but it tastes like half beer, half pool water.

M - Watery and fizzy but drinkable.

O - I really don't like the taste of this beer. It's drinkable, especially straight from the bottle, but there are so many better choices for the same price.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 05:40:51 | More by Beerevity

cokes

Wisconsin

1.98/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Clear dull and dark amber. Foamy pale yellow head vanishes quickly.
Husky nose with little evident maltiness, sweet or otherwise. Suggestions of stewed veggies is not a plus either.
Taste is more of the husk, less of the malt, and pretty much part and parcel of what one would expect from a macro lager. I could tolerate it if it was marketed as such, but slapping "bock" on a thin, malt-less brew is unacceptable.
Back to the actual taste: More veggies appear towards the back of the mouth, although they're pretty faint. Some heavily diluted caramel (maybe?). No hops.
Thin and absolutely lifeless in the mouth.
Not a fan, at all.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2003 20:24:17 | More by cokes

DoubleJ

California

1.98/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Here's a macro-craft offering you can find around at many bars and stores. Says bock on the label, though in south Texas where this beer hails from, I'm guessing I'll get something lighter than I expect. On to the beer:

Twist-off the top, pour into a shaker pint, and get a clearish dark color with the head going away. It kind of looks like they added coloring to a macro pale lager. The smell is extrmely clean with a trace of...I can't make it out it's so faint. Tortillas? Now I'm worried.

I'm scared, but I'm going to put this in my mouth. Here goes...wow....I'm sharting to think they throw corn tortillas in the fermenter to get the dominant flavor. Dominant corn in a dark lager? Um, no. Just as you taste it, it fades away. Malts are thin, powdery, create a very light toffee flavor, and the hops are thinner to the palate. Light bodied it is, but which is boosted by a drive of carbonation.

If I closed my eyes, I'd swear I was drinking a macro with a dash of dark malt. Too light to be considered a real bock and just enough weird flavor to steer you away if tasteless refreshment is on your mind; it's a lose-lose proposition.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2008 07:45:44 | More by DoubleJ

jayhawk73

Maryland

1.98/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Pours a medium brown color, with very little head. Almost no carbonation and just about zero lacing. The smell is very one dimensional to me. Wheat, a tiny bit of malt, and an odd copper smell. Very thin nose on this beer. The taste is about the same. Very thin, uninteresting, and not worth finishing. This one's a drainpour for me. Mouthfeel is somewhat dry and definitely on the thin side, with a copper aftertaste. Overall, I would not recommend this beer.. You can do a lot better for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2011 18:21:44 | More by jayhawk73

mrfrancis

Kentucky

1.98/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A: Pours a dark brownish amber with a fizzy whitish head. Looks like a fairly standard dark lager, but the poor head retention does not wow me.

S: Very boring. A combination of molasses and an almost coppery, metallic smell. This does not smell appealing in the least.

T: Enters sweet with notes of caramel, molasses, heavy cream, a little bit of grassy hop bitterness, and an odd metallic tang that gets stronger and more distracting as the beer warms. The finish is mercifully short, as it is dominated by a molasses flavor and that same odd metal taste.

M: Thin, syrupy, and light-bodied. Gets stickier as the beer warms.

O: I'm sure if I were in a crappy Texas bar and this were my only choice outside of the usual bland yellow lagers, I would take it. That, however, is not a compliment to this beer. Has nothing remotely in common with a real bock. I think I'll avoid this one from this point forward.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 21:10:54 | More by mrfrancis

donmonkey1

Tennessee

1.98/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance: medium brown, similar to Coca-Cola. No head, no lacing, virtually no carbonation. Pathetic.

Smell: Watered down Coca-Cola.

Taste: A pint of water with 10 honeysuckles in it,a drop of caramel flavored syrup, and one shredded metal bottle cap.

Mouthfeel: Water

This beer is horribly unimpressive and boring but at least it's not offensive.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 22:54:36 | More by donmonkey1

Cooldill

Illinois

1.98/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Served from a glass mug, should have just sipped from the bottle.

A- Medium dark brown. Clear, with red highlights when viewed in front of a light source. Pitiful half-finger head even with an aggresive pour. Dies down to absolutely nothing in seconds. I've seen cokes with more robust heads than this, even worse than a BMC in the head department. Zero lacing. Well carbonated as well. Looks like 4 parts coke, one part water.

S- intitial light candyish sweetness. Faint hops and floral notes. Slightly stale and very weak nose. Not distinguishing at all, though not particularly offensive.

T- Like a Budweiser with a bit of Newcastle Brown Ale dribbled in. Weak malts, very light caramel, not much hops. No floral taste like on the nose. Somewhat stale and bitter, not the good kind of bitter either. Not very tasty. At least Budweiser doesn't try to pretend it's somethint it isn't if ya catch my drift.

M- Painfully watery. Moderate carbonation. Not as drinkable as many BMC beers even.

O- Completely forgetable. Nice packaging, but poor product. Something about this beer is off putting. I just don't like it and will never look for it again. Made the mistake of getting two six packs of this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 19:41:04 | More by Cooldill

diablo14

Australia

2/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

i was looking forward to trying this bock from texas. considering these texans say everything is big there, i was thinking this might be the same. i thought wrong. nothing about this beer was big. it was insipid, boring and generally dismal.

didnt have the deep colors of a real bock, was bordering more on an amber ale in that area. lacked nose, all i could get was a sweet smell and the faintest hint of malt. to say the taste was nondescript would be an understatement. it was damn sweet with barely any malt, and none of the rich nutty, biscuity characteristics you expect to find in a bock. were there hops in this beer? i couldnt really tell. lacked any type of finish full stop, let alone, the full, dry and flavorsome finish on the back palate any beer of this style has to have as the basics.

i have had worse bocks sure. but calling this beer a bock is truly a misnomer. its not a great beer regardless, but its a shocker in this category. a waste of quality drinking space when there were plenty of better beers on offer i could have had.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2005 12:07:45 | More by diablo14

Tilley4

Tennessee

2/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Didn't enjoy this one at all. Way too much like the BMC stuff if you ask me.

Actually looked pretty good in the glass. Nice and dark with a pretty decent head.

Smelled kind of bready and biscuity, kinda like any macro available.

Nope, just don't do it for me. I tried this cause it was on special for $2.75 per pint. Drank half and threw the rest out.

I just didn't enjoy this one. There are some who will probably really like this beer. I'm just not one of them

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2008 20:36:34 | More by Tilley4

scoobybrew

Iowa

2/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This was poured from the bottle into a pilsner flute.

A - clear, ruby amber color with a small head that dissipates a bit too quickly

S - malty, but adjunct rice like, no hops perceptible

T - malt dominates with a slight hop finish

M - light to medium body, a bit too thin for a bock

D - incredibly disappointing bock - this is a very faint and pale comparison to it's European roots - it's 'drinkable' but barely - very bland in nature

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2008 02:00:38 | More by scoobybrew

semihobo

Michigan

2/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

On my 24 oz bottle there is a freshness date, stamped faintly below where the word "Shiner" protrudes from the glass. 11-15-07.

Even with an vigorous pour, the head fades quickly to nothing. Looks a lot like a coke, but the bubbles rising through the clear, soda-colored body are smaller.

Smells kind of like a coke, too. Sweet above all else with a vegetable note most similar to cabbage.

At the risk of being repetitive, tastes like a 50-50 mix between bud light and a diet coke. Sweet and cabbage-y throughout, with some faint clove phenols toward the finish.

Very thin, feels coke-like on the mouthfeel too.

Quite unimpressive across the board, not offensive but not very beer like. I would definitely drink this vs. BMC and think it would make a great kegger beer, but decidedly weak within the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2008 21:24:29 | More by semihobo

BigJim5021

Indiana

2/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a crystal clear amber with an amazingly fast-vanishing white head. Positively no lacing.

What aroma there is consists of faint caramel malts with a metallic twang.

Flavor harkens to the smell in that you get some light caramel malts and some metal on the finish.

Mouthfeel is very thin with a teensy bit of carbonation.

Shiner Bock is one piss-poor excuse for a craft bock. Amber Bock trumps this any day of the week despite being wholly average. No wonder I can't sell this shit.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 07:19:51 | More by BigJim5021

eweneek83

West Virginia

2.03/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

appearance - looks much like a light version of a brown ale. not too much for looks here, a thin white foam quickly vanishes into American beer heaven.

Smell - smells very medicinal or like dead grass after the rain. Offputting sweet smell as well.

Taste - It tastes exactly like the old crumpled up Coors Lite can you smelled on the roadside that was tossed by someone who later killed a family of four... very beery taste. lite and empty.

Mouthfeel - light fizzy, rubbing alcohol like. light and unsubstantial.

Drinkability - It's too bad I've discovered good beer, unfortunatley this is not one of them. BUT, if I was a rebel flag waving tattooed biker guy, I'd down a case of these and still not have a buzz. try again, Shiner.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2008 02:13:30 | More by eweneek83

SWMeyer4141

Texas

2.03/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

As a Texas resident this is the beer that everyone thinks I drink when I say I prefer "craft beers". I haven't had it in years.

Appearance-Color of a raison. Not sure if I turned my head for a second and the head dissipated that quickly, or if there really was no head. Like Hiku7 said, looks like a flat coke.

Smell-Very bready, thats about it.

Taste-Some more breadiness, very light malty sweetness.

Mouthfeel-Very light and no body at all. light carbonation.

Overall-One more beer to try out of the Spoetzl brewery "Shiner" six pack. Thank goodness, these beers suck.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 03:33:45 | More by SWMeyer4141

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

2.03/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Continuing with the variety six pack. This one is probably Spoetzl's best-known offering around my neck of the woods.

Very light...almost not even amber anymore in color with a tiny head and low carbonation. Tiny head that fizzles out in about one minute, smells of cooked vegetables and faint wheat-like malts...remind me why is this called a Bock again? Tastes similar to a poorly-done BMC lager, whisper-thin hopping and strange metallic off-tastes, thin watery body and all. If you are going to have this one, have it on tap where it will be at least tolerable. I would even hazard a guess that this is one of "those" beers that degrade rapidly in the bottle at the store.

(Seriously, I've had this one on tap before and it tasted and smelled much better than the bottled version.)

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 22:07:21 | More by WastingFreetime

Todd

Massachusetts

2.05/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Presentation: 12oz can

Appearance: Copper/amber with a thin head that shows little sign of carbonation.

Smell: Clean smelling with no apparent aromas -- probably due to its being canned.

Taste: Crisp and refreshing like a seltzer water. Grain and husk-like flavours turn this brew dry, while a semi-astringent hop presence joins the steeliness of the can to provide a cheap beer flavour. The brew finishes with a metallic twang and an echo of real hop flavour.

Notes: Not impressed at all. Purchased and consumed on Northwest Airlines (Detroit to Boston).

Serving type: can

10-03-1999 00:00:01 | More by Todd

Brent

Kentucky

2.05/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Raw and unrefined, with an abrasive alcohol presence.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2001 15:47:21 | More by Brent

DogFood11

California

2.05/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Haven't tried a bock from texas so today is as good as any. Poured a 12oz bottle into a pilsener glass and it had a real nice appearance, very clear filtered and amber color.

that was the last of the passing grades. smelled some metallic and uninspired bitterness, with a crippled malt presence. Tasted some dark fruits/prunes. Not much to counter that. Taste was faint. mouthfeel was ok. slid nicely down the neck without irritation. Its not garbage by any stretch because it is fairly nuetral and inoffensive. its a snooozer ZZZ zzzz zzzz.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2005 02:10:17 | More by DogFood11

midaszero

Washington

2.05/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Growing up in Texas this was one of my first beer I ever drank a lot of before I got into better beer and also while I smoked so I never really tasted it until I quit smoking.

A - Clear copper pour with some white head no real lacing

S - Faint smells of caramel and maybe some malt

T - Can be a little harsh and has a little flavor

M - Over carbonated in my opinion

D - A staple beer in Texas which most people enjoy but I actually go for the Miller Lite now instead of Shiner if those are my choices.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2008 23:06:36 | More by midaszero

Bockrules

New Mexico

2.08/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Served very cold, from a bottle into a pilsner glass

updated in April, 2012.

A-pours a nice brownish amber, with a two finger head which quickly disappears almost entirely. Good clarity and lots of carbonation. No lacing

S- Lightly toasted grains with touch of slightly sour hop bitterness. Very similar to your average macro

T- Lightly toasted grains upfront. Then the malt and adjuncts take over in the body with astringent hops attempting to balacne it out. This beer lacked the flavor and sweet finish I was was expecting from a Bock. Overall the taste is comparable to PBR, which would be fine if this beer were supposed to be a macro lager, but it's not.

M- Light bodied with medium carbonation. Not horrible, but the beer comes off tasting a little watery after a while.

Yeah, you could probably drink a few of these easily, but for $7.50 a six, why would you want to. There are plenty of actual bocks to be had for the price. On the bottle it says: "Shiner Bock combines it's old-world, Bavarian heritage with the ingenuity of American Handcraft brewing.." Which by that they mean "We took a traditional celebratory German brew and turned into something that tastes like Bud."

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2008 23:57:19 | More by Bockrules

fbinla

California

2.08/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a great dark copper brown, very clear, thin white head that disappears really quickly. Smell has a very light sweet aroma with some caramel/toffee, no, hop.

Mouth feel is thin, watery and very carbonated.

Very little flavor upon drinking, watery, carbonation, then once the bubbles dissipate off the tongue you can taste a very slight malt and caramel flavors with a tiny sweetness all in the background but no prominent flavor other than the watery o2. No hop taste at all.

Overall a very bland beer, not bland enough to tip, but close.

I'm just glad this was a left over from a party and i never paid for this so called Bock. I suggest sending this back to Texas.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2009 07:50:20 | More by fbinla