Shiner Bock - Spoetzl Brewery

jwc215

New Jersey

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

Thanks to Mora2000!

Pours copper amber with a thin off-white head that soon becomes a disappearing, thin wispy patch. Little to no lacing sticks.

The smell is grainy with a hint of caramel.

The taste is grainy with mild caramel. Sweet, but aggressive, selzter-like carbonation wipes away most of the sweetness in the finish.

Light-bodied and rather fizzy for the style.

Low abv for style, and inoffensive, but a rather thin, fizzy brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 15:07:35 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

During a trip to the heart of Texas, I got to know Shiner Bock. It is everywhere there, alongside Lone Star and all the other usual BMC suspects, on every bar's display counter. So, more often than not, jumping from place to place in Austin, following the live performance winds, this beer was the de facto beer choice for me. Now, in one of those unpredictable nostalgic turns, I see it on the shelf of my favorite local bottle shop. After a mild double take, I had to get a bottle, to complete this walk down memory lane.

This beer pours a perfectly clear medium golden brown, with a few fingers of off white head, that falls away very quickly, leaving no lacing. The smell is malt - grainy, spicy, a bit of rye. The taste is very light - a bready, biscuity malt, and a slight floral essence. The carbonation is prickly at first, but mellows out, making this fairly smooth. The body is quite thin, the taste inoffensive, kind of bland, but I could see having a few rounds of this, given no better options.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 22:16:26 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap at Penguin Ed's in Fayetteville, AR. Man, I was expecting something resembling a bock, but the closest this gets is maybe Michelob Amber Bock. There's a distinct, corny adjunct tang in the background with only light caramel roll malts. It wasn't bad for washing down my pulled pork and potato salad, but I won't waste my time or liver on this brew again. Not terribly offensive, I guess, but not worth trying either.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2009 03:26:25 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Well, the first time I tangled with Shiner was back in Costa Mesa last summer and we had a pretty hot waitress from Texas. I asked what I should order a yard of because I wanted to experience drinking out a vessel that stood three feet tall. Boy I am glad I ordered then what a great beer to drink from a yard not to full bodied or flavored just enough of everything to be enjoyed in that style of drinking beer. Now here I am back home and sitting here noting the visual aspects of this beer it pours amber ruby with an off white cream colored head about two fingers worth and quickly dwindles down to a thin collar of lace only to leave scattered lacing with each sip. Aromatics on this beer are well a little faint with a slight caramel malt tone but no real hop aroma to be found. Taste is creamy buttered caramel malts with faint hop bitterness in the background to balance out the sweetness and touches of dark roasts add to the experience. Mediocre at best with a thin body artificial carbonation, not much of anything special going on. Drinkability is good due to the fact that I can consume alot of this even a yard glass of this, however it's not a quality brew that I would buy religiously.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2003 06:41:33 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

2.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very dark ruby with good head with lots of lacing on the way down. Nose is yeasty with a slight sweet tone. Flavor is bordering on wooden with a metallic aftertaste and a slight bitter tone. Feel is pretty good, just slightly above average - no doubt due to the fact it is off the tap. This is worse than I remember it being on bottles (though the bottle did get a lower score) and wouldn't have gone for it if there were better choices in the crappy airport bar I was in.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2007 07:37:03 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a deep, clear amber with good carbonation and small dirty white head. Nose is dry, weak, grains and thats about it. Taste is grain, hardly any booze, some citrus and maybe caramel. Body and mouthfeel is pretty thin. Not a bock I would go to again.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 20:43:13 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.1/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

In the land of Bud, Bud Light, Coors, etc., this is a huge improvement from the bland and limited choices. As far as bocks go, this is a weaker entry.

Appearance wise, it's encouraging--it pours a dark amber with a good head and light lace.

The aroma is light malt and is appropriate for the style, nothing special. The taste is similar to the aroma although some hop shows up on the swallow. Decent body, good carbonation, doesn't have the winey alcohol flavors of most bocks. My sample was just starting to skunk (ordered at Prego in Rice Village, Houston)

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2005 23:29:48 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

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

A - Pours a clear dark copperish color, thin head, some carbonation, nice lacing though.

S - Scents of sweet malts, slight caramel.

T - The taste is a kinda sweet, malty, but kinda watery as well. Finishes clean.

M - Light body.

D - Drinkable. The taste is not too bad, not sure if I will buy again, but I might use it in my chili recipe.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2006 23:07:27 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a crystal clear warm brown body with a light red hue to it. There is a thin head of film that breaks up quickly and is supported by a gentle carbonation of big bubbles.

S- The smell of nougat and pot caramel are light but the only real aroma noticed.

T- The taste of soft brown nougat has a note of light honey to it followed by a soft green hop hint. There is a light sulfur note to the carbonic acid finish.

M- This beer has a light mouthfeel with a dry finish.

D- This beer has a soft clean flavor but the favor it does have is not that good. I had a tough time finishing this beer as it was just not tasty and I didn't care for the nougat flavor it did have.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2007 19:50:57 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz twist off brown long neck bottle with no freshness date to be found.

Appearance: Crystal clear with a tawny amber that is on the verge of brown, big rocky off white head settles to a two fingered lace that leave a few sticky patches here and there down the glass.

Smell: Clean aroma with hints of husk and dextrin malt, little on the plate of alcohol or hop.

Taste: Medium body with a moderate carbonation, clean and smooth mouth feel with a thin maltiness on the palate. Flavours of toasted malt and caramel run slim with a strained malt sweetness. Hops seem faded and used up with a struggling bitterness. Alcohol warms a bit with a perfume or rose ghost like taste, finish is lean and clean with not much to show for other than remnants of toasted grain.

Notes: Not a bad brew but it leaves the taste buds short on flavour for what a bock should be, for an American Dark Lager it hold up well and is a step above the big guys.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2002 00:00:01 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

2.98/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 ouncer sampled, no indication of freshness to be found. Poured a medium al mond brown, larger bubbles rising to the top at a seady pace. Malty nose, nutty bready brew. Medium bodied, got alot of maple syrup notes. Prickly carbonation not appreciated. Sharp dry finish. Not the best version of the style, never was crazy about this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2004 15:02:46 | More by Billolick

Zorro

California

3.43/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dark brown brew.

Smell is sweetish and very malty, faint trace of Banana, Not a bock more of dark lager.

Taste is that of malty mild ale, not a bock. Crap for a bock, pretty good for a lager or ale. It is a level above Budweiser and others of the Macro brew Ilk.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Drinkability is good, this stuff was great when drank with BBQ in San Antonio, Texas.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2004 03:50:51 | More by Zorro

Bighuge

Minnesota

2.78/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Caramel colored brown. Thin beige head. Aroma consists of roasted malt, molasses and caramel. Taste is bland and flavorless. A little carmel characteristic. A little molasses. Thin mouthfeel. Subpar bock.

Thanks for introducing me to a Texas Style bock Senior Shit.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2003 10:28:24 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.45/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark chestnut brown color with yellowish brown hues when held to a light source and a very think beige head that immediately disappears leaving no lacing.

Slightly toasty malt aroma with hints of caramel, hazelnut and toffee. I was expecting a bit more but this beer smells pretty bland. There is also an earthy hop presence.

Thin bodied with a slightly dry earthy hop presence that lingers throughout over a slightly toasty caramel malt backbone. Hints of toffee, caramel and a slight nuttiness but all of these characterisitcs are faint. It's a bit drier than I prefer and not very well balanced. Easy to drink but not something I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2010 15:54:54 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.16/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Kind of an inconsistent beer for me traditionally, whether that is due to distributor, the brewery or merchant, I dunno.

Standard darker appearance bock. A muted sweetness aroma. Taste brings what you smell, plus a little more feel for the roasted malt. Really, for as widely avaiable as this is, I'm surprised its this decent.

Mouthfeel is consistent throughout, doesn't fade or change, kinda drinkable, although the cost increase lately is getting prohibitive.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 20:20:08 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First had: bottle at Midtown Billiards, Little Rock, Arkansas

Poured a clear, copper-brown with a thin, white head. Pale malts in the nose, caramel sweetness. Basic, but nice. Lightly toasted malts in the taste, with notes of toffee and caramel. Not much as far as hops goes, so it's overall sweet, but lacking a good balance. Medium-light mouthfeel, and pretty drinkable, though nothing extraordinary. Just a good "night out" beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 23:05:36 | More by Rifugium

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

Gusler

Arizona

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A nice deep amber to copper color, the head modest and a light tan color, nice sheet of lace to slide down the glass. Crisp malt dominated nose, sweet and fair to middling malt profile with a lean in feel top. Finish is vivacious in its acidity, hops are unimpassioned in their bite, dry aftertaste, a “Great Beer”, no, but a decent and drinkable beer that is benign and will accompany most food nicely.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2003 16:46:42 | More by Gusler

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

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

A: A pale barley-gold pour has a pristine clarity to the point where you could read fine print text though the glass. A steady medium rise of effervesce, a chalk white frothy head that was short on the hold while providing only a modest show of lace rounds things out visually.

S: Fresh barley grains, clean, with some dry corn ears.

T: The flavor is sweetly buttered grains, clean, grainy, dry with some hints of soft hay and once again dried corn ears.

M: Sharp carbonation rings through on the mouthful, has a decent amount of substance, very smooth in texture. Tingles around the edges from active carbonation. clean leave.

O: Clean drinking, for those who want to keep things light on a hot summer day. Mindless downer, wont wow, but perhaps a gateway beer for your bmc buddies. Minimal hop presence shouldnt offend. A bock, more like a pale lager or blonde.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 00:13:48 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

3.7/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a nice mahogany hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a clean malts and a smattering of noble hop.

The taste consisted of a light, yet husky grain, with some caramel sweetness. There was a decent doughiness toward the finish.

The mouthfeel was on the light side with ample carbonation.

Overall a decently complex macro offering and extremely easy to drink. Could be a bit more robust however.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2007 03:22:34 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Really?!? I've only ever reveiewed this in a BT? Pssshhh. I had so much of it on draft during my 2004 visit to Dallas that I passed it like water for a week after I went home. Do I like it? Well, it was so popular that A/B felt it neccesary to brew their own knockoff to compete with it. I am less enamored than that, but I am a fan and seeing it in a CAN really pulled my trigger.

100 years, eh? Wow, did this pour beautifully. The color was a deep orangish-brown with super-NE-quality clarity. The head began with a deep-brown color that disappeared fairly quickly. Nose had a sweet, malty character. Mouthfeel was medium with a sweet quality on the tongue. Finish had a root beer-like semi-sweetness. OK, but not fantastic.

Beach/Shore: Yes, but not my first choice. I was underwhelmed by the total sum of this beer.

Serving type: can

08-03-2009 22:31:46 | More by woodychandler

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I have to say that this is better than I remember. I could be hallucinating, but it seems to have gained some body and depth of flavor since I last tried it. Who knows- it's been a awhile. In any case, the pour isn't much- very dark maber, almost chestnut with a head that promises much but fades quickly. Nicely malty and nutty in the aroma with some toasted grain and some light earthy hop aromas on the finish. The taste has some more of that toasted grain, a fair bit of sweetness, and some cereal grains. There is a bit of grainy slickness and slight sourness on the finish, but the nicely toasty notes are still there. Probably suffers more in the mouthfeel than taste from these defects. I could drink this ocassionally.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 03:03:37 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.6/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a small off-white head. Color is a burnt orange copper. Good head retention.

Aroma: Caramel and bready malts. Biscuit flavors. Fairly malty. A bit of toffee as well.

Taste: Has a grassy hop profile. Caramel, bready, and biscuit malts. A bit of toffee again. Has some dried fruit flavors as well. Maybe some bananas.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and creamy. Light to medium bodied with a medium to high amount of carbonation. Ends very dry.

Overall, this wasn't a favorite bock of mine. Mouthfeel is way off. I like German bocks much better. Not really for me. A bit too simple.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 02:33:04 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On draught at Pappadeaux in the Houston airport. Glad to finally find this classic Texan beer. Copper-colored with a thin off-white head. Toasted grain and malt in the nose. Medium-bodied with a flavor somewhere between a Bock and an Adjunct Lager. Malt, stale hops and caramel are what the beer offers. The finish is smooth and does not contain much flavor other than some sweet malt. I can’t really call this beer a disappointment because it met my expectations. It does not do the Bock style justice though.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2004 20:50:53 | More by Dogbrick