Shiner 98 Bavarian Style Amber - Spoetzl Brewery

jayrod20

Texas

3.83/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a deep golden color with moderate white head. No lacing.
Smell is very light and almost undectable. Taste is enjoyable. A strong malt character is balanced nicely by a firm hop background.
Leaves a pleasurable sensation in the mouth. A nice easy easy drinking beer. Very refreshing when drinking in summertime.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2008 03:32:31 | More by jayrod20

ChaosKittyXJ9

3/5  rDev -14.3%

01-13-2013 05:24:13 | More by ChaosKittyXJ9

kobeer

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%

07-23-2012 19:45:00 | More by kobeer

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev 0%

03-15-2012 19:19:45 | More by imperialking

Danobold

Texas

3.5/5  rDev 0%

02-26-2012 22:53:53 | More by Danobold

garyford

Texas

5/5  rDev +42.9%

02-14-2012 23:16:42 | More by garyford

Stoffel

Texas

3.5/5  rDev 0%

01-07-2012 04:00:29 | More by Stoffel

duff247

Texas

3/5  rDev -14.3%

12-18-2011 07:39:03 | More by duff247

mjurney

Texas

4/5  rDev +14.3%

11-18-2011 16:14:55 | More by mjurney

ROGUE16

Delaware

3/5  rDev -14.3%

11-17-2011 04:41:55 | More by ROGUE16

videofrog

Texas

4/5  rDev +14.3%

11-14-2011 19:25:42 | More by videofrog

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed fresh from a tub of melted ice on a warm sunny afternoon under shade trees with good friends.

Typical appearance. Crystal-clear deep-copper body with a bit of a crimson cast and glowing orange highlights. The frothy light-tan head holds well and leaves some very decent lacing behind on the glass as it goes.

The aroma displays the "juicy" Vienna malt character that's to be expected. It's fruity and gently caramelish and bready backed by some softly grassy and floral hops (citrusy as well?).

That "juicy" Vienna malt character carries over into the flavor, and it's gently malty with a toasty and caramelish character and a splash of 'fruitiness'. Grassy and floral hop flavors and a firm bitterness round and balance it; and it finishes clean, dry, and refreshing.

A flavorful, refreshing lager that offers enough malt and hops to keep it interesting, and enough balance and drinkability to keep you coming back. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 23:12:34 | More by NeroFiddled

Vengeance526

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a medium amber color with a 1 finger white head that lasts for a little while before slowly subsiding and leaving a moderate amount of lacing.

Smell revealed a good bit of malt but no real hop presence. A lot of caramel to be found here.

Taste of caramel and light notes of honey and citrus. Hops a little more noticeable in the taste but still not a strong presence.

Light bodied and light carbonation. Not bad but for being labeled as a sort of special anniversary beer, it really just felt like a weak clone of SABL.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2009 22:33:21 | More by Vengeance526

jujubeast6000

Texas

2.58/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Reviewed 7/2/2007 (12oz bottle):

Pours a brown lightish colored body, with a whitish head, average but diminishing. Has a sugary malty aroma, and lots of hops too. Has a clean weak taste, watery, with some malts. Some skunky malt flavor but not much else there.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2009 21:56:21 | More by jujubeast6000

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle acquired in trade with lb4lb (thanks!).

Poured a medum and clear amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of some breadiness, some caramel, and some roast. Some earthiness too. Tastes of caramel, lighter roastiness, and toasted nuts.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2009 01:07:08 | More by hopdog

Bagman007

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a bottle poured into a pint glass.

A- Amber coloring without a great deal of head.

S- Sweet caramel scent with some hops thrown in.

T- Probably my favorite Shiner beer. Great mixture of malts and hops. Not too bitter at all. I like to consider this an improved version of Shiner Bock, which is one of my favorite beers.

M- Goes down smoothly with a hoppy finish.

D- Very drinkable. Can have several in one sitting when they still made it. Wish they would make this permanent.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 03:56:13 | More by Bagman007

marc956

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Going to college in Texas it's practically (if it
isn't already) required to try all Shiner beers -
while I liked their Bock, this one reminded me of
quality European beers, good flavor without being
overwhelming like the 97, which is like a thicker
and slightly hoppier version of Guiness. !Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2008 18:13:09 | More by marc956

rabsten

West Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Last bottle from a sixer bought, oh, about last August. I took notes on the first bottle back when it was fresh, but lost 'em. Anyway, nothing much has changed since then, as best I can recall. Here goes.

Poured into a pint glass, nice thick head, light tan, but it goes away pretty quickly. The beer itself is a cloudy amber with moderate carbonation. Looks very much like an english-style ale, despite it's "Bavarian" label. I like this look a lot, so kudos there.

High quantity of malt in the nose, not too sweet, but a definite sweetness present. No hop presence to speak of.

Taste is a solid, mildly malty lager. Not a big hop presence. Starts smooth, ends crisper. Malt grows with the aftertaste. Mouthfeel takes a hit for the inconsistency (the whole smooth-to-crisp effect), which was a bit unsettling. Good but not great drinkability.

I'm enjoying these Shiner one-offs. This one isn't as good as the 97, which I'd like to see Shine add as a full-time brew, but it was good, nonetheless. If you happen across one that doesn't have too much dust on it it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2008 22:56:14 | More by rabsten

zeff80

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. I misplaced a notebook and discovered I hadn't reviewed this one.

A - Poured out a copper/amber color with a foamy, bubbly one finger head. Not much in the way of lacing.

S - It smelled of caramel malt and some hops. Also, a sweet candy or honey aroma.

T - It tasted of roasted malt and some sweet caramel flavor. It had a subtle bitterness.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - Overall, a descent beer for a fairly uninsipring style.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2008 05:55:14 | More by zeff80

armock

New York

3.73/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured an amber color with an off white head

S - Is of sweet caramel malt with a touch of honey

T - Theres more of a roasted malt taste with some hops getting through

M - I thought that this one felt a little thin with light carbonation

D - Only if Shiner could make there regular beers at a level like this one sure its not the best beer in the world but for the price its a damn good beer

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2008 02:11:21 | More by armock

blakesell

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the 12oz bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance- A clear amber with a 2.5 finger head of foam that quickly dissapates to a thin layer over the top. Lacing doesn't cling to the sides of the glass.

Smell- A bready toasty scent similar to a marzen which technically is mostly a marzen as well, so the scent is up to snuff aside from a big metallic scent at the end that I really don't like. For some reason metal reminds me of bile.

Taste- Lightly malty and again with the graininess, but the metal is once again there in the aftertaste and lingers on. Last year's version of this was not like that. Very bitter with the metallic rusty taste.

Mouthfeel- Once again, thick with that bile/metal problem which is very cloying. Not an enjoyable brew. Thin bodied and highly carbonated.

Drinkability- I suppose this may have chuggability. I won't be pouring it down the drain, but I won't be having another again either. I'd much rather have a Dos Equis Amber instead.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2008 00:01:32 | More by blakesell

Strix

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nice bready smell to this one. Bready toasty notes in the taste as well, with grainy notes and a slight hop finish. Mouthfull nice, smooth and carbonated, not weak. Overall, not bad at all. I'm a fan of the Shiner Bock for what it is, and this is an easy drinker as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2008 06:53:58 | More by Strix

JDV

Texas

3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Medium amber colored pour with a bit of white head and a touch of lacing. Smell of sweet malt and a subtle hop presence. Small bit of bitterness up front followed by a malt sweetness. Body is fairly light and watery, and not too flavorful. Ok, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2008 19:03:12 | More by JDV

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

3.23/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer poured a copper color with a thin white head and had little lacing. Aroma was of malt sweetness and yeast. The taste was nice. It was a good amber. Similar to others I've had but with more taste to it. The mouthfeel as medium body with medium to high carbonation. Overall not a bad brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2008 02:03:37 | More by Beerbuddha

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.58/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bright pumpkin with amber accents when the glass is backlit with the rising sun outside my front window. A vigorous pour netted two fingers of tight-bubbled foam that is somewhere between ecru and ivory.

The nose is surprisingly good as well. It's fresh grain-like, with a toasted, earthy, Munich maltiness that doesn't need to be any more prominent. 80% pale and 20% Munich (see the pie chart on the website) seems about right for beer of this style.

Why are there so few Vienna lagers being brewed. It's a style that should appeal to a wide variety of beer drinkers due to its balance and crisp, easy drinkability. An ABV of 4.9% makes this one tailor-made for sessioning.

Shiner 98 features a toasted bread maltiness whose modest sweetness is complemented by floral, herbal Hallertau hops (Hallertau Tradition for bittering/flavor and Hallertau Hersbrucker for aroma). 30 IBUs is another reason why this hophead approves.

The mouthfeel is appropriately light, but it's also a bit harshly bubbled rather than being creamy and smooth. More quality here *might* have bumped both taste and drinkablity scores another notch.

Shiner 98 Bavarian Style Amber is a better than adequate Vienna lager and is probably the best Spoetzl beer that I've reviewed so far (along with '96'). Maybe '99' will be at least as good. Or, better yet... better.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2008 13:54:25 | More by BuckeyeNation