Shiner Spezial Leicht - Spoetzl Brewery

EPICAC

Massachusetts

2.13/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is Shiner's dumbed down light beer for people who don't like pesky things like flavors to get in the way of their drinking.

Pours a clear, pale, straw color. A thin, fizzy, white head fades to a wispy film. The aroma is very light: slight malts and a faint bit of hops.

Light sweetness throughout, but not much else. There's a mild grassiness in the finish, shich is the only hint of flavor in this beer. A good dose of carbonation prevents this from being too watery.

Easy to drink, but why would you want too?

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2009 05:21:55 | More by EPICAC

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

2.75/5  rDev +8.3%

05-01-2013 02:19:23 | More by Zachtheporter

matjack85

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev +8.3%

02-07-2013 00:57:59 | More by matjack85

cervezatejas

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -1.6%

09-25-2012 02:54:46 | More by cervezatejas

Mortarforker

Texas

3/5  rDev +18.1%

09-08-2012 21:11:01 | More by Mortarforker

Danobold

Texas

2.75/5  rDev +8.3%

09-06-2012 01:00:37 | More by Danobold

ByMySword

3/5  rDev +18.1%

05-21-2012 21:52:50 | More by ByMySword

garyford

Texas

1/5  rDev -60.6%

02-15-2012 21:20:57 | More by garyford

Moose44

Texas

3/5  rDev +18.1%

01-23-2012 14:18:31 | More by Moose44

Stoffel

Texas

3/5  rDev +18.1%

01-07-2012 03:58:52 | More by Stoffel

ROGUE16

Delaware

2/5  rDev -21.3%

11-17-2011 04:40:40 | More by ROGUE16

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.58/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a brilliantly clear body with only a touch of yellow hue to it and topped with a short-lived, white head.

Smell: Surprisingly weak nose with only the merest hints of sweetish ultra-pale malts.

Taste: Altogether light pale maltiness with a hint of grain and mild cereal sweetness. Almost no hop character or bitterness. Finishes quick and clean.

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Oh, it's definitely light, er...leicht. Sometimes I just don't get the light beers - when it's so far removed from beer and is more akin to water, why not just skip those pesky 99 calories and go for the water? Ah well.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2009 16:33:58 | More by ChainGangGuy

twiggamortis420

Texas

2.55/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear light yellow color with a slick white head that shows some retention and clings to the side of the glass some. Not a bad looking AAL.

Smell is lightly grainy with a bit of light lager fruitiness...almost like a hint of cheap chablis wine. Touch of sweet maltiness as well. Smells a bit better than most BMC light beers.

Taste is not very good, although not sure how old this bottle is, has a faint bottle stamp that looks like it says J9 12 08 15:18. Why do these damn things have to be so hard to decipher?! If it was brewed in 2008, it has held up well. I cannot find any info whether they brewed this beer in '09, but by the slightly sour and un-crisp taste, I am guessing '08. Flavor is basically a maltier version of a bud light. It's ok, but why pay a couple extra bucks for something that tastes virtually the same?

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 23:18:02 | More by twiggamortis420

lanechaffin

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +53.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Everything I want in a light beer. Very easy to drink, has a good taste. 99 calories. Shiner Spezial Leicht is one of the better light beers I've drank.
The bottle says "A De-Lightful Refreshment" and I would certainly agree. In the Shiner family reunion case of brews, I like this just about as good as Shiner Light.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2009 23:19:49 | More by lanechaffin

tmoneyba

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle from Party Town.

A - Poured a clear pale color with an average frothy white head that mostly lasted with fair lacing.

S- Light grainy aroma.

T - Light to medium sweet flavor with a light sweet finish of moderate duration.

M -Light body with a thin texture and soft carbonation.

D - Cold, wet and alcohol that did not meet my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 13:40:50 | More by tmoneyba

Zorro

California

2.68/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nothing like seeing a beer you just bought has no love here at BA with a less than C rating but I will give it a fair shot.

Ultra clear and pale yellow beer with a small white head.

Smell is light and seltzer like with aromas of corn flakes and cooked vegetables. Light citrus hop aroma, quite a lot like Coors. Pick up a faint vanilla aroma.

The taste starts out light and sort of flat tasting. Light citrus hop flavor with a clean aftertaste. Flavor seems to be missing any sort of zing, like the ring of a lead bell.

Mouthfeel is light.

Easy enough to drink but I can't say I really want another one. After one of these I would probably get a Coors Light instead. This REALLY belongs in the Light Beer category.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2008 01:54:45 | More by Zorro

skeetermoses

Oklahoma

2.9/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I was very dissapointed in this one, the mouthfeel of this beer really dissapointed me. This was the first Shiner beer I was ever unhappy with. I was very disapointed in this beer. I had a lot of hopes for this one. but came out very dissapointed, too bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2008 02:49:54 | More by skeetermoses

jmbranum

Oklahoma

3.3/5  rDev +29.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer is great for it's style, a super low-carb/calorie light. Compared to others of its style, it actually is quite tasty.

Best aspects of this beer are the mouthfeel and drinkability. Very pleasant and dry, without any offensive macro aftertaste.

I think it would be improved with more hops.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2008 02:35:54 | More by jmbranum

DavoleBomb

Ohio

1.5/5  rDev -40.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Poured into a pint glass.

1.5 A: Extremely pale yellow, like diluted piss. No head and no lacing.

1.5 S: Nothing with a hint of grainy pungency.

1.5 T: Water. Not piss water like other macros, just plain water.

1.5 M: Carbonated water.

1.5 D: As drinkable as carbonated water.

This beer fucking sucks. The only thing it has going for it is that, unlike a lot of macros, I don't want to throw up while drinking it. But even that isn't good. Sometimes I'd rather taste something bad than nothing at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2008 01:23:50 | More by DavoleBomb

foamee

Maryland

2.23/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The beer poured with a very thin color but with a decent head. Mine smelled a little off, almost skunky. The first sip tasted like carbonated water, after that it got worse, there really wasn't any flavor to it. I really didn't like this beer at all. I'm glad I had only the one.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 00:41:39 | More by foamee

TenEighty

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev +39%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Very light and transparent amber, typical of macro beers.

S: Not much here, a slight maltiness is there, but not prominently.

T: This is one of the best light macros I have come across. It has a nice flavor that is akin to apples.

M: Well carbonated, not much else to write home about.

D: This would be a good party beer, I could drink a lot of these. It is very smooth, with no harshness, bitterness, or any intense flavors. It fits all the qualities of a good macro.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2008 19:46:23 | More by TenEighty

tempest

Pennsylvania

1.98/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Picked up a single bottle from the Central Market in Dallas. Appears pale, clear yelow with a white head and lacing.

"Brewed for that light, happy flavor."

Yeah, about that. There's nothing happy about this beer except the ensuing buzz if you can manage to slug this fast enough. The Shiner brand is a respectable line of beers, but this beer is nothing more than a upscale Coors Light. For an macro light beer, its disturbingly on-style for a brewery that should know better. The aroma has a dusty element along with very plain grains and sourdough. The flavor follows up with a hint of corn (DMS) and light fruitiness that's quickly burried under acrid, dry yeast character finish that's a drop of lemon with a lot of wet grain husk. No bueno. Avoid this one. Not even close to on par with the craft light beer. File this away with the frat house-party crap.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2008 03:26:16 | More by tempest

spaceranger

Texas

3.03/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Yeah, o.k. it sucks compared to real beer. But does it suck compared to light beer? I think many critics on the site here forget just how terrible light beer generally is. In the realm of the lights (Coors, Bud, Miller, ULTRAAAA..gag...etc.) this Texas brew is....well..decent. The regular Shiner Light tastes better BUT it's not a true light compared to the big boys. At 120 calories and over 9 carbs it's in the same league as the major's heavies. Not everybody wants a big ass belly. So...Leicht has it's place...like ALL beers..it has it's place....let's enjoy them all.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2008 03:12:45 | More by spaceranger

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.58/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Acid-washed amber with nearly colorless edges. Lighter than the style average for sure. The bright white lid is better looking than the heads on most light beer. It's a bit crackly, lasts for several minutes, and manages to decorate the pint glass with a respectable amount of residue.

Leicht means Light, so Spezial Leicht is a light lager. In a few minutes we'll know just how spezial it is. A 4.0% ABV and 99 calories are further evidence. Therefore, I'll be scoring it in comparison to beer of that style. The nose is more aromatic than most and consists of grain that is both lightly sweet and lightly sour.

Spezial Leicht isn't a bad drinker... considering. On the good side, it manages to pack a decent amount of flavor in only 99 calories and a small handful of carbs. On the not-so-good side, it's a little grainy, has an underlying tartness that isn't welcome and tends to coarsen as it warms.

Sweetness and bitterness pretty much cancel one another out. As usual, the former is slightly favored early and the latter is slightly favored late. More hop flavor would be nice, even if beer of this style is notoriously deficient on that front.

The mouthfeel is acceptable. It isn't watery and it manages to deliver a small amount of light creaminess due to abundant carbonation that stays just this side of buzzy. If you plan on sessioning, be prepared for abundant burpage.

Shiner Spezial Leicht is a pretty good shot across the bows of Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light, et al. My advice is to drink it cold when you're hot. And don't expect fireworks.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2008 12:09:18 | More by BuckeyeNation

PatrickJR

North Carolina

2.17/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into nonic pint glass.

A - Very pale yellow, but with a decent finger of head that falls to a persistent white film. Some moderate lacing.

S - Horrible. This brew smells like a bag of old coins. Some graininess pulls through, but mostly it's just metal.

T - Pretty bland and somewhat gross. Flavor is non-existent until late palate, where a faint graininess and a metallic bitterness come through.

M - Average for the style. High carbonation and thin body.

D - If not for the absolutely terrible smell, this mind be an ok mindless brew to drink. I actually had high hopes for Shiner's take on a generally uninteresting style, but they've somehow made it worse.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2008 04:08:55 | More by PatrickJR