Shiner Holiday Cheer - Spoetzl Brewery

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, peaches, and a slight nutty aroma. Taste is much the same with peach and apricot flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is fairly interesting with the peach and pecan combo going on.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 05:57:23 | More by UCLABrewN84

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.36/5  rDev -4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A- Pours a deep dark mahogany brown with a thin tan head that dissipates quickly leaving behind a thin collar and a good deal of lacing upon the surface of the beer. This is a very clean and clear looking dunkle.

S- There's a strong wheaty nuttiness to the aroma that I can only guess is the pecans blending in with the natural aromas from the dunkleweizen. There is some faint peach in the finish that is similar to the aroma of peach tea. Some brown sugar notes as well.

T- There is a nice wheat maltiness up front with some strong pecan notes. The malts are followed immediately by a sweet peach flavor that is once again somewhat similar to peach tea. The finish consists of a slightly malty wheatiness similar to many dunkles with some brown sugar notes added in. Peach is definitely the most pronounced flavor throughout the whole beer.

M- Lighter bodied with a good deal fo carbonation despite the poor display of head retention,. Crisp with a somewhat prickly carbonation.

O- This is an incredibly unique and funky take on a Christmas beer, or even a dunklewizen in general. Indeed, this is the most unique dunkleweizen I have ever had. Maybe it's a "Texas" thing, but nothing about this beer really says "Christmas" to me. For this reason I find it funny when people tell me that this beer is a bad "winter warmer". OF course it's a bad winter warmer, because it's NOT ONE. The disappointing thing about this beer is that it is really not sessionalbe (at least for me). This is more of a 1 and done kind of beer which is really unfitting considering how low of an ABV it has. Still, kudos on your creativity shiner and making a beer that slightly stands out from the rest during the holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 17:55:47 | More by Zachtheporter

cousineddy

Illinois

3.46/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pours a deep caramel color, with 4 fingers of rich tan head, pours a bit foamy for my taste. Good lacing

Smell: Peach preserves. candied pecans and other nutty aromas. very little hops.

Taste: Tastes faintly of peaches, i get very little of the pecans it says it is brewed with. Slight malt notes towards the end. I wish the flavor of this beer matched the smell.

Mouthfeel: Somewhat flat and thin, leaves some to be desired from a winter beer.

Overall: This is the second beer ive had that has been brewed with pecans, personally it doesn't seem to me to have a strong enough flavor to come through in the beer. I got this brew in a gift basket so i was happy to try it, however i won't be buying this in a 6-pack.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:17:55 | More by cousineddy

shand

Florida

4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At the very least, this one sounds interesting. Shiner Cheer pours out a red color with a decent head. The aroma comes strong with the peaches. The taste comes really hard with the peaches too. There's a bit of nuttiness and just a tiny amount of spices on the finish, but otherwise this is a one-note peach fest. Unique enough and pretty tasty. The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium and lightly carbonated. Overall, Shiner Cheer is a solid and unique winter beer. However, stay far, far away if the idea of a primarily peach flavored beer doesn't tickle your fancy.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 01:19:28 | More by shand

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

2.6/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

P: Dazzling ruby body with slight bubbles and a big top of micro bubble khaki head. Thin and short lived head leaving wet slippery lacing.

S: Sweet fruity tea, peach, juniper berries, cranberries, raspberries, tangerines, prunes dusted with powder sugar and honeydew melon. Subtle notes of cinnamon and other spices I can't quite make out. Smells like a natural fruit roll up.

T/M: Fruity like the nose but tastes oxidized and dulled down by unpleasant bitterness and a chalky after math. Light and prickly carbonation. Not really feeling this one. Taste is like diluted fruit flavored seltzer water.

O: What a let down. The nose was good but lacked in taste completely. All that comes to mind is a cheap replica of a great beer style. I won't be cheering next year.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 21:37:53 | More by Hopswagger

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Shiner Holiday Cheer
*brewery established 1909

LOOK: Pours a light brown color. Good clarity, with a soapy white head providing some lace.

SMELL: Peach and wheat, caramel and brown sugar.

TASTE: Opens up malty and full of peach, giving way to a nutty flavor from the pecans endorsed on the label. Bright peach flavor tempered by ample hops and dry wheat. Juicy fruit and even citrus notes. Toasted malt but falls a bit short, would love it to be more robust. More pecan would help as well. As is, it's still tasty.

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated, fruity aftertaste.

OVERALL: A decent holiday beer, with a major peach influence. The flavor is genuine and everything more or less works. A bit light and confused, but still quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 19:05:53 | More by Stinkypuss

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This poured out as a clear reddish brown color with an off white head on top. The retention is thin and there isn't any lacing. The smell of the beer to me was really impressive. I poured out and was overwhelmed by the peach in it. The smell is sweet like candy and won't appeal to most beer lovers out there. The taste is also sweet, again with peaches I wish the nuts came out a little more. The mouthfeel is very drinkable and easy going. Not bitter at all or cloying. Overall despite it's "artificial" aromas and flavors that it more than likely has... it's still a really good tasting beer in my opinion. I would prefer it if it wasn't artificial at all and all natural but either way I enjoy this beer. I feel it's a bit too clear to be a traditional Dunkelweizen as well. All in all I would drink this beer again though.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 04:23:23 | More by Knapp85

circus_cat

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear dark amber to copper tone with orange hues. Poured mine into a tumbler and the head was a soapy off-white which dissipated to a thin film in about a minute. Minimal lacing.

S: Smells like peach iced tea. Not cloying, actually a bit tart on the nose. A second take gives me a bit of spiciness and just a hint of that pecan nutty malt aroma.

T: I was relieved to find that it doesn't taste quite as peachy as the nose would suggest. It's actually pretty nice. It's bready through the middle and nutty toward the end with some peach and apricot on the finish. It's a little like I'm drinking a fruitcake.

M: A bit thin but I don't think they mean it to be a big beer. It has a low ABV as well if my memory serves me right. It's very smooth and clean on the finish.

O: A decent beer. Honestly, I'll probably have it again next year. Not world-class by any means but it does give me a nice, festive, fruitcake vibe.

Sidenote: The beer definitely improves as it warms. The flavor profile gains in nuts and maltiness which does a better job of balancing the peach tartness.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 21:21:28 | More by circus_cat

beerdrifter

Germany

3.08/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Clear mahogany pour with one finger head that fades quickly with minimal lacing. Nutty, fruity nose with subtle hints of peaches along with brown sugar, and caramel. Taste is dominated by the sweet malt with hints of peaches, toffee, and maple syrup. The mouthfeel is syrupy and sickly sweet. The description of this beer sounded interesting, but Shiner definitely didn't pull it off. Way too sweet for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 21:23:29 | More by beerdrifter

Labeorphile

Texas

2.73/5  rDev -22%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from bottle into pint glass. Minimal head that quickly disappears. Artificial coloring per the label. Seriously? Dark amber color I guess.

Aroma is complicated. Lots of sweetness, a lot of peach. Flavor is much the same. Not a bad drink, but it doesn't taste like beer. Overwhelmingly peach, but tastes like artificial peach flavoring.

Mouthfeel is probably about right, but overall I feel like Shiner is just doing a bit with this and I can't take it seriously.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 03:19:45 | More by Labeorphile

goldenboi187

2.25/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This beer tastes 10x better on tap than bottle. The bottle taste reminds me of sour milk on the after taste. Have you ever tasted your own ear wax? Well after drinking this you might be able to recall that. Now, why I say ear wax??...well I tasted my ear wax numerous times out of curiosity. I wouldn't buy this beer. I'd rather bum off someone else.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 07:05:29 | More by goldenboi187

Maltmaiden

Alabama

3.2/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark amber brown. Clear. Big carbonation. Very pretty.

S: Gummy bears/ jolly ranchers upfront. Maraschino cherries. roasted malt.

T: Cherry coke. Very very sweet. Malty. Gummy bears. Strawberry. I do not taste pecan though. Does not taste like beer...

M: Medium body and smooth with a tickle on the tongue.

O: Not my cup of tea. Too much like drinking a candy.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 21:02:57 | More by Maltmaiden

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.55/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz poured in a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

A - Clear medium brown, off-white head creates a thin cap.

S - Peaches dominate the aroma from fresh to candy like.

T - Peaches, lightly toasted malt, wheat malt is there but you have to search for it. Peaches pretty much dominate. Mild spice note, maybe clove or coriander. Some light hops on the back end/

M - Very creamy with a velvety feel, ample carbonation.

This seems to be more of a fruit beer. The peaches are nice though. The wheat shows on the fell more than the flavor. This could be a great summertime beer as well.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 23:08:53 | More by StaveHooks

fsimcox

California

2.63/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear transparent ruby-red amber color. Off-white foamy head that dissipates after a few minutes to a long lasting thin white cover. Some lacing.

Smells of sweet peaches, candied fruit, and some faint hops citrus. Some hints of malt and spice in the background. I was a bit surprised by the strong peach smell.

Taste is sour apple, hop citrus, and spicy floral notes. The finish is peach and apricot sweetness, with a lingering of dried apricot.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with carbonation, and a slightly thin finish.

An interesting holiday beer. It was worth trying, but probably not one I will revisit.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 21:02:01 | More by fsimcox

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic.

Pours a clear ruby brown color with a finger of off white foam. Aroma is strong with a sour peach flavor. Interesting... but not really appetizing.

Strong sweet peach flavor. Almost like a peach Jolly Rancher, but the sweetness isn't cloying. I'm not really detecting any other strong flavors. This does have a decent body, and doesn't finish too dry or too sweet. This tastes a lot better than I thought it would. Actually fairly drinkable.

A must try if you like peach flavored beers. An interesting diversion, and one of the better Shiner beers that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:20:31 | More by FickleBeast

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: A coppery pour shows up a weathered garnet red in the vessel. A whispy peanut shell head holds only slightly before dissipating to a polished surface. Lacing is minimal, a few speckles while the visible effervesce is fair with only a moderate paced rise.

S: Dry caramel on the nose, apple malt, dry cherry skin with a very low awareness level. Not very cheerful thus far.

T: Flavor is cherry malt fruitiness, sweet vienna grains, toasty apple and honey malt. A touch of christmas pine and spruce hops mix with a specialty grain dry sweetness on the close.

M: Fair amount of carbonation and maltiness on the tongue, some syrupy content feel with a slight holiday spiciness off the tongue.

O: Malt forward xmas beer, fruity and somewhat respectable without being overbearing spice wise.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 23:08:27 | More by beerthulhu

ZAP

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Woa...a peach/pecan dunkelweizen...what will they think of next....spurred a purchase from me of a Shiner product which I usually stay away from (don't hate them but just so many better products out there to chose from).

A-Chestnut brown colored...minimal head..

S-Peaches...more like the peach syrup in a can of peaches...just a general malty aroma...

T-Pleasantly surprised....the peach flavor is evident and in front but refreshing and not sticky sweet...there is also a nutty malty dimension that to be honest I could not identify as pecan but definitely nutty maltiness....not a bad drinker at all..not getting much of any yeasty weizen notes...drinks more like a dark wheat ale perhaps..

M-Malty but not cloying like I feared....lighter bodied and a bit thin but not mich ultra thinnish or anything like that...just not a lot of heft to to it...was hoping for more of a medium body on this.

O-I'm kind of glad I bought this...something a little different and while not an all-time great it's interesting enough.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 06:29:48 | More by ZAP

BigBarley

Texas

2.15/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - Pours a deep amber, very dark but still see-through. Not a very dunkel looking beer. 3 fingers of a heavy wheat head, that recedes to a thick lacing.

S - Peaches, with mild wheat and sweet malt undertones. Extreme overpowering peach notes take away from any real beer ingredients. Not pleasant, smells artificial.

T - Peach blast. And not a very pleasant blast at that. Mild yeast notes as the taste fades out. No real wheat presence. Strange flavor, not all that enjoyable from my end.

M - Might as well be a light lager. I've never tasted a dunkel that was this thin and bubbly. Little thicker than a light lager I guess, but not nearly the wheaty body you'd expect.

O - Disappointing is the name of this beer. If you're REALLY into peachy flavors and thin beer, go for it. But if you're looking for an actual dunkel, steer clear of this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 15:44:09 | More by BigBarley

Darkmagus82

Montana

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

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a light brown/mahogany color with a two finger cream-red tinted head. The head has a decent level of retention, fading to give a light level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is big of a sweet sugary smell of peach and apricot. It almost smells like a peach candy or a peach fruit roll-up. Mixed with the intense sweet and sugary fruit aroma is a little bit of spice as well.

Taste – The taste starts out of the sweet fruit that was detected in the nose. These flavors are mixed with a light wheat and roast flavor upfront. Some spice flavors soon come to the tongue with a sugary/candy flavor accompanies this to produce a spiced fruit candy flavor on the tongue. Toward the end the peach and apricot flavors surge in strength along with a slight increase in the spice and roast flavors to leave a sweet and spiced peach and apricot taste on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the slightly creamier side with a carbonation level that is a little on the lower side. A little more carbonation may have been nice for the sweet flavors of the brew, but with that said, the creaminess was quite good for the spice, lighter roasted flavors, and the overall smoothness of the beer.

Overall – While a little too fruity and sweet for the style, it was actually a very tasty brew. Easy to drink and one to go to from time to time.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 01:42:33 | More by Darkmagus82

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

A: Pours a medium reddish brown in color with some garnet red and tea-like brown highlights when held up to the light and light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall light beige that slowly fades to a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer and a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of peaches over the top of lighter notes of spices - there is a moderate amount of sweetness in the smell.

T: Upfront there is a light to moderate flavor of toasted bready malts with much stronger flavors of peach sweetness over the top of it. Lighter notes of spices - cinnamon and nutmeg - along with some very light hints of pecan. Faint notes of bitterness in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: The addition of peaches to a holiday beer is an interesting but completely successful...it leaves the beer a little too sweet, especially in the smell. It goes down pretty easily but I don't think I would want to drink more than one of these in a session.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 23:52:41 | More by dbrauneis

fallopia

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz bottle into an ale glass.

Appearance: Clear, tea-brown color with a thick, creamy, lacy head with staying power.

Aroma: Bright, distinctive aroma with orange and cherry flavors

Flavor: Excellent balance of malt and hops with a clove/pepper finish

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a very pleasant lingering, hoppy finish.

Overall, I really enjoyed this beer. I'm having a difficult time describing the very distinctive, non-beer flavor. Maybe it's just the 'holiday' in the title, but it does have a yuletide feel.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 02:59:15 | More by fallopia

mactrail

California

3.1/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Apricot jam in a bottle with a touch of hops. Golden orange in the glass with a very nice head and spritzy on the tongue.

Light body. This is just so sweet and fruity. I taste peach, then apricot, then orange marmalade. Malty but not exactly rich. If only it swerved into a dry and bitterish Belgian yeasty flavor-- but no such luck. There doesn't seem to be much aroma. Breathing out through the nose is like exhaling peach brandy from the gas station liquor store. Still, it's quite drinkable, just hard to get your palate around. If they called it "Orchard Amber" for a summer quaff, it might go down easier. Totally weird and worth a try if you like fruit flavors.

I think this one should be in the Fruit/Vegetable category. If this is a Dunkelweizen, it's well disguised. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Pinkie's in San Angelo.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 04:34:03 | More by mactrail

phideltashaggy

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass.

A- looks medium brown, but is beautiful dark red when held up to light. Vaguely off-white head that disappears quickly but leaves nice lacing.

S- Lots of peach and a little bit nut.

T- Love this. Starts with loads of peach, has a very round, nutty taste in the middle, and finishes with a little citrusy-pine hops.

MF- Meh. Not bad, but a little under-carbonated to be great. If you're looking for a sweetish session brew, the mouthfeel makes this a decent choice.

Overall- this is one of my favorite beers, i look forward to it every year. I might love it less if it was available year round, but drinking a few six-packs in the winter months is a blast. Perfect for Christmas parties for BA's and beer-normies alike.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 04:43:15 | More by phideltashaggy

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

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

12oz bottle poured in a Kasteel goblet.

Appearance- Dark brown to the eye, but when put to the light a dark blood red is revealed. White tiny head that disappears like a rabbit in a hat.

Smell- Tons of peach with toasted pine nuts.

Taste- Once again lots of peach but not to much to over take the actual beer itself. A piney hops on the back end.

Mouthfeel- Light mouthfeel that is very properly carbonated. Makes for a very easy drinker.

Overall- A nice tasty change of pace holiday beer. My biggest gripe is that I've had it 3 years in a row and the taste changes every single time. I would prefer more consistency.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 15:53:51 | More by BrownAleMale

Offa

California

3.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was rather surprisingly impressed with this one.

Copper brown, it has a small tan head soon thinning to thin ring.

Aroma is bright peach, plus nuts, wood, cheese, fermented bread.

Taste is toasted bread, faintly caramelized, plus light woody-peppery bitterness, hint of nuttiness. Peach is noticeable but barely so, being very faint (unlike in the aroma). Finish has light nutty caramelised toasted bread. Overall, it is fairly dry, balanced. It is good, enjoyable, and solid. It’s a little different, too, and in a way that works well. Feel is light but not watery.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 00:54:45 | More by Offa