Shiner Holiday Cheer - Spoetzl Brewery

Pegasus

Texas

3.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Clear medium amber body sport a dense, creamy, off-white head, with lots of scattered, thin lacing, and slight carbonation.

Aroma: Fresh peach notes are very, very prominent, to the exclusion of all else, overwhelming any malt characteristics, or pecans.

Taste: Opens with toasted malts, as the taste progresses, a moderately bitter, lingering herbal hop flavor. Later in the taste, some nut notes appear, presumably the pecans, and a prominent peach skin note. The peaches, with the bitter characteristic of the skins, blend harmoniously with the hops, and bring the taste to a graceful close.

Mouth feel: Smooth and full, fairly soft.

Drinkability/notes: I give Shiner high marks for using native Texas ingredients, the peaches and pecans, in an original way. However, the original Shiner Dunkelweizen was an excellent beer, and Holiday Cheer is certainly not its equal. If this beer is to be offered again, more emphasis on the pecans, as with 512 Brewing superb Pecan Porter, would be welcome, with the peaches taking on a lesser role. Its certainly not bad, but could be better.

Presentation: Packaged in a twelve-ounce brown glass long neck bottle with a twist-off crown, served in a standard pint tap glass.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2009 17:34:20 | More by Pegasus

HardTarget

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A) Dark brown with thick clear edges. A creamy tan head gives up some wispy lacing.

S) Great peach nectar aroma tops a toasted bread base with a hint of hops. Nice level on the fruit.

T) The peach is a bit heavy in the taste, giving a bit of a syrup element that's a bit overdone. The fruit overpowers any subtle underlying elements for me.

M) A bit fizzy, medium light body, lingering finish.

D) Flavorful, festive, not a bad beer and I'm glad I got the 6'er. High marks for creativity, but I would like to see the peach dialed down a mark or three.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2008 00:10:25 | More by HardTarget

Brenden

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This brew is a deep clear reddish color. An aggressive pour forms a smallish creamy head that dissipates somewhat quickly and leaves light lacing.
The aroma is almost entirely fruit (strawberry, peacher and/or apricot), perhaps some grains, and subtle spices. It's pretty light.
The flavor is likewise pleasant but light and makes for extreme sessionability. This is a lot like a soda, not the overly sweetened kind; more like an Italian soda.
The mouthfeel is pretty thin with a light to moderate carbonation giving it a crisp bite.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2009 23:45:22 | More by Brenden

nrbw23

Ohio

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

A- Pours a clear copper color with a descent size off white head. Head has good retention and leaves some nice layered lacing.

S- Peaches are every where here. I can also pick up pecans even though the bar keep said it was made with almonds.

T- Just like the nose here.

M- Medium in body and nice carbonation.

D- Not to bad not something I'd have all the time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2009 01:13:26 | More by nrbw23

Rayek

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep copper, with nice clarity and light carbonation. A soapy orange tinged cap has OK retention, but leaves little lace.

S: Peaches and nuts; especially the peaches, come through strong. There's a light baked bread aroma in the background that combines with the other aromas to give the beer a peach cobbler effect.

T: The peach theme continues. The beer is fruity, yet not too sweet, which is an interesting accomplishment. The pecans add a nutty dryness. Bitterness is very low and doesn't add any real flavor. A toasted bread flavor hangs in the rafters.

M: The medium-light body is somewhat dry and grainy. Carbonation feels about right.

D: If it were me, I would have filed this beer under Winter Warmer, as the peach and nut character are the true centerpiece, not the very faint weizen flavors. Overall, quite drinkable. I'm glad I picked it up.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2009 04:16:45 | More by Rayek

Haybeerman

Colorado

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

A: Red-amber color. Poured a 1 finger tan head that dissipated to a broken skim. Lacing washed down the glass.

S: Pecans and sweet caramel. Peaches in the background with some muted spices.

T: Sweet light fruit; primarily peaches. Sweet malt comes through a little in the middle; did not detect a wheeat character I expected.Mild bitter finish.

M: Light-to-medium body. Ample carbonation. Crips and clean.

D: Flavorful and drinkable. The dominant light fruit sweetness hinder sessionablity.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 22:38:46 | More by Haybeerman

popery

California

2.23/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Oh God, the peaches. It's not so much that the peach flavor is all that bad, in fact it's one of the more natural-tasting fruit flavors in a fruit beer that I've tried, but it's just extremely peachy, like someone mixed peach preserves and beer. The smell is particularly peachy, literally rather than figuratively. The flavor is like a cross between a strawberry soda, a light possibly decent dunkelweizen and a giant bowl of peaches (and a trace of bile - but I hate a lot of sweet fruit beers). I've never really associated peaches with the holiday season, so it leaves me a bit confused. Maybe, it's a Texas thing. Also, if anyone can taste pecan in this beer, my hat is off to you. It's really not a horrible beer, I guess, but it's not my thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 07:15:09 | More by popery

budgood1

Minnesota

3.03/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pours out a clear auburn colour with a respectable tan head that sticks a bit and stays a bit longer. light wisps of lace, too. aroma of peaches and popcorn....something i don't think i've ever experienced before in a beer. taste is good deal more of the peaches with a slight hint of roasted nuts, mingling nicely with the sweetness of the malts used. there is some underlying weizen notes of lemon and some spice which actually gives the overall flavour profile some depth and legitimacy. light mouthfeel with a medium at best body provides an easy drinking, yet sort of underwhelming performance. finishes on the dry side which helps things out because if this concoction was sweet and cloying it would be a lot less enjoyable. therefore drinkability is fairly decent.

overall, i don't hate it but do not necessarily like it too much, either. for a winter/holiday/x-mas ale it's interesting but not something i think i would want to revisit or look forward to every year.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 23:19:53 | More by budgood1

yemenmocha

Arizona

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

Pours a very dark amber to brown color with light tan head that is nice at first, but recedes to a thin rim. Nose has plenty of peach and toasty aromas, maybe some black tea. On the palate the peach comes through nicely with a wheat cracker malt flavor. Extra nutty sweetness. Finishes like a dessert cake.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 03:03:04 | More by yemenmocha

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Extra toss-in from DeathbySexyBT.

12oz bottle poured into a goblet. Pours a crystal clear, dark ruby. No head at all; no lace. I like that color though. The nose is fruity with strong notes of peaches, and strawberry jam. This really smells like morning toast. Unexpected for the style, but it is pleasant.

Decent body. Carbonation is spot on. Finishes fine. The fruit is definitely the main player with flavors of strained peaches, more jam, cherries. I'm not getting any of the nutty quality others noted. Slightly drying on the finish. This is a decent beer, but is the style correct?? I'd just call this a Fruit Beer and be done with it.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 17:12:29 | More by Onenote81

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.5/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

From winter brew tasting notes (2010): Dark amber colored with light brown head. The aroma is predominantly peaches and apricots. The taste is naturally heavy on the peaches with some nutty malt, banana bread and caramel flavors also in the mix. A peach flavored Dunkelweizen is not exactly my ideal winter seasonal but the overall flavor is surprisingly smooth and refreshing. Neat vintage label and this beer was a major let down for me - too peachy for a winter. I'd rather stick with the Shiner Bock here.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 19:40:41 | More by CuriousMonk

david131

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- A deep, clear blood red liquid with numerous streams of rising carbonation. The light brown head is thin, but has good coverage and retention.

S- Raspberries, cranberries, oranges, cherries, and grapes. Smells like a unique, sweet fruit punch. Aromatic and appealing.

T- Not nearly as sweet as the aroma would indicate. Some of the fruitness I found in the aroma with a nice malt backing. Rather simple, actually.

M- A nice little bit from the carbonation. Pretty clean on the finish with just the slightest hint of astringency.

D- A unique beer that drinks a lot easier than the aroma indicates.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 03:40:43 | More by david131

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

rtepiak

Poland

2.98/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

bottle states a bavarian style dark wheat deer.

pours is copper lager clear. with as small head that doesn't stick around long. nose is that initial cereal i've found in other shiners... after it sits a very prominent strawberry. palate is sweet. not much wheat character. not much of anything besides the fruit citrus of a strawberry then a overly hoppy. and i'm not saying its actually a hoppy beer but no balance at all as for malt character interaction. quite plain. might have been decent if it wasn't clear... crisp, not bready dense. not as misplaced yeast as some of the other shiners. definitely not a dukelweizen so don't try if that's what you're hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 04:00:13 | More by rtepiak

cvstrickland

North Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deck the halls with a twist-top bottle, poured into a glass fa la la la.

'Tis my Kolsch stange that I'm using, fa la la la la la la la la...

The brew is clear and reddish-copper, fa la la la la la la la la...

Fine lace from ecru foam a-topping, fa la la la la la la la la...

Ok-Now...enough of that caroling... fa la la la la la la la la *Punch! Bang! Kick! Clatter, feedback screech, clang! Pow!*

Ahem,sorry. The aroma of the drink is fruity-sweet with a floral character and a soft toasted note, marinated with a clove or two in a bowl of canned peach syrup.

The taste is sweet and oddly fruity, with canned peaches in the forefront and a dry bitter earthiness in the finish and aftertaste.

Light-medium in body and fruit juicy with plenty of carbonation.

Merry Christmas 2008/Happy Holidays/Kwanzaa/ Hannukah, etc. BA, and thanks for the bottle Dr. Brad!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 17:35:10 | More by cvstrickland

katan

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz into a pint

A - Pours a dark amber to brown color. Very clear, especially against its opaque qualities. Head formation is strong, lightly off white. Carbonation is light.

S - A sugar sweet combination of light malts, crystal malts. Amazingly, the strongest flavor is an almost apple like note. I don't quite get the peaches or pecans.

T - Starts off with a light malt note that wants to sneak through a fruity backdrop. Builds with a bit of bitterness, but is certainly sweet forward. It does finish with a peach/apple note that is quite strong. Leaves behind more of that more apple than peach aftertaste.

M - Moderate to strong body - certainly strong built with the strong sugar backbone. Carbonation does come through in the mouthfeel, leaving a bit of a bite. Aftertaste is a bit clinging sweet.

D - Moderate drinkability. ABV is not a problem. A bit thick to call it a session beer - turns just a bit filling. Clinging sweetness does become a bit overbearing.

A good Christmas beer - although I'm not sure its a dunkel.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 04:58:18 | More by katan

TheSarge

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This brew pours well for a strong two finger thick light tan head. The body is dark ruby red in color, and is not hazy at all.

In the aroma and taste, there are spices, cherry, and light hints of vanilla. There is an odd sour milk like note here too.

Feel wise it's medium in body, with a slight crisp wetting to the palate type of quality.

Wrongfully labeled a dunkelweizen, this beer would not hold up to that style. Anyhow, I read they placed peach juice and pecans into this brew after the review. I think the peach juice is what kind of gives off the sour milk aroma and taste. I'd say take the crap out and see how this brew tastes then.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 21:33:52 | More by TheSarge

MTNboy

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: I found this to be a good looking beer with a lot of tan head and lace. There was just the right amount of carbonation to the body. The body was brown with a reddish hue.

Smell: It has a different type of smell. It is very roasty and the only other way to describe it is meaty.

Taste: It has a spicy but not hot. There are a good amount of fruit esters especially in the aftertaste. The peach is dominant but the aftertaste is melon like.

Mouthfeel: Medium and slick with some bite.

Overall: I thought this was great holiday beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 10:01:19 | More by MTNboy

hosehead83

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a standard pint glass
Dark copper in color with a big, creamy head of foam
Aroma-Wow! A bit unexpected, but a pleasant surprise of fresh peaches, wheat, and spices
Taste-Fresh peaches, dark malts and wheat, subtle roasted pecans that just balance out the sweetness of the peaches. Nicely balanced, as a little peach essence goes a long way , but this brew seems to get it right. Flavor is not cloying, but rather refreshing and very drinkable. A very interesting and tasty offering-Certainly worth a try!

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2009 17:32:11 | More by hosehead83

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Pours something of a crimson or garnet color with a two and half finger beige head that disappates to half a finger. Looks good.
S- Peach. and peach. a bit of wheat smell. the peach smell is overwhelming.
T- More peach. I know the company was billing this as a dunkelweizen with peach and nut, but there is no real nut flavor. It's like peach with a shot of dunkel. On the positive side it tastes like real peach instead of fake fruit flavor like in so many beer.
M- Good mouthfeel. not too watery.
O- Wouldn't be that bad if the peach flavor wasn't so freaking overwhelming. A one trick pony.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2008 07:19:03 | More by jsprain1

beer2day

North Carolina

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

Pours a medium dark red with brown notes. 2-finger head quickly disappears. Laces well, though. Color is good, but a little too clear for my liking.

Sweet, bready nose. Molasses and weak caramel round things out. Weak overall, but not bad.

Slightly bland hit on the tongue turns instantly sweet. Caramel totally dominates. Very chewy considering the light appearance. Decent hop bite on the back end, but the caramel domination nearly blocks that out.

Not a bad drinker, but really one is enough. A little two sweet and filling to drink more than one.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 02:18:32 | More by beer2day

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Amber to light brown and perfectly clear, great head that lasted a bit and left nice lace.

Smell is very peachy, pungently fruity with a little bit of malt and yeast but no hops.

Taste isn't as good as the smell, it's a bit overly peachy, almost like syrup was added rather than fresh peaches. Tons of caramel malt finish it out.

Body is nice, full but easily drinkable and pretty satisfying.

Interesting but not something I'd drink more than a sixer of during the holidays. Still, it's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 17:51:29 | More by AlCaponeJunior

TexIndy

Texas

2.08/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle (no dating info but new seasonal so it's fresh) into a pint glass. It was mahogany color with some carb and slight lacing. It has a good sized light beige head that took awhile to fade.

The was peach, peach and more peach. Never really got a whiff of the underlying base beer. I like peaches but this was too much. Same for the taste. Very one dimensional and cloying. It also clashed with the base flavor.

Overall, nasty and a drain pour. One and done. Very glad I got a single instead of a sixer. Another sub-par effort from Shiner - a faded Texas icon. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2008 01:08:42 | More by TexIndy

Blakaeris

Iowa

3.03/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours dark red-copper with a modest creamy tan head that quickly dissipates.

Aroma is dominated natural peach. Hints of dry malt and orange.

Taste is mild malty and fruity with a distinct peach character. Mild spices and a nutty earthy finish, with a lingering metallic quality.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied.

Overall a drinkable, if odd dunkel. Flavor is not as unified as I would prefer.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2009 02:40:04 | More by Blakaeris

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

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

Not sure why this was on the shelves in late August or why I felt the need to buy it but..so be it.

Pours a dark amber rubyish red color with an offwhite head.

Aroma is indeed canned peaches, caramel, molasses, apple cider and brown sugar.

Flavor is very sweet, very fruity (think baked fruit like apples, peaches and pears), brown sugar and/or caramel.

Its a bit cloying but not too bad. I actually enjoyed it despite the review seeming negative. Its a decent brew, a bit sweet, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2010 00:27:51 | More by indiapaleale