Shiner Holiday Cheer - Spoetzl Brewery

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out a burgundy color with a one-finger, off-white head of fluffy foam. It left minimal lace.

S - It smelled of peaches, maltiness and overall was fairly sweet. Not a bad smell, but it just didn't have any dunkelweizen aroma.

T - It tasted of peaches, malt and some crisp wheat flavor came through here. Mild yeastiness.

M - It was fairly crisp and sharp. A light bodied ale that is very easy drinking.

D - This is an interesting beer. Some dunkelweizen flavor with peaches mixed it. I would drink it again. It could be something to have on hand for guests.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 01:03:06 | More by zeff80

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +16.8%
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

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours chestnut with 3 fingers of sand colored head. Good lacing & average head retention

S: Pear, honey, apricot & peach juice

T: Apricot, dryness, nuttyness, oakyness & green apples up front. Peach juice, comes through as it warms, plus more nuttyness. Finishes dry, fruitty & with oaky notes. Almost pulled a 4.0

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation

Drinks easy, this an Americanized dunkleweizen. I could drink a few before moving on. Probably on the better brews I've had from these guys

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 05:17:28 | More by russpowell

jwc215

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear dark amber with a nice-sized head that leaves some lacing.

The smell is of fresh peaches with some toasted malt and a hint of pecans.

The taste is of peaches. The peach aspect is nicely done - fresh and real tasting. Some toasted caramelish malt and a hint of pecans back it up. Sweetish, but with enough hops to make it not too sweet. Peaches linger in the aftertaste.

The feel is smooth and crisp.

This is a unique brew. I would not have expected it for a "holiday" brew - maybe it's "southern-style" though. And, it's certainly not typical for a dunkelweizen. Anyway, it's a nice "change of pace" brew with a refreshing peach and pecan character.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 16:10:58 | More by jwc215

Wasatch

Utah

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to armock for this brew.

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some peach, toffee. The taste is malty, with a very nice peachy note, with some toffee thrown in. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a tasty brew, quite different.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 01:21:30 | More by Wasatch

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -9.4%
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

mactrail

California

3.1/5  rDev -11.7%
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

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into pint glass. Pours ½ finger of beige head. Head fades fast. Color is am amber copper.

Aroma: I can't believe how much the peaches stick out. The pecans show as well. Some caramel and roasted malts. A touch of cocoa.

Taste: Peaches and strawberry fruitiness. Pecans and roasted malts. Chocolate syrup with earthy hops. Interesting.

Mouthfeel: Sweet, fizzy, and roasted. Medium bodied with a high amount of carbonation. Ends a bit dry with fruits.

Overall, a very interesting. Somewhat drinkable. Very fruity. At first, I thought I would be able to drink multiples, but quickly found out that one would be enough.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 16:28:24 | More by mothman

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -6.6%
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

largadeer

Kentucky

2.05/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A dunkelweizen brewed with peaches, pecans and delicious natural flavor and caramel color. On a day like this, what could be better than some crisp refreshing natural flavor?

The beer is the color of mahogany with ruby red highlights and perfect clarity, which I find a little odd for a dunkelweizen. The head crackles and dissipates like a can of soda poured into a paper cup. Looks exactly like Coke, actually.

Sweet and tart peaches and cream greet the nose first; more like cream soda actually. Toasted pecans and whole wheat toast are present as well. It's on the sweet side, and oddly artificial smelling.

Cola, peaches, strawberries, caramel and pecans are dominant on the tongue, along with a touch of nutmeg and chocolate. It's very sweet and syrupy, though the body is thin and carbonation high. It finishes on a dry note, with some lingering bitterness, Cherry Coke and peach. This is strange, unsettling stuff; it's like a soda/beer hybrid. If you're the type of person that adds shots of vodka to their RC Cola, you may enjoy this, but otherwise it's best avoided.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 03:09:55 | More by largadeer

ZAP

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -3.1%
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

Tone

Missouri

3.33/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clear, dark amber color. 3/4 inch head of a pale tan color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of fruit (peaches), tart malt, some caramel, a hint of all spice, and slight alcohol. Fits the style of a Dunkelweizen. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with a high carbonation level. Tastes of peaches and earthy malt up front. A strong dryness is present after the initial sip. A slight hop background is barely noticeable and a strong peach/biscuit flavor dominates the finish. Overall, not a very good Dunkelweizen. I would not recommend this brew unless you're trying to find a decent peach flavored beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2009 03:49:09 | More by Tone

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.05/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle enjoyed at the Old Chicago yesterday.

It poured a clear deep amber with about an inch of foam. Some lacing.

The smell was very sweet and fruity with a butt load of peaches shining through.(pun intended)

The taste brought the peaches to my tastebuds along with a light taste of the pecans. It tasted very grainy as well...wheat, me thinks. Decent taste but perhaps a bit too sweet.

Light bodied with medium carbonation. It does finish on the watery side.

Drinkability? Interesting stuff going on but 1 bottle was all that I could handle. Worth a shot but nothing really sessionable about this brew and really, not much of a dunkelweizen.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 16:47:47 | More by Bitterbill

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A dunkelweizen brewed with fresh Texas peaches and pecans...interesting. Pours a brilliantly clear ruby color with a thin light beige head that fades pretty rapidly. It's a decent looking beer, but nothing too special.

The aroma on this beer is absolutely wonderful. The peaches really shine through and smell fresh and bright. A bit of nutty maltiness is detectable, but not sure I can actually pick out any pecan aroma.

Mmmmm, delicious. Nutty sweet malts come out to play a bit more in the flavor with the peaches still being highly prominent. Pecan flavor is definitely noticeable if you are looking for it. Tangy, sweet, tart and crisp are all good descriptors here.

This is a love it or hate it kind of beer. I am not a huge Shiner fan, but I really dig this beer. They really stepped out of their comfort zone with this one, and I could not be happier they did so. An odd choice for a holiday beer? Yes. But is it delicious? Hell yea, damn near chuggable. I freaking went through over a case of this and hope they release it again next year. Important to note that it does not age well, as it really loses the peachy brightness of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2009 13:59:57 | More by twiggamortis420

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle acquired in trade with lb4lb - Thanks!

Poured a medium reddish-brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of peaches and some roasted nuttiness. The nuts were in the background at first, but came out more as I drank. Tastes of peaches, nuts, and caramel. Medium sweet. Lots of Peaches.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2008 00:56:54 | More by hopdog

champ103

Texas

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours mahogany color with a large beige head. Lots of sticky lace is left behind as the head recedes.
S: Definitely lots of peaches. Sweet malt with a light roasted character. Just a hint of some pecan/nutty aroma.
T: An interesting flavor of peaches, sweet roasted malt, and pecans. More pecans than were in the nose.
M/D: A medium body that is over carbonated for my tastes. Slick and oily. Smooth and easy to drink. Something that I could session.

This is different and unique. Something I would recommend. Definitely one of Spoetzl's better offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2008 20:34:30 | More by champ103

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

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

I got this brew in a trade with JJFoodie, Thanks Justin!

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

Clear amber color with a small beige head that thinned to a ring.
The aroma is just like canned peaches.
The taste is just peachy, seriously it's pretty much all peaches with just a bit of a nutty taste towards the finish.
Medium bodied with a smooth feel.
It's drinkable provided you like the taste of peaches.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 00:33:09 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bought this in a carnivores in Oakmont for 2.50. I didn't expect them to get it in since it's January and I figured holiday beer seasons over but I found this on the shelf!

A - Ruby red orange with decent head.
S - soft Peachy smell with nut backbone. Also some spices to the nose.
T - mmm great peach taste with little hop bite. Very interesting for a holiday beer.
M - Light bodied and delicious
D - I would love to drink a sixer of this and could easily drink a few in one sitting.

Overall I am glad to get my hands on this beer for the ABV it's both smooth and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 05:15:38 | More by DrDemento456

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.63/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

As a dunkelweizen, I'm not too impressed. After letting the beer warm some out of the fridge, it poured with an average sized light tan head that soon subsided to a few small islands, a ring, and a little lace. Color is a nice, clear, red amber with a couple of bubble trails. Aroma is up front peaches with malt and yeast coming in way below. Flavors about the same as nose and with enough carbonic tang to save it. Body and carbonation are decent. Finish is like flavor with all components lasting to the very end of some good length. A peach beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 01:00:36 | More by drpimento

flagmantho

Washington

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: rich amber-brown hue with a clear body and two fingers of pillowy tan foam. Retention is OK and lace is present but minimal.

Smell: very sweet aroma of brown sugar, peach and nuts. Very wintry. The smell is enticing, like a holiday candle of some sort, but it's not my favorite combination of aromas for a beer.

Taste: sweet but mild flavor, not as cloying as the aroma. Malty nuttiness starts off with the peach growing toward the finish, and finishing off quite bright. Not bad.

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a healthy dose of creamy carbonation. It works well for me.

Overall: this is a decent winter beer, if one you've got to be in the mood for. I wouldn't want to drink too many of these, but having one amid some winter warmers would not be amiss.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 18:52:25 | More by flagmantho

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at World of Beer North Hills on 12/29/11.

Pours a dark amber with a thin lacing of loose head. The nose predominantly peaches. The taste is heavy peaches up front with some caramel malt and a slight bitter finish. This is a light to medium bodied beer with good carbonation.

This is a nice twist on a the winter beer. Rather than some heavy, rich, spiced beer, Shiner made a delicious, sweet, almost dessert-like beer. This is a welcomed change of pace.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2011 23:52:39 | More by tdm168

merlin48

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle pours a clear mahogany body with a creamy beige head that lasts the duration. Some attractive patchy lace clings to the glass. Nice looker.

Aroma is peeaches and toasted pecans. Peach essence seems to be a blend of canned and fresh.

Body and carbonation are medium and the mouthfeel has the creaminess of a dunkelweizen.

Taste is like the aroma, toasted pecans and peaches. A hint of wheat malt twang is the only suggestion of a dunkelweizen. Vague hop bitterness balances.

No real dunkelweizen character here but the peaches and pecans create a unique taste profile. An interesting take on a holiday brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 23:59:53 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

An easy pour of this filtered brew into the Sammy Adams freebie glass reveals a clear oak brown hue, capped with a thick and rich ran head. Brussels lace remain in the glass all the way down.

Sweet peach, molasses, honey and spice in the aroma - this holiday brew really has a nice nose to it. Body is a bit thin, but the peaches and roasted nuts come into play with the quaff. On the sweet side, esp. for a winter holiday brew - this could use more spice and hops, but all in all, not too bad of a drinking brew. Might be tough to work through a sixer in a sitting though.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2009 01:36:54 | More by Vancer

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Bright copper with a light tan head that hung on well, reduced a bit and left decent lace.

S-Fairly robust peach aroma, not fake at all. The aroma is very natural with a bit of dryness in the background from the pecans

T-Tasty, slightly tart peaches with a pleasant spicy hop kick and a nice astringent finish courtesy of the pecans.This one is very bright and fresh on the palate.

M-Medium-light body with a nice tart crispness from the peaches. MAybe just a tad on the thin side and starts to feel a bit sticky after a while. Decent lingering flavours.

D-Wow! A different take on a holiday brew with peaches and pecans...a nice southern twist from Shiner. This one is a winner IMHO. I really like the fresh, real peach taste combined with the tannic dryness from the pecans. A well balanced and flavourful brew. Wish I had more of this one! Although they call this a dunkleweizen? I find no dunkle or weizen in here at all...regardless I enjoyed it!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2008 03:18:13 | More by Deuane

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -8%
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