Shiner Holiday Cheer - Spoetzl Brewery

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue XI:

Dunkelweizen meets fruitcake. Here is Spoetzl Brewery's take on making a holiday beer out of a Bavarian-Style Dark Wheat Beer. Brewed with peaches, pecans, natural flavor and caramel color. Hey, at least they admit they use flavoring and color. Worried? Perhaps, but we'll let our taste buds be the judge.

Yup, it's a wheat beer with its towering head, good retention and all. Peach aroma dominates the nose, yet there are hints of pecans and some toasted maltiness. Ample smoothness with a slick, medium body. Fresh wheat malt and toasted grain are a good base that hold this beer together. Peach flavor has a mild twang within the subtle sweetness. Nutty, with a light pecan note in the middle. Mild hop presence does not get in the way, though it does help to balance. Finishes dry with a toasted bread crust and lingering pecan flavor.

Interesting, a flavored holiday ale where we would possibly want more than one. Nice to see something different rather than the usual pie spicing that ends up tasting like organic toothpaste. A good pick for the holiday party, as it will definitely spark some interest if not conversation. This is without a doubt a beer that non-beer drinkers could approach and hopefully get pulled into.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 19:04:36 | More by BeerAdvocate

Pencible

Virginia

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

A: This poured a clear dark copper with lots of fizzy light tan head.
S: It smelled like peaches and copper hops, with more peaches and a little nutty malt and bready yeast.
T: It tasted like peaches and copper hops, with some nutty malt and lager yeast. It had a mostly clean bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was watery with moderate carbonation. Fairly light body.
D: This had an unusual scent and taste for a holiday beer, but it was clean and enjoyable. The peach character didn't mix with the copper taste too well, and the pecan wasn't very noticeable, but it was still easy to drink. Not a bad beer, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 19:38:28 | More by Pencible

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Deuane for picking me up a few bottles of this while out in State College. This has to be one of the coolest, retro looking bottle of beer that I've ever come across, right down to the cap. Seems like it jumped out of a time machine from the 50's. Cheers to the graphic artist(s) that designed the artwork for this beer. Poured into my nonic pint glass a clear deep brown amber color reminiscent of cream soda with barely a finger of off white foam. Smells of toasted grain and fresh sweet peaches. Tastes of creamy caramel malt, fresh peaches, and a pleasant nutty bitterness. Medium in both body and carbonation. A very tasty and different take on a holiday beer. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2009 04:05:46 | More by ClockworkOrange

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is an odd duck.

Orange color, with a decently looking tan foam. Not much lacing, although the head retains its shape alright. The nose is quite peachy, to the exclusion of any other ingredients.

Dark wheat and peaches rule the flavor. The natural nuttiness of the brown ale style rolls over in deference to the more powerful flavors of fruit, so the pecans don't add much to me. I find the peach overbearing, and a confusing style choice.

Solid mouthfeel, nice and light, and I found it easy to drink without loving the flavor. Very interesting and unusual, but far from up my alley.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2010 01:22:44 | More by BretSikkink

allengarvin

Texas

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

This new offering from Shiner, poured into a pint glass, comes out a nice reddish amber color with a dense, creamy head. The nose is very peachy (though, er, not peachy keen), to the exclusion of all else. The flavor is interesting--lots of peachiness, but not as sweet as I feared. Some nutty pecan comes through, and a light bittering hoppiness at the finish. Certainly different, and not all that bad.

I appreciate a fruit beer that isn't cloyingly sweet. This isn't a beer I'll seek out again, but I don't dread finishing the six-pack. In fact, it's quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2008 15:00:52 | More by allengarvin

harrymel

Washington

2.8/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottled: unk

A: Hazelnut brown with a finger of off-white foam which falls quickly to a torn sheet of the same. Excellent clarity. No lace.
S: Smells of plastic and some astringent malts. Not like.
T: Tastes sweet and like it has pecans. Some brown sugar tones. Taste far exceeds nose here.
M: Creamy. Thin. Absentee finish.
O: Well, it's okay. I would suggest to a novice to craft.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 04:27:19 | More by harrymel

armock

New York

3.1/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Poured a nice ruby mahogany color with an off white head that leaves lacing

S - Has a very peachy smell some malt sweetness

T - Has a sweet malt start then the blast of peach flavors

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - This isn't a bad beer as long as its pretty cool but as it gets warmer the peaches come out all that much more until its almost undrinkable but its worth trying as long as its cool

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 01:16:40 | More by armock

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

bashiba

Iowa

2.95/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured a nice dark amber with bright copper highlights and a lingering tan head with some mild lacing.

Smell like a bowl of peaches and cream.

Taste like a very muted peach with just a hint of caramel malt and with a bit of a coppery metallic finish. Typical fruit beer to much fruit not enough beer.

The mouthfeel is light and thin.

Another boring fruit beer, where is all the Dunkelweizen goodness.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2009 02:39:51 | More by bashiba

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

homebrew311

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: deep chestnut brown, thin layer of white head, minimal lacing

S: nose is all peach with hints of strawberry and vanilla in the background, very fruity, I'm amazed by how peachy this is.

T: taste feature fruitiness up front, not quite as peachy as the nose, notes of cherry and pecan come through, herbal notes on the finish

Mf: light body, mellow carbonation

O: really nice aroma, not sure how they pulled off the peach but I'm impressed. Not really getting the dunkelweizen character, but for what it is, it's tasty

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 03:29:31 | More by homebrew311

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

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

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

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