Shiner Kosmos Reserve - Spoetzl Brewery

Onslow

Texas

1.25/5  rDev -62.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

what an absolute insult to Kosmos, but seeing as the Spoetzl family let this get out to the public, fuck 'em.. Please Lord, if you are there, please strike down Spoetzl brewery into dust, and forever blank the worlds mind of this crap they call beer, from Bock to Leight to this garbage.. words aren't enough, pure shit .. . pours a tawny tan, with almost no head after a minute .. . ever smelled a metal malt extract can that expired in 1994, then you know what this smells off.. . does have a decent mouth, as in it doesn't linger too long, but horribly muddled with an odd metallic backbone bitterness, and a wrong expired maple syrup flavour, maybe some moldy hops ..maybe...

.. pretty much offensive to all my senses...

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2009 22:54:49 | More by Onslow

swoopdog

Arkansas

2.03/5  rDev -39%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Drank this with a snifter a Pilsner glass would have been better but I was expecting more hop character

A - It's defined as an American Pale Lager but if you see it poured you don't get any of those characteristics. It's a copper colored pour with zero carbonation and almost no head or lacing at all much like the Shiner Ruby Redbird.

S - The nose is a weak/sweet honey or some sort of wheat malt I tried swirling it and I got a bit more of the same but still very weak.

T - The taste is very mild and doesn't really have a recognizable characteristic at all it's just a bit hoppy but its like eating a piece of white bread and trying to describe the taste lots of confectionary yeast flavors but its all melds together and provides nothing unique in terms of flavor.

M - Very sharp and clean tasting with some effervescence and bite.

O - I do not like the style I think its boring and flat. If you like Budweiser I would say try this I am pretty indifferent to this and wont be seeking this out again. The problem here is with all of the awesome stuff being done in craft brewing why is Shiner trying to make an average tasting beer without any characteristics at all? I am not even remotely ready to give up on this brewery they just need to retire this stuff though its been done a million times before.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 21:39:54 | More by swoopdog

beergoot

Colorado

2.1/5  rDev -36.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Appearance: Dark yellow and gold; lively carbonation; initial 1.5 finger head that quickly dropped to one finger, no lacing or rings.

Smell: Earthy, light malt, no noticeable hop aroma except for a very, very slight fruitiness.

Taste: pretty bland; a light roasted, biscuit-like flavor. Bitterness is pretty well hidden, too - didn't notice it until way after swallowing and it seemed mixed with some sort of metallic off-taste.

Mouthfeel: okay - light to medium body

Overall: can't find much difference between this 'hop jacked lager' compared to other main stream consumer beers like Budweiser or Miller High Life. Drinkable in a pinch, but not for someone looking for a more distinctive hoppy and/or malt flavored craft beer. Great example of a below average beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 03:29:33 | More by beergoot

HoppyAlesToYou

Indiana

2.15/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Initial impression from the pour does not impress, as there is not much aroma and little head retention. The first sip reminds me a bit of Sam Adams Boston Lager, but that quickly fades as the long malty finish disappoints. There is a touch of sweetness to this medium bodied clear amber lager, but it leaves me wanting for more. While it may be a better alternative to the mass market lagers, I'll not pursue it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 17:47:58 | More by HoppyAlesToYou

blakelive784

Colorado

2.15/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

12 fl oz bottle served in a pilsner glass, reviewed live:

A - Pours a transparent golden/orange color. The head is 1.5 fingers and dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing.

S - Pale malt, indistinct hops, stale adjunct and honey. Mild and uninteresting.

T - Cloying sweet pale malt, and an obtrusive bitter finish. Muddy simple, and not really very good. Poorly built. Entirely too simple.

M - Light and crisp. Probably ideal, for the style (if you can call it that).

D - It's drinkable and definitely sessionable, but really simple and boring. Don't waste your time.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 02:59:59 | More by blakelive784

champ103

Texas

2.2/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a clear copper color. A minimal white head forms and leaves no lace.
S: Sweet malt at first. Some very faint hop bitterness. Metallic and copper. Blah.
T: I can't really pick anything out. A very faint sweetness and hop bitterness.
M/D: A light body, over carbonated, watery, and thin. Easy enough to drink for a light lager.

This beer is the only reason why I bought the Shiner Family mixed packed. After trying it, I am disappointed. I can't really make anything out in the nose or flavor. Just bland. I am sorry Kosmos Spoetzl, this is a disservice to you.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2009 21:46:02 | More by champ103

ImusBeer

Georgia

2.33/5  rDev -30%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Got this from a place that carries singles.

I've had and enjoy a Shine Bock on occasion but this beer just isn't my style.

It was poured into a 16oz beer glass, a honey color clear with a finger of head that died and continued to bubble from the bottom.

It had a grainy/tinny smell like a tin can. The taste was a little metalic as well but crisp and light.

The mouth can feel the light carbonation and watery feel. Ok, but too light for me not my cup of tea at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2009 13:19:39 | More by ImusBeer

TexIndy

Texas

2.4/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Can only get as part of Shiner Family Reunion 6 pack. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. No dating info but it's new so it's fresh. It was a clear, light copper color. Decent carbonation but no lacing. It had a small fizzy off-white head that was pretty much gone but the time I was done pouring.

The aroma was weak. Malty, grassy with some hops. Had a strong resemblance to a pilsener aroma. The taste was barely there. Very watery until right at the last second you get a bit of flavor and then it fades just as quick. Switch this with a Miller Lite while I'm drinking it and I probably wouldn't notice - it's that bland. Mouthfeel was good with good carb level.

Overall, a major disappointment. I never had this when it was around a long time ago and had been reading posts about how great it used to be so was eagerly awaiting it's release. Was hoping to find a Shiner that I like these days. Either they changed the formula or I'm missing something. Very bland and flavorless. Don't recommend. Just reviewed 5 of the 6 beers in the 6 pack (I'd reviewed the 6th a couple years ago) and all were bland and not worth having again. I used to love Shiner when I first moved here about 15 years ago but I find them now to be middling. Shame but time to move on.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2009 01:07:59 | More by TexIndy

Scrapss

Pennsylvania

2.42/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

I tried this as part of a Shiner sampler. I have to say I love Shiner Bock as a session beer, but this was something unexpected...Appearance was a straw yellow, with little carbonation. Smell was strange, like a lemongrass soup? Taste followed the smell, light and citrus, some hops. Mouthfeel was average...not terribly overpowering but underimpressive. drinkability alright, not my favorite but not awful.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 04:13:16 | More by Scrapss

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

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

Shiner Kosmos Reserve

Pours ½ finger of white head. Color is a clear golden orange. Active carbonation in the glass.

Aroma: Orange citrus, pale malts, earthy hops. This one has a bit more flavors than the other Shiners I have had.

Taste: Orange citrus again, pale bready malts, grassy earthy hops with a slight floral bite.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and dry with a touch of bitterness. Light to medium bodied with a medium to high amount of carbonation. Ends sticky.

Overall, better than the first 2 shiners I had, but nothing really special. Guessing this one is a pale lager or something of the sort. Somewhat drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 02:30:40 | More by mothman

Kornoms

Texas

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

Appearance is an orange-yellow and relatively transparent. Fairly weak smelling, with a notable absence of hops (for a dry hopped beer). Tastes like a fairly standard lager with a bit of hops that come through near the end. Feels fine in the mouth- just an ok beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 01:41:34 | More by Kornoms

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

2.55/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A. Gold tinted yellow in color, transparent without murk or haze. No head is present, just a transitory burst of soda fizz.

S. Cooked vegetables (mostly corn) and wet hay on top of a very very very faint biscuit malt scent.

T. Gentle earthen-tinted diluted biscuit malt with an annoying metallic aftertaste that lasts for entirely way too long.

M. Carbonation is... slightly too soda-like for the style. It's entirely possible that the overly-fizzy nature of the carbonation combined with the lighter body is the culprit responsible for my lack of a significant head on presentation.

I don't understand why this beer is called "Reserve" when usually that signifies that the beer is the brewery's cream of the crop. In this case, the beer is entirely bland and forgettable, so why is it considered to be their "Reserve?"

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 21:40:15 | More by WastingFreetime

ABVerageJoe

North Carolina

2.58/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - A medium-dark yellow. Honestly if it were side-by-side with a pint of urine I wouldn't trust myself to tell the difference visually. Slight white head which didn't leave much lacing. Looks like a lager.

S - Smells like not much of anything. A touch malty, but the lack of smell makes me think that it will be watery.

T - Plain lager flavor for the most part, a slight hint of hops, but not very flavorful.

M - Smooth and clean up front with a dry carbonation finish, a little bit of a bite on the back of the tongue and throat due to the dryness and carbonation combo. Little aftertaste/post-mouthfeel.

O - This beer is alright, but a bit bland. There is nothing that inspires me about this. It says on the bottle "hop-jacked lager" and it doesn't taste very hoppy. If it's not hoppy, I'm not hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 01:07:40 | More by ABVerageJoe

BlankFrank

Oklahoma

2.63/5  rDev -21%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I picked this one up in the Shiner "Family Reunion" six-pack. The name stuck out to me, and I read that it was named after the founding brewer. My expectations may have been set a bit high.

Out of the bottle, I poured it into a glass to get a good look. The beer held a good pale gold color, but the lacking white head was a little sad. Nothing really clings to the glass, either.

A small amount of malt sweetness mixes with a poor mention of hops. Unfortunately there isn't much aroma to speak of, and it's got some sour metallic qualities. It doesn't quite make you excited to take a swig.

The taste is so non-unique that I could mistake it for a hundred other common beers. Toasty malt is supported by pretty light hops. It settles in the background with a nice reminder of bready malt well after the initial crispness subsides. Though not bad, this isn't really the taste I would go to much length for.

The feel is a little brighter than I like, but I guess it typifies a lager. Fairly clean, but some decent activity in the middle of the drink.

This beer is quite easy to drink. I could see myself having one after another without batting an eye, but it just isn't the beer I would rather spend my time on drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 05:26:12 | More by BlankFrank

depechemode1983

Texas

2.63/5  rDev -21%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Pours out a clear copper color with an off-white head. Retention is moderate and there is just a bit of lacing. Carbonation seems low.

S - Pungent, bitter pine, bitter grapefuit. Corn meal.

T - Very sweet. Its actually a corn like sweetness. Kinda syrupy.

M - Medium bodied with almost no carbonation. Syrup like feel. eh.

O - Not as good as the first time I tried it. Again all I have is one bottle so no worries. Not a drain poor but almost.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 03:07:13 | More by depechemode1983

ixodus

New Jersey

2.7/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a very clear gold with a small white head that dissipates immediately leaving a thin white ring of foam around the center that stays til' the last drop.

S: Smells like lots of beady malt, corn, and a little bit of citrus hops.

T: Light with Malt and corn upfront with a little bit of hop bitterness at the end. It starts up decent but then becomes very light at the end of the sip.

M: Smooth yet watery with a lot of prickly carbonation.

D: Easy drinking and probably quite refreshing on a hot day. Although I can't see myself buying this again or any of Spoetzl's other offerings, I wouldn't turn one down if it was offered. This beer came in the Family Six Pack.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 04:30:44 | More by ixodus

SWMeyer4141

Texas

2.75/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

3rd beer out of the shiner mixed six and I'm trying hard to enjoy them.

Appearance-Light copper with a 1 inch head that dissipates quickly. Leaves very minimal lacing.

Smell-Slight biscuity notes and slight grassiness and malt. Standard Shiner beer, not much going on.

Taste-Light malty sweetness and a slight amount of grassiness. The more I drink this I get some slight hops and a white grape taste. All the flavors are not predominant but drinkable. Enough flavors going on that there won't be a drainpour.

Mouthfeel-Light bodied with tons of carbonation, alot of burping going on.

Overall-Drinkable, but wouldn't reccommend this beer. If you want an easy drinkable light beer with little flavor go for it, if not, pass on it and grab something else.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 04:53:29 | More by SWMeyer4141

stumac

Texas

2.78/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

this brew pours up a clear copper color with a decent off white head. the nose is grainy, pale malts, nothing crazy. the taste is the same as the aroma. kinda buttery mouthfeel, slight hop bittering, light bodied, low carbo. Damn I wish that the Spoetzl Brewery would just make one intense beer! But if we're just comparing beers within the brewery, I'd say this one is not one of their better offerings...

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2009 17:14:43 | More by stumac

match1112

Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

a: light copper colored body, finger and a half of tan head, no lacing.

s: grains, grass, straw.

t: more grains with a slight off flavor on the end.

m: thin body with good carbonation, slight sour after taste.

o: just another average beer from this brewery. dont let the reserve fool you, there is nothing special about this beer. once again i feel this beer could use some hops to add body and character.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 14:38:50 | More by match1112

Dope

Massachusetts

2.8/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Darker than I expected for a "light lager". Decent amber color with a decent head and lacing.

S: Smell is pretty plain, faintly reminds me of grass.

T: Couldn't get around the taste. I thought Shiner Blonde (which is the same style as this beer) was 10x better. Whereas the Blonde is quite plain, at least it is nice and clean and crisp. This just tastes as bland and generic of a beer as any BMC product.

M: Not as thin as I was expecting, pretty medium bodied which probably hurt it more than it helped.

D: I couldn't get around the bland taste so I didn't find it very drinkable. It probably took me 30 minutes to finish the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 21:22:35 | More by Dope

PorterLambic

Florida

2.8/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Part of the "Family Reunion" mixed six pack.
Aggressively poured into a 12 ounce hotel glass. The color of iced tea with a short-lived, off-white head. Closer in color to an amber than a pale.
Smell is caramel, malt, hops and a hint of grass. Decent balance at best.
Taste is malt, light caramel, hops and grass notes as well. The nose is actually stronger than the taste if you can believe that. Balance is biased to the malt.
Sharp effervescence, almost harsh in its presence. Medium bodied and pleasant after the harshness subsides. I suppose this would be a better received beer on a hot day but as I'm just watching football the weaknesses stand out a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 19:39:58 | More by PorterLambic

budgood1

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pours out with amber clarity, followed by a thin head which reduces to some extreme sparse lace. munich maltiness is complimented by some very apparent herbal and grassy hoppiness. very nice. taste regresses a bit as the minimal maltiness can't really hold up the base of this beer, therefore not providing a foundation to let the above normal herbal hopping. the minimal, yet detectable hop character gets washed out quickly by a seltzery flavour that masks any back end hop bitterness. sad indeed.
the mouthfeel follows the selzter route and i already noted the thin overall body. drinkability isn't bad, but this beer sure doesn't get me excited to want another one.

another slight twist on the lager style. these shiner beers so far are predictable and boring.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2010 22:51:40 | More by budgood1

JMad

Texas

2.85/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 12oz bottle into a chilled pint glass.

Color was light amber, had a thin head, left no lacing.
Smells like light malt and kinda fruity.
Tastes like malt, very very light bitterness, but you can hardly taste any hops, there is also a kind of fruit flavor. Kind of disappointing.
Feels and drinks ok, very bubbly.
Overall I didn't really like this beer, kind of tastes like Anchor Steam Beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2010 02:15:27 | More by JMad

claspada

New Jersey

2.85/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a straw, lightly golden color. Lively carbonation brings an initially formitable head with fair retention that never fades completely.

Aromas begin with bolder hops than I expeted from the Shiner brand. Somewhat earthy, piney, and herbally; the hop blend does also show light citrus. Malt flavora are light with some light caramel, cracker-like crispness, and clean grain flavor. No much ester depiction, nor yeastiness, sulfurs, or vegital notes, this lager based beer takes on the complexion of a very clean Pale Ale.

The mouthfeel is creamy and moderate up front, largely due to the abundant carbonation. Body is medium with a bitter and clean well into the finish.

By far one of the better Shiner offerings I have had but that is not saying much. Spend the few extra bucks on a decent 6-pack because the flavor upgrade is well worth it. Much better 6-pack offerings in this $ range as well including Long Trail, Victory or even Sam Adams which mildly pains me to say.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 14:28:01 | More by claspada

jujubeast6000

Texas

2.88/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Reviewed 3/15/2009 (bottle):

Pours a big fizzy white head, that extremely quickly diminishes. Orange-yellow colored body, extremely clear looking. Malty, English malty aroma. Some nuttiness, but mostly smelling of adjuncts, maybe some vegetables? Nutty fizzy taste, over-carbonated tasting. Some of that same vegetable-ness. Somewhat refreshing. Some hoppy bitterness, but none of the grapefruitiness, or other aspect of the hops is present. Some corn taste, maybe. Meh. Does not get any better as it warms, less tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2009 17:40:42 | More by jujubeast6000