Shiner Oktoberfest - Spoetzl Brewery

beerdiablo

Texas

5/5  rDev +50.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Nice, quaffable ale that has a pronounced malt profile. Labeling it a Märzen style is misleading but these things happen.

The head quickly simmers down to a thin head that stays with the beer as you drink it down. Not a session ale in the traditional sense but I can see having a few throughout the course of an evening at home.

In a nutshell this beer is FANtastic. This has to be the BEST 96th year anniversary beer from a South Texas brewery that I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2005 01:48:59 | More by beerdiablo

OverToad

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +39%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was very pleased Shiner brought back the Shiner 96 now labeled
Shiner Oktoberfest.

Pours a deep orange. Smell is great with nice head and lacing. I love fall beers and this is a fantastic beer. Drinks very easy and doesn't feel too heavy. I happy to hear Shiner will bring this brew out every fall.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 16:54:35 | More by OverToad

Biffster

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +27%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer is served in a pint glass from a 12 oz botttle. Its a brilliantly clear deep amber light copper with beautiful golden notes. There is a persistent off white head that leaves a lace on the glass.

The aroma is all rich pilsner, munich and vienna malt - mmmm! its very clean - no esters or diacetyl. It is toasty and bready and bisquity. Uniquely and pleasantly for a an American made Oktoberfest, there is is no hop aroma and pretty much no caramel aroma.

The flavor is sweet and malty at the sip, but not at all caramelly. It quickly gives way to an intensely malty toasty flavor - lots of bisquit, toast, a touch of nuttiness, and big continental malt flavor. The beer is all about malt, all the way through. The swallow is remarkably dry for the maltiness. The finish is malty and toasty but delicious and balanced.

The mouthfeel is medium with a medium creamy body and full but creamy carbonation and no astringency.

Holy cow. I've always had a soft spot for Shiner beers. Ive been to the brewery and to Shiner (pop 2000) and have family there. But I have to be honest - I did not expect much from this beer, considering some of the other seasonals they've produced and considering the general quality of American Oktoberfests.. But wow! This is a tribute to the brewmaster. He or she nailed it. This is, at heart, a restrained beer. But at heart, this is a restrained style. It is meant to be rich and flavorful, but light, fairly dry and supremely drinkable. This beer....Lots of rich malt, no caramel or cloying sweetness, no hops. Just a clean malty lager, the way the good lord, and King Ludwig of Bavaria, intended.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 02:37:09 | More by Biffster

jak3676

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shiner - Oktoberfest Brewed in Shiner, Texas.

Ever since the National Guard sent me to Texas back in the late 90's, I've been a fan of Shiner beers and this one is no exception. At more of a coppery color than red, it's a lot lighter colored than most märzen I've had so far - but still very attractive looking and perfectly clear. That's still several shades darker than your average American lager for comparison.

Website says 5.8% ABV, but I had to look it up. No indication of a bottling date anywhere, but it tastes great. I think they pulled off just as much flavor as the Spatan, but with a cleaner, fresher taste somehow - not sure how to describe that.

I think this has to be my favorate US made Oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 20:21:33 | More by jak3676

barleyroad

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice light amber in appearance. Smell is good to average. The taste is nice, goes in good and leaves much better. Wow this is nice. Shiner Boys you did this right. Mouth feel is good, every thing you want in a beer. We here at barley road call this fridge worthy must have. Thanks Shiner.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 00:44:09 | More by barleyroad

chicagobill13

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shiner Oktoberfest, I will be honest I am a huge fan of their beer. I just can't help drinking it.

Color: a ver nice golden to cooper look to this beer.

Smell: very slight smell to this beer.

Taste and mouthfeel: A very nice and balance malt taste to it. A very drinkable and session beer.

Enjoy! Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 23:02:23 | More by chicagobill13

OlRasputin989

Arkansas

4.15/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a 1L Paulaner mug...

A: Pours a brilliant copper color with a large white head and sticky spiderweb-like lacing.

S: has an aroma dead on for style...buttery toast, sweet caramel malt aromas, and noticeable hops.

T: rich sweetness up front. good hop bitterness in the middle, and finishing sweet and toasty.

M: medium full body rolls onto the tongue and is met with a good carbonation. finishes smooth and off-dry.

Overall, I believe Shiner has a done a great job creating another great U.S.-made Oktoberfest bier. I look forward to enjoying this some more this fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 03:31:33 | More by OlRasputin989

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.15/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an irish pint glass.

The beer is a pure caramel/toffee color. AN off-white head settles to an even film. Light lacing occurs.

Sweet malts, caramel, and toffee hit the nose.

The beer tastes delicious. Malty, maybe bready, but mostly caramel and toffee. Really clean and delicious.

The mouthfeel is clean, dry, and a tad carbonated.

Overall, a good representation of the style. This will be the only six pack i enjoy of this, as there are far too many others to enjoy, but I like this.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 16:16:15 | More by JuicesFlowing

goochpunch

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +24%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Transparent auburn body. Smells of nutty toasted malts. Flavors are really winning me over. Sweet upfront into a nutty character and then just enough bittering hops in the finish. The mouthfeel, I was not so impressed with. Could be a bit too "seltzery." Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2005 01:26:47 | More by goochpunch

cheers2beers

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a mug.This beer a dark,transparent orange.It has a fluffy white head that disapates very quickly with small amount of laceing.The aroma is malty,slightly hopish.A pleasant aroma that really makes this beer better than other shiner brews.The taste is just like the nose slightly hopy,nice malts,even a bit nutty in the finish.Although,this beer lacks mouthfeel i feel its almost too watery,not much there to grasp.But it is smooth and easily a good session beer.I could probably drink the whole sixer and even think of buying this again when im in a session mood.
Shiner has produced us another great session beer.I applaud.

-Cheers2Beers

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2005 01:04:19 | More by cheers2beers

stouty1

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a reddish amber with a hint of orange highlights. One finger head which totally disappeared toa lace on one half of the rim of the beer.

Smells of fruit and malty hops. Hint of grass.

Initial flat feel which explodes on the tongue and cheeks with a bubbly blast. Malty hops and a fine warming alcohol feel finish nicely.

This beer is very nice for an Octoberfest, which I ususally enjoy anyway. It has a hint of fruit and smell of fruit , but the fruit does not overwhelm your senses.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2006 01:18:06 | More by stouty1

mhewes

Colorado

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It poured a copper color with a nice white head. It has a very strong malt smell and flavor. It was a lot sweeter than I was expecting. There was a little bit of the alcohol coming through at the end. It had a nice creamy mouthfeel. One I would drink again if they were to make it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2008 20:36:55 | More by mhewes

rfabian

Texas

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tumbler it produces a nice head with ample lacing. The appearance is orange-amber and clear. The aroma is of toasted malt with a little in the way of spicy hops. The taste is of sweet roasted malt with a hint of black currant and slight bitterness. The feel is medium bodied and the finish is clean.

This is an really good example of the style, one of the best that Spoetzl has produced, far better than their usual session brews.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 02:55:02 | More by rfabian

Spineypanda

Texas

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice amber color with a decent and bubbly head.
Smells malty, with a bit of sweetness.
Taste is also malty sweet, with a nice refreshing follow-up. Every now and then I get a bit of a bite in my tasting but its strange, only every now and then.

A really good beer, but not sure I could drink a whole 6pk.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 05:27:40 | More by Spineypanda

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at my local six pack shop, mix and match price.

A - Damn the bottle cap came off with some force. Carbonation a plenty with a inch and a half of head rest atop a nice brown amber ale.

S - Smells a bit funky from the earthy malts and touch of grass hops. underneath I can smell some caramel so this should be interesting.

T - Has a bit of citrus like hops which quickly turns to a sweetness of caramel (honey maybe?) and finishes grainy with a bit of grassy hops. Taste is good.

M - Light to medium surprised how good the flavors mesh.

Overall a very unexpected treat from shiner. I haven't really had anything from them since the "holiday cheer" apricot beer and this one is equally as awesome. True to authentic!

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 02:15:31 | More by DrDemento456

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shiner Oktoberfest has a medium, cream-colored head, a bubbly, clear, copper appearance, and a some thick lacing left behind. The aroma is of medium-roasted, sweet and sour barley malt and brown bread. Taste is of the same character, with some hop bitterness present at the end of the sip. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and Shiner Oktoberfest finishes mostly dry, crisp, refreshing, and easy drinking. Overall, this is a good beer.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 14:13:58 | More by RonaldTheriot

shand

Florida

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shiner's Oktoberfest pours out orange, with a head that leaves thick lacing. The aroma is richly malty. The taste follows the nose, with a nice, approachable, yet full malty flavor. It's pretty mellow compared to most American interpretations of the style, but it's really nice. The mouthfeel is light and velvety, and the drinkability is good. Overall, a solid Oktoberfest that seems a bit underrated here.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 05:40:57 | More by shand

JudgeRoughneck

Louisiana

3.98/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

The pint has a truly inviting,warm, subdued orange color. I'm not just being non-descript, its truly orange, like a lollypop. It is crystal clear and has about three fingers of fluffy bright white head that dissapates to thin film with dissapointing efficency.

I caught a slight whiff of sweet malt in the nose, with just a hint of cinnamon.

The taste is a light, mellow, malt sweetness with some nut characteristics that are quickly washed away by very citrusy hop bitterness. The aftertaste is bready and pleasing. Though this is not the most complex beer, I feel it is probably the most balanced example of the Marzen style I've had. The color is right-on and it avoids the sickly-sweetness that can often plague a Marzen.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2005 08:13:43 | More by JudgeRoughneck

jmbranum

Oklahoma

3.95/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

gold-to-amber in color, just a tiny bit hazy, half inch white creamy head

hoppy aroma, nice taste, well-balanced between tartness, sweetness and spiciness, the maltiness reminds me just a bit of an Octoberfest with just a tiny hint of maple

Very drinkable. A good session beer

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 02:03:06 | More by jmbranum

pojo41

Mississippi

3.95/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Brought back a case of this from a trip to Shiner on a sausage and beer pilgrimage. Dark copper color. Nice head at first but, it dissipates quickly. Malty aroma and flavor with a hint of sweetness. Another fine old world-style beer from the folks in Shiner.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2007 12:38:52 | More by pojo41

Bizz88

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a nice clear amber with a creamy light tan head with a descent amount of lacing. Aromas of sweet caramel malts predominated throughout. On the palatte I found it to be a little lighter bodied than most Marzens. But what it lacked in body it made up in taste, with a nice sweet malt on the tongue in true German fashion. One of the better offerings from the folks at Spoetzl. Two thumbs up!

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2010 19:12:21 | More by Bizz88

JMad

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a bottle to a pint glass...
Pours a deep copper color with a bubbly white head.
Smell is the weakest point here, mostly smells like metallic yeast.
Tastes of caramel malt, and sweet bread.
Perfect carbonation, medum body, soft and smooth.
Awesome beer, I could drink these all day. When I heard Shiner was coming back with their Marzen I had to pick up a 6 pack.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 18:48:01 | More by JMad

PuckLSHS

Iowa

3.93/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - The beer is copper in color and the head holds for about 2 minutes before it dissipates. The smell is a nice and has hints of copper and malt. For a marzen, Shiner has done a pretty darn good job to hold steady to German tradition.

The taste holds a light malt flavor, a nice hop finish with a little bit of bitterness. I like the mouthfeel of the beer. Nice and crisp. Would be great on a warm summer's day.

The beers drinkability rating is good. It goes down quite well and has a nice mix of flavors in the finish. Since I have not had more of the Spoetzl offerings, it is definitely making me want to go out there and hunt some down. Can't say that about other breweries out of Texas. No offense though...in college, I used to be a Lone Star...but that was quite a long time ago.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2006 01:29:30 | More by PuckLSHS

Offa

California

3.93/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I found this to be a very good beer, which surprised me considering that I found their Bock to be very, very sub-par.

Pale amber/bronze, it has a medium off-white head steadily shrinking to a rich foamy ring and wisps, a tiny bit of lace.

Aroma is lightly caramelly grain and bread, hints of apple, herbs and grass, like a fuller, more caramelly US pale lager with a hint of German hoppiness.

Taste is simialr, lightly caramelly barley and lightly toasty bread, hint of apple, light sweetness just dominates before light bitterness joins to make it dryish and toasty with some leafy, vaguely herbal character that takes over at the finish and lingers with toasty barley. It is very nice, an enjoyable, solid Vienna-type marzen.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 21:04:11 | More by Offa

acevenom

Louisiana

3.93/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a glass mug. Pours clear copper with a finger length eggshell colored head. There are numerous tiny bubbles visible in the beer. The head retreats pretty slowly and leaves some lacing on the side of the glass. I detect the roasted bready and slightly sweet malt aromas that I would expect from a Märzen. There's some nuttiness in the background as well. The breadiness almost takes on a crusty bread character. The hops aren't very present in the aroma, but they are there. There is that sort of spiciness that comes from the Hallertau hops. There's some grassiness as well, which probably comes from the Hersbrucker hops.

The taste follows the nose. The malt profile is typical Märzen, bringing some nice breadiness and mild sweetness to the tongue. The hops are present there in there with some spiciness, floral, and earthy qualities. There's that nice back end bitterness. The body is medium with moderate carbonation. The beer finishes dry with a lingering aftertaste that clings to the mouth. The drinkability is high with this one. This is a very good beer that is very easy to knock back. This is one of Shiner's better offerings and could easily fit as one of their year round offerings rather than just a seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 22:41:24 | More by acevenom