Shiner Oktoberfest - Spoetzl Brewery

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brassy orange with amber edges; one of the lighter and orangier marzens that I've ever seen. A few vigorous streams of fine bubbles hurry up to a whipped frothy head whose color is somewhere between pale orange and ivory. There's some lace, but not a huge amount.

The nose is at least as much balanced APA as it is Oktoberfest. It's low on strength with a mild toasted graininess and a meager spiciness. The malt bill consists of pale, caramel and Munich. The APA comparison comes into play due, in part, to a slight fruitiness that doesn't seem hop-related to me. All in all, the aroma is too tame to be of more than passing interest.

Shiner 96 is much more Oktoberfest-like on the palate. The first half of each mouthful is most consistent with a hop-deficient pale ale. By roughly the midway point, the Munich malt begins to assert itself and deliver its classic, earthy, 'toasted whole grain breadiness'. I haven't come up with an adequate way to describe the flavor of Munich malt, but I know it when I taste it.

Although I used the word 'assert' above, 96 is anything but assertive. The color should have given some indication that the flavor would be on the subdued side... and it is. Hops make a contribution as a modestly firm bitterness shows up on the finish. Once the beer warms, the flavor becomes a little bolder and more enjoyable. This really is an okay APA-marzen hybrid.

The mouthfeel matches the rest of the characteristics and the beer is the better for it. The fact that it's light-medium and moderately carbonated increases sessionability. However, I'm unable to test that theory since I have just the one bottle.

Spoetzl (Shiner) beer, at least the three that I've had prior to this one, runs the gamut from 'terrible' (Blonde), through 'not good' (Bock) to 'decent' (Hefe). 96 falls into the latter category, even if it isn't a classic example of the style or a beer that will turn many heads.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2006 14:48:58 | More by BuckeyeNation

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Ah, a return of the old Shiner 96, eh? Strikingly clear, dark gold nearing copper body with a tall, foaming, off-white head. Blots of lace on the way down.

Smell: Whelmingly malty, with tones of pale, toasted, nutty, and caramel malts all playing an equal part. A modest herbaceousness from the Noble hops is present in the background.

Taste: Pale, toasty malts with an accent of sweet caramel and a slight, unyielding nuttiness in the background. Medium-light sweetness. Lightly spicy, vaguely herbal German hop character with a light, easy-breezy bitterness. Very minute carbonic bite to it. A touch more malt on the dry, lightly, lowly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation. Mouthfeel is both smooth and a bit crackling carbonation-wise.

Drinkability: A tad muted, though perfectly drinkable, acceptable Oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 03:53:40 | More by ChainGangGuy

oberon

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a stein a clear copper/bronze with a well formed one finger crown atop.Caramel,light toast,and bread dough aromas,the caramel malt is the most assertive of the three,maybe a bit one sided but not bad.Caramel sweetness also dominates the flavors at the onset,slightly doughy with a bit os anise-likeflavors in the finish.Its a decent stab at a fest/marzen beer,maybe a little sweeter than I would like but its not bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 19:26:46 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I guess I should get this beer in before it's too late. I have notebooks filled with notes on beers that I've never entered into the database, and this is one of them.

November 2005. From a bottle:

Appearance is as expected with an orange-amber body beneath a thin cap of ivory froth. Moderate retention, minor lacing.

The nose follows suit, with the expected grainy, lightly toasty and mildly caramelish malt with just a hint of juiciness.

The flavor, again, is as expected, with a grainy maltiness that's bready and just slightly toasty, mildly caramelish, subtly honey-like, and perked-up by a tiny bit of red-fruit juiciness that somehow seems to come out of Vienna malts. Or, perhaps that's coming form the yeast? Regardless, it's smooth and clean with an emphasis on malt and only minor floral and grassy/spicy hops in the background. The bitterness is present, as it should be, but relegated to a supporting role, and it's well rounded.

Medium to medium-light body. Moderate carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel.

Overall, it's a pretty decent take on the style - especially given that many of the imports to the US now seem to be watered down versions of what they once were. No flaws. Pretty damned drinkable as far as acessibility goes, but perhaps somewhat lacking for the style in depth.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 19:52:41 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a tall pokal at The Firkin.

Final beer of the night out, one that I had my misgivings about ordering, but it was the only one there I had yet to try. It pours a clear amber-straw topped by a finger of cream-white foam. The nose comprises red apple skin, light grapefruit, light mandarin orange, greens, and toffee. The taste holds notes of mixed greens, light caramel, very light mandarin orange syrup, grass, and flowers. The body is a rather light medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a fairly slick feel. Overall, a kinda sad O-Fest, one that shuns malt in favor of fruitiness and whatnot. Not my cup of Oktober tea.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 04:27:53 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

2.42/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Chaz wouldn't let me buy this one, over at Surdyk's, and instead got me a sample from the back room. And this is a guy who loves the Polish beers, so...who knows what's really in store?

Clear, pale amber appearance; slim, whitish head.

Soft, malty aroma...actually, more vegetal than anything else. And all-in-all flat.

Taste: a mess in the mouth, a convoluted collection of oddments, and none of them too pleasant. A hotness at the front, a glimmer of malt that fades off the palate, a faint flurry of hops that, too, dies in a quick. If they meant to make a marzen, the malt's too lean, and the balance way out of wack. It's nothing you could call complex, just a ...a trainwreck. Cooked veggies dominates the flavor, and that's not good.

Medium-ish body, long, yet unhappy finish. A struggles to get the entire contents down the throat. Eh...why bother, time to trade this in for a better brew.

Thanks to Chaz for saving me six bucks!

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2005 06:14:26 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours an amber/copper color with a white head. The aroma is toffee, earthy hops and surprisingly, some flowery notes. The flavor is toffee, caramel and light earthy hops. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Not one of the best beers of this style that I have tried, but one of the better offerings from Shiner.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 05:46:52 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.38/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, burgundy color with a small, off-white head of foam. It left little to no lacing.

S - It smelled of caramel and butterscotch. Some mild floral notes.

T - It tasted very sweet with caramel and butterscotch flavors. It had a mild floral hop presence.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light bodied lager with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is an okay oktoberfest. A little sweeter than I like but it's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 01:45:36 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

2.33/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Let me preface by stating I love marzens, but pale imitators I don't dig. Having said that, this is still an upward spike in good beer for the lone star state. (only place where I almost saw a riot when they ran out of miller lite.)

pours an impressive white head that drops off quickly with some slight lace trails. Beautiful honey to amber clarity.

Smell: Diadactheyl (sp??) and some unnnatural smell that reminds me of glycol??

Taste: Astringent and grainy and a caramell sweetness, that just doesn't work for me. Doesn't taste all malt to me/(Better than lite)

mouthfeel: thin with some hop bitterness that's out of balance. Prickly over carbonation

Drinkability: Showed a litlle promise, but didn't deliver, might be okay Ice cold.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2005 05:39:45 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours amber with a light white head. Poor retention, no lace.

S: Sweet caramel, Munich malt, toffee, squash.

T: Classic sweet caramel malt play. Some minor grassy hops at the finish. Good flavour.

M: Medium-bodied, frothy carbonation, creamy. Crisp and easy drinking at times.

O: An inexpensive good Oktoberfest beer. Nowhere near as good as the better German examples, but if you're on a budget this could work.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 04:25:14 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange amber with a creamy head. Some lacing sticks.

The smell is of light caramel, and a touch of toast.

The taste is of mild cararmel-ish sweetness with light toast in the finish.

Crisp, but on the thin side.

It has a caramelish sweetness, a touch of toast and mild hops, and fits the style well enough. Doesn't rank with the major Bavarians but is easily drinkable and inoffensive. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 20:09:16 | More by jwc215

Jason

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

LOOK: Dull orange color, clear though.

SMELL: Malt sweetness, fresh baked bread, faint herbal hop, dusty grain, clean.

TASTE: Semi-chewy, wet, mild sweetness, spicy hop, floral, bread crust, toasted grain, slightly dry, clean.

Extremely clean and very drinkable. Just as smooth as it is crisp. Well balanced from malt sweetness to toasted flavors to bittering hops. A happy brew to knock back.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 23:50:24 | More by Jason

Zorro

California

2.25/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Pours a clear honey with a splash of orange colored beer. Head is tan and only lasts an instant.

Smell is sweet and fairly malty. Detectable toasted Munich malt scent and a bit bready. All the proper scents are here but it seems a bit watered down.

Taste is off. Flavor is harsh with a biting level of carbonation and a candy like malt that does not pair very well to the high hop bitterness. Hops are herbal in flavor and this brew leaves lingering malt sweetness on the tongue.

Mouthfeel is biting.

Not a drinkable beer here. From the moment you taste this it is like something biting your tongue. This beer is seriously unbalanced it needs to be reformulated completely.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2005 07:52:58 | More by Zorro

kojevergas

California

2.95/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 fl oz. brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into De Molen stemware in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; I usually enjoy beers from this brewery.

A: Pours a one finger head of slight cream, fair thickness, and pretty bad retention. Colour is a transparent dark yellow.

Sm: Marzen hops and light caramel. A mild strength aroma.

T: Marzen hops over lightly toasted malt with some slight caramel. All around very simple, but pleasant nonetheless. Balanced and built well.

Mf: Smooth and wet, suiting the flavour generally. Not too thick or too thin.

Dr: A very drinkable beer. I'd try it on draught, but otherwise it's just not interesting enough to pursue. I'd recommend it to fans of the style, but elsewise it's not worth picking up. This brewery has better offerings.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 08:21:27 | More by kojevergas

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Many thanks go to pmsawyer for sharing this brew and an assortment of others during our recent gathering. Twist off cap from a 12oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass. As the brew is being poured it looks much lighter than expected but as it settles in the glass, it displays brilliant clarity and a light copper color. A finger of slightly off-white head forms across the top and slowly fades down to a lacing across the top. Upon closer inspection there is some fine particulate hanging around in suspension.

The smell of this brew includes some malty sweetness caught somewhere between caramel and toffee. Hops are evident with a character that is a mixture of citrus and more floral notes. There is a light mineral aspect present as well as some buttery diacetyl across the back.

The taste has a light caramel malt feel that spreads into more of a buttery biscuit character. Hops come right into play with an earthy herbal bitterness that is modest enough to keep the residual sweetness dwarfed. The finish is quite crisp with a lasting flavor of light buttered popcorn, caramel to toffee sweetness that is a bit toasty and herbal hops bring up the back.

It is medium bodied and modestly carbonated. The finish was pretty much spot on with what I expected in this style, very crisp and enjoyable. The alcohol for the most part was well hidden until the brew got warmer. Once warm it almost had a bit of a cheesy aspect to it which got interested but overall not bad.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 20:10:31 | More by stakem

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Comes out of the tap a pretty clear amber with a thick, fine-bubbled off-white head. Malty aroma has a nice fruity note. Mouth-filling flavor is fruity, almost entirely apple, and malty with just a hint of caramel. Crisp, smooth texture is quite fizzy and leaves a fruity, tingly finish. Overall, OK if not outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 03:36:55 | More by Cyberkedi

ZAP

Minnesota

2.42/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

About what I expected from Shiner on this....very basic...mild toasted caramel impression....otherwise pretty basic....too much carbonation...a bit fizzy....thinish feel bodywise...an odd aftertaste that is hard to shake.

I wasn't expecting a masterpiece but this is one of the poorer ofests I have had....makes Leinie's OFest look like an all-time great (which it isn't)

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 21:47:06 | More by ZAP

cokes

Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Golden squash hued topped with a buttery icing.
Scented lightly of toasted grain and almonds.
Begins with a brisk notion of burnt poppyseed bagels, then is swept up in a nutted toffee impression of burnt sugar and pecans. Strays akwardly for a moment, with no clear definition, just yeasty whispers of flour and cream, then a snap of bitter curacao enters and rides this to the finish with lesser grassy tints.
Light bodied with a buzzing, tiny carbonation.
It's hard to really call this a marzen (and if rated strictly to the style, this should be downgraded further). It's more a cross between golden and brown ales.
Nothing too special here, but generally pleasant enough for a quick quaff.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2005 06:32:26 | More by cokes

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This pours a clear gold with a 2 finger head of foam.

It smells of bread, has some some sweet notes and quite a bit of grain.

Bready sweet up front with some bitterish notes on the back end though the bread returns in the finish.

Not a bad stab at the style from Shiner.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 15:11:38 | More by Bitterbill

Tone

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Decent retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, hops, yeast, and pale malt. Fits the style of a Marzen / Oktoberfest. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, slight hop, slight yeast, and hint of pale malt. Overall, decent appearance, good aroma, blend, and feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2010 13:08:03 | More by Tone

twiggamortis420

Texas

2.73/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle pours a dark gold color, bordering on copper. Has a large, 3-finger tan foam that sticks around awhile and leaves some nice lace.

Nose is burnt caramel, a little bit of toast and some lagery sulfur. Some pecan nuttiness and sugary sweetness creeps in as well, even a little butterscotch - maybe some diacetyl. Not bad, but a far cry from a fresh Paulaner.

Buttery, caramel malts are both a little toasty and a little sweet, but neither actually seems to want to take the reigns and give the beer an identity. Really not much else going on here, pretty dull effort for an Oktoberfest. There is a sip or two in each bottle where I think this beer has some promise, but unfortunately the next drink washes those optimistic thoughts away. I have been digging on most of Shiner's new seasonal brews, but this one pretty much falls flat on it's face. Thin, bubbly and lifeless, reminds me of a Leinienkugel's.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 04:06:12 | More by twiggamortis420

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint. No date or info.

A - This one pours clear and bubbly with a great golden light-amber color and a frothy off-white head. Good retention but little lace left over. A sexy okto!

S - Metallic notes bring down the otherwise good aroma of this Märzen. Caramelized malts and Märzen malts give a nice malty backbone to the nose with a very slightly grassy pinch of floral, earthy hops.

T - Märzen malts and bits of caramel with a little biscuity flavor that leads into a low hop level flavor. Earthy, lightly grassy hops mirror the aroma. Nice flavor. The metallic thing barely pokes out.

M - Medium-light-bodied and smooth with a crisp carbonation finish and sharp bite. The metallic flavor carries more-so into the feel. Dry and tin-like. Otherwise it's ok.

D - Not a bad entry into the Oktoberfests this season, I'm really enjoying this with my window open and the cool breeze coming on. Bring on fall!

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 02:03:14 | More by BeerFMAndy

champ103

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear copper/orange color. A minimal white head forms, and recedes in a second. Almost no lace is left behind.
S: A very odd soapy hop aroma. Like dish detergent. I might expect something like soapy hops from a resiny IPA, but not an Oktoberfest. There is some yeast with some sightly sweet malt.
T: There is still an odd soapy character, but it is not as prevalent. Some yeast, and sweet malt.
M/D: A medium body and crisp carbonation. Though a bit on the thin side. Not hard to drink. I could drink a few with ease, if I wanted to.

Not bad. I get some soapy hops for some reason, which makes for a strange tasting Oktoberfest. Overall, not the worst that I have had from Shiner, but nothing I would recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2010 02:39:34 | More by champ103

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Clear copper body with an inch of ultra-fine white head. Ok retention, very nice lace. Good.

S: Simple, pleasant maltiness. Plenty of caramel, some toastiness, and a bit of walnut. Solid.

T: Follows the nose. Sweet, malty, and simple. Tasty enough, but pretty boring and forgettable.

M: Slick light-to-medium body with some fine carbonation. Ok.

O: Pretty middle-of-the-road. Nothing offensive, nothing impressive.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 21:33:18 | More by woosterbill

drpimento

Wisconsin

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

With a fairly aggressive pour a small to medium, foamy, off-white to cream colored head that quickly settles down to a few clumpy islands and no lace. Color is a clear, medium amber with some small bubble trails. Aroma is beery with a little malt and a bare hint of skunk (grocery store cooler near fluorescent bulbs). Flavor is similar but much stronger - pick up the malt, a little fruit, and some marshmallow. Body is a tad on the thin side and carbonation is likewise a tad fizzy. Finish is like flavor. Overall, maybe it would've been better warmed a bit out of my cold fridge; but, I'd only drink this again if I didn't have any better options.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 03:53:50 | More by drpimento