Shiner Prickly Pear - Spoetzl Brewery

TCMike

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Produced about a finger, and a half of white head. The beer color is a translucent, medium amber.
The aroma is of prickly pear, and biscuits.
The taste is similar, but not as bold as the smell had indicated.
Light mouth-feel, and fairly high carbonation.
Good beer, for what it is. My wife would enjoy this more than me.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 22:22:42 | More by TCMike

Blumstein

Tennessee

2.5/5  rDev -23.3%

05-20-2013 04:20:47 | More by Blumstein

jl28r1

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-18-2013 16:21:00 | More by jl28r1

shiguy16

North Dakota

3/5  rDev -8%

05-16-2013 15:05:31 | More by shiguy16

livingtodie

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +38%

05-16-2013 00:34:37 | More by livingtodie

rph97

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-10-2013 20:31:28 | More by rph97

Compton25

Texas

3/5  rDev -8%

05-10-2013 12:01:44 | More by Compton25

spycow

Illinois

3/5  rDev -8%

05-02-2013 05:09:57 | More by spycow

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -8%

05-01-2013 02:18:26 | More by Zachtheporter

nothunder

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +15%

05-01-2013 00:14:46 | More by nothunder

JG-90

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -8%

04-30-2013 12:53:41 | More by JG-90

DemDumplingz

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

04-23-2013 21:04:56 | More by DemDumplingz

TonyT013

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

04-23-2013 03:16:20 | More by TonyT013

Rudes

North Dakota

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

04-03-2013 23:39:25 | More by Rudes

j-rod18

North Dakota

3/5  rDev -8%

03-26-2013 16:28:29 | More by j-rod18

JeffSuttonTX

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -23.3%

03-10-2013 21:36:13 | More by JeffSuttonTX

OregonGrown7

Nebraska

3.75/5  rDev +15%

03-01-2013 22:16:14 | More by OregonGrown7

dpage27

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

02-27-2013 04:09:05 | More by dpage27

Immortale25

Florida

3.76/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a Dogfish signature snifter. No freshness date.

A- Pours a dark amber with a 1/4 inch light tan head that retains a bit before soon fading to a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small patch of surface foam. Half decent lacing compared to other Shiner beers.

S- Crisp aroma with some apple/pear-like sweetness that reminds me of Juicy Juice. The malt comes in and lends a toasty characteristic leading to notes of brown sugar and sweet tea.

T- Flavor isn't as lively with more of a lager flavor pushed up against a minimal amount of pear and berry-like sweetness. There's a noticeable amount of toasty malt that balances things out. Highly drinkable.

M- Certainly not prickly but rather thin and slick. Medium carbonation and a medium-full body.

O- Probably the best Shiner beer I've had which, as you can see by the score, isn't saying much

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 00:45:49 | More by Immortale25

Punisher

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

02-23-2013 23:11:13 | More by Punisher

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

"This small batch brew is the third in our Limited Edition Brewer's Price Craft Brew Series. A combination of Citra and U.S. Golding hops gives this refreshing lager its citrus flavor and floral aroma. The brew's signature tartness comes from the fruit of the prickly pear, a cactus native to our brewery's landscape that's hearty, rugged and unmistakably unique- qualities we surely appreciate. Prosit!" Brewed in the style of a fruit lager. Available as part of the 2012 Family Reunion 6 packs or 12 packs. No visible date.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass. Served above 45º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a crunchy, crispy off-white head with average staying power, surprisingly good for my standards with Shiner. Lacing is specked and very light. Body color is a very mildly hazy amber-orange with sporadic spritely carbonation. The appearance is quite good for this beer. 3.75

(Smell) Wow, this is a very fruity aroma. Very fruit notes forward, highly potent, perceivably prickly pear, but a little less cidery and more berry-like in its aroma. Mild grassy and citrus hops lend a hand but have a hard time cutting through the already fruit-heavy aroma. A subtle pale malt sweetness doesn't contribute much to the aroma but probably isn't needed as much anyways- the aroma is already very sweet from the fruit character. The fruit, while unique and enjoyable is a bit syrupy sweet in the aroma, making for a natural imbalance, but this is certain to find a few people's likings. 3.25

(Taste) Flavor has an equal emphasis on the sweet as well as on a bitter tartness, always welcome for me. Mildly tart wildberry flavor with a faint residual sweetness is a better-balanced sweetness character for me. It's still front-and-center in the flavor, with a pale malt profile giving it a hint of body and a grassy hop note here and there complimenting the tartness for a better balanced but spritely and clean finish. I have a bit of a soft spot for fruit beers, as I personally enjoy the flavor but understand that a bit more balance would have been more desirable. The malt character is a touch shallow, and I don't doubt some malt body would have created an even more complex and unique flavor. Mildly dry finish with a bit of soft grain huskiness. 3.25

(Mouthfeel) There's a buzzy carbonation presence that does more creaminess and foam than stinging crispness. Body for the style is medium, and amongst all beers is slightly below medium. Alcohol presence is very well hidden by the fruit notes. I found the carbonation presence enjoyable for this beer. 4

(Overall) I still don't get why Shiner holds out these types of beers for their limited releases when they're easily more enjoyable and flavorful than their staple beers. If you haven't had a prickly pear-led beer before then you're in for a treat. A more berry-tart aroma than cidery acidity obviously leads this beer, but it's not a complete palate wrecker- somewhat light body makes for likely repeat drinks, and if I had more to enjoy I'd certainly take them up on that. 3.5

Spoetzl Brewery's
Shiner Brewer's Pride Craft Brew No. 3: Prickly Pear
3.4/5.00

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 16:21:41 | More by Jadjunk

Vylo

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -0.3%

02-18-2013 11:11:55 | More by Vylo

kjwetherb

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

02-17-2013 19:53:57 | More by kjwetherb

johndonor3

4/5  rDev +22.7%

02-17-2013 04:24:36 | More by johndonor3

JohnBender

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +7.4%

02-17-2013 00:16:26 | More by JohnBender