Shiner FM 966 - Spoetzl Brewery

tronester

Oklahoma

3.4/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear golden, with a medium, sturdy white head. Phenolic aroma, with some cloves. Taste begins with some tart apple, then some husky grain, then a big banana flavor, with a bit of herbal bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is good. Overall a good Saison, though i suspect it would be a bit better if it wasnt filtered.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:29:53 | More by tronester

json83

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +32.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I am a Guinness fan and this Farmhouse Ale is an excellent reminder of it's goodness. The smell is above average and the mouthfeel and taste compliment each other and leave no bad aftertaste. My flavor preference is currently the dark and full flavored beer and this is one I would drink again and buy in bulk in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 02:33:27 | More by json83

JayQue

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not a bad take on a Saison. Certainly not up there with Hennepin or Dupont, but not bad either. Has a lot of Saison elements...light fruit, funk, and spiciness. Not as intense as the top offerings but enough there to make it interesting.

Color looks like slightly hazy apple juice, with a delicately bubbly head...medium size on a hard pour. A little lacing and fairly good head retention.

The smell is mild but gives a hint of yeasty funk as well as the apples and pears type light fruit.

Taste is refreshing. Fairly mild Saison elements, some funk,but you wouldn't say "horse blanket", "barnyard" or very musty in describing the beer.

Mouthfeel is fairly rich and crisp.

A good summertime brew but not a great Saison.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:16:46 | More by JayQue

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.49/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours an effervescent amber with a thumb of ivory colored head. Pretty good head retention & lacing

S: Pears & apple peels, plus apple blossoms

T: Follows the nose, some perfumy hops as well up front. A bit of breadyness & white grape as this warms, along with more apple peel, a bit of honey & some dirtyness. Finishes fruity with a bit of lemony hops, a whisper of barnyard & white grape sweetness

MF: Light bodied, soft carbonation. Thickens up as this warms

Not bad, a step up from a training wheels saison, a pleasant suprise from these guys

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 03:39:54 | More by russpowell

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.48/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Smallish white head settles pretty quickly above a clear bright golden colored beer.

Light soapy yeastish mixed with sour grain malts and throw in a touch of peppery spices in the aroma of this farmhouse ale.

The grain malts come through more in the taste, it loses most of the soapiness and yeast attributes I got in the aroma, but the very light peppery spices are still there.

A light dryish aftertaste with a bit of the grains and light pepper like spices clinging on with this light bodied drink.

Not overly impressive other than I happened to drink this on a hotter day and my air conditioner has yet to be turned on for the summer, so I guess to it rates better than it would have on most days.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 20:27:35 | More by LXIXME

tjsdomer2

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: Flat yellow in color with good white foam.

Smell: Faint honey and sour vinegar. I like the honey...not the vinegar. It does have faint grape saison smells along with the honey.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Tastes like honey mead...and sweat. I like the honey...not the sweat. Very flat, especially ofr a saison.

Overall Drinkability: I appreciate an American attempt at this style, but I'll stick the the European ones.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2013 23:53:26 | More by tjsdomer2

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.46/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

So Shiner takes a whack at the farmhouse style.

A - Well its pretty lively with carbonation. A very clear yellow with a head that reduces to a thick lace ring.
S - Has some peppery spice, a touch of lemon peel. and a strong wheat base.
T - Well it's a pretty crappy example of the style since it drinks like a witbier. Lemon and wheat highlight with a mild touch of coriander mid palate. Not bad yet not very funky or spicy,
M - Pretty effervescent with the carbonation making for a light bubbly body. Goes down easy enough.

Overall it's not really a bad beer but if it was a witbier I would have rated it higher. As a farmhouse beer it's pretty sucky.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 04:12:50 | More by DrDemento456

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a hazy gold color with an inch white head. Head retention and lacing are both decent enough. The brew smells like wheat, bubblegum, and a bit of peppery spice. I think the taste is pretty much like the aroma, with the wheat flavor being the strongest. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a bit coating with moderate carbonation. I think it's a solid beer. $1.99 a single bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 00:02:03 | More by bluejacket74

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pilsner glass, color is opaque gold/yellow; head is off white, presenting about 1" thick, then laces very nicely.

Smell is light wheat, pilsner malts, some solid spice profile intermingling as it warms.

Taste is quite pleasant, refreshing, a little on the lighter side for this style, profile consists of wheat and pilsner malts, maybe some biscuit, pretty good tasting spiceness, cleaner, subdued hops.

Mouthfeel is slightly sharp, not out of style, but it seems to be from carbonation over flavoring.

Overall, a surprisingly tasty brew, nice malt profile, solid spicienss, just a knock on the carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 22:48:28 | More by mvanaskie13

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.81/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint, the beer is a slightly hazed, golden-yellow coloring with a thin, filmy, white surface coating of head. A bit clingy as you drink, leaving a sparse lacing. Aromas of bubble gum, cloves, and nutmeg, with subtle toasted grains in the backbone. Flavors of spice first and foremost, with a blend of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Subtle backbone of toasted grains supports all of the spicing, and transitions into a semisweet, pepper spiced aftertaste. Very clean finish on a light, smooth body. Tasty beer Shiner...way to go.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 02:38:34 | More by GarthDanielson

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.21/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A- pours a hazy bright golden-yellow with a small bubbly white head that dissapates quickly, leaving no lace

S- grainy with some Belgian yeast banana aromas, a bit spicy with just a bit if funk

T- grainy malt with just a bit of peppery spice, yeasty finish with a dry linger

M- medium body with bubbly carbonation, leads to a foamy finish

O- the traditional Saison flavors are there, but barely. Easy drinking and refreshing for spring, but for the style, doesn't compare to some of the finer examples.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 23:18:12 | More by Treyliff

UCLABrewN84

California

3.38/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Pours a murky yellow with a foamy off-white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, spices, and yeast. Taste is much the same with spice and citrus flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that is drinkable but nothing too exciting.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 22:52:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

elNopalero

Texas

4.21/5  rDev +24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I’m going to be the contrarian here and say I liked this one.

This pours an auburn gold color with tight lacing. There’s a pleasing honey-floral aroma to it. It’s pleasant smelling—pleasant enough, at any rate.

The flavor has a light, hoppy (for a Shiner) Belgo-IPA character to it, like a floral, slightly sweeter saison. It’s affordable and sessionable and I wouldn’t complain if I had another. To be honest this beer surprised me with its approachability, its character, and its drinkability. Not at all what I expected from Shiner, and one which I would stand up against any number of second-tier domestic saisons (at double or triple the price).

Thanks to XicanoBeerRun for passing this one my way.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 07:13:05 | More by elNopalero

JEdmund

Kansas

3.55/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Color is a bit darker than what I’m used to, with more orange color than straw yellow; clear-bodied; fine head formation though not good retention.

Definitely saison in aroma with that sulfur/white pepper/yeast smell. Also some sweet biscuit malt in there.

First impression is that it’s a good thirst-quenching beer with its dry character. Body seems just right, as does carbonation. A few more sips and I’m noticing a lingering malt sweetness that I’m not a fan of. It’s slight, but I want that finish to be drier.

Overall I’d say it’s a middle-of-the-road saison. I’m glad I tried it but I’m also glad I didn’t buy six of them.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 12:46:46 | More by JEdmund

Brooksington

Texas

4.06/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

FM 966 has a pleasant amber color with a white head, neither spectacular nor off-putting.

The smell is that of a light citrus and hops combination, somewhat earthy and mildly fragrant.

FM 966 tastes excellent in my opinion, though I tend to favor lighter beers. It tastes like a wheat beer with perhaps a bit more complexity than most. Somewhat light, fragrant hops flavor with citrus undertones and mild carbonation lend this beer to utter drink-ability. A- in my book. I'll certainly buy this beer again.

The beer feels light in the mouth with mild carbonation. I personally find the beer utterly drinkable. However, I tend to favor beers with more mild carbonation. From a tap, (at least the one I had it from) this beer comes out slightly less carbonated, which I tend to favor. Certainly not sticky with a very mild hops aftertaste I find the mouthfeel to be very favorable.

I would, and do, recommend this beer to anyone interested in trying new, if somewhat familiar, beers which evoke both spring and summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 08:20:14 | More by Brooksington

denver10

Colorado

3.21/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Pours a clear haylike yellow with a white head. Simple and straightforward aroma for the style, but enjoyable nonetheless; belgian yeast giving off some bubble gum, slight fruity esters. Flavor starts off nicely with the yeast giving off the fruity esters and some gum but it then gives off to pilsner malt and some crackers, and by the end all flavor has seemed to vanish. A crisp, medium body. Overall, average beer at best by the standards of a craft saison but I feel as though I am doing a disservice to the beer comparing it in that light. To me, this beer feels like it serves the same role as Yuengling Lager does: cheap, highly drinkable, decent flavor. You drink the beer under a microscopes you will find things to fault with it, but to drink it while sitting back, hanging out with friends, watching some baseball, it will serve me well.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 00:11:31 | More by denver10

chilidog

Ohio

3.74/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

It pours a golden haze, small white head though it does maintain. Lace, not so much. Carbonation is lite.

Aroma of malts, hey and eayst.

Taste of a nice tasty malt backed by a spicy peppery mix with the hop. Some citric balance. Belgium yeast notes are noted.

Mouthfeel is left with a slight hop coat of spice.

Overall a real surprise here, I enjoyed this beer as a farmhouse, I haven't found a staple, till now. I will buy this beer again even if seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 21:03:19 | More by chilidog

raznug

Ohio

4/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: This beer pours a clear pale golden color and is topped with ½” of angel white head that lingers.
Smell: The beer smells of malt and a Belgian style yeast rather typical of this style I would say.
Taste: The taste of this beer is rather delicious a good malt base with a nice blend of spices and yeast that play nice with each other, neither one dominating the other.
Mouthfeel: It is a tad on the thin side but it makes for a smooth easy drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 17:48:37 | More by raznug

ranger7

Texas

3.44/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bought from Trader Joe's, poured from bottle into a Sam Adams etched glass.
"There's Nothing Finer Than a Springtime Shiner" - Have never tried this style, so we'll see about that.

A - Very light gold appearance. Not much of a head. It's inviting, but nothing spectacular.

S - Smells a lot like a wheat beer. Some citrus tones, as well as some yeast. Maybe some hops. I like it - I can see where the "It's Refreshing & Spicy" claim on the bottle came from.

T - Interesting. Again, I would say it is a wheat beer if someone gave this to me as a blind tasting. However, it is not as smooth overall as a wheat, and does have a tang at the end. Nice.

M - Overall, it's a pretty light mouth feel. Some carbonation, but not much. There is a bit of a lingering aftertaste, of which I'm not a fan.

Summary - I got this as a single bottle from TJ's, but I wouldn't have minded a six-pack. I like Shiner's experimentation with different styles from year-to-year, it makes things interesting. As for this beer, I can envision it being a good "everyday" beer in the Spring and Summer months when it's warm. The light body and refreshing wheat-style make it a good choice.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 13:32:59 | More by ranger7

laramis

South Carolina

3.39/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: gold in color it poured slightly cloudy into a pint glass not too big of a head but decent lacing

S: slightly fruity some spices and maybe a little yeast

T: first there was a strong hop flavor that played well with the spices then followed the fruit flavors

M: crisp and light bodied it gives a pleasant feel on the tongue

O: this is a good spring time beer i had never had saison before but i rather liked it i would drink it again

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 05:59:11 | More by laramis

Minkybut

Virginia

2.25/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I poured this awful beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer poured a pretty golden color and poured a nice big white head. Thats all the good I can say about it. The smell was skunky and terrible. The taste was sour and terrible. I like Shiner products for the most part but this beer got a YUK in my personal beer data base. I would not buy again and Shiner should not produce it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 16:48:30 | More by Minkybut

BeerAsAStoryteller

Colorado

3.59/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a golden color with very light, thin layer of white foam.

S: Hints of banana and light tropical fruits, maybe mango. Some mild malt sweetness.

T: Lots of banana. Sharp carbonation that almost drowns the very mild hops. Decent amount of malty sweetness.

M: Light bodied, but has some small amount of heft, which balances out the sharp carbonation.

O: Well balanced, though rather light all around. Easy drinking, with just enough flavor to make it tasty and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 05:43:39 | More by BeerAsAStoryteller

brewerburgundy

California

2.35/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle, appears to be best by 5/8/13, Ommegang tulip.

A pale, rich gold greets me on the pour. There is not all that much head, but it is stark, clean white and hangs around.

The nose is largely fruity, banana focused yeast. A whiff of pale malt. It's pretty tame and one-dimensional.

It's fruity here too, but the yeast oscillates between a clean lager crackeriness and banana and some apricot. There's pale malt, a matte yeast feeling combined with a slight bitter finish, but not much else.

Too much carbonation, thin body.

I suppose this is pretty much what you'd expect if Shiner tried a Saison. It's pretty good, but could go a lot further. There's a fairly strong, but not delicious, Belgian yeast strain popped in a wort of simple pale malt.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 20:16:17 | More by brewerburgundy

Fatehunter

Oregon

2.8/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Almost a finger of head on a hazy, orange/golden colored body.
The aroma is nice: banana, grain, lemon and nectarine.
The taste is watery with hints of banana and lemon. Too mild.
The texture is soft with moderate carbonation.
Not a bad beer but the taste could have more to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 02:58:47 | More by Fatehunter

Tone

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy, golden color. 1/5 inch head of a white color. Slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of hint of alcohol, sweet malt, slight yeast, hint of wheat, slight spice, floral aromas, and a hint of hops. Fits the style of a Saison / Farmhouse beer. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with a low carbonation level. Tastes of slight yeast, floral notes, hint of grass, hint of alcohol, sweet malt, hint of spice, slight of wheat, and a hint of hops. Overall, good blend and feel, but the body and aroma are muted.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 14:50:20 | More by Tone