Shiner FM 966 - Spoetzl Brewery

kyleelton

Texas

3.91/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I have two kinds of bias when it comes to Shiner and the Spoetzl Brewery. First, I'm a Texan and I drank Shiner Bock before I really knew what craft beer was. In Coolidge it was the darkest beer on the planet, as far as I was concerned. I was proud that Shiner was from Texas. It's our hometown beer in a way.

The other bias goes like this: most of their beer isn't that good. They usually miss the mark on styles and generally have a weird "Shiner" flavor with everything. Even their Wild Hare, which was labeled a Pale Ale and advertised as highly hopped was a bland excuse for a Pale Ale, despite being very drinkable.

So, when Shiner comes out with a new beer my expectations are low. I know it won't be horrible (except for Ruby Redbird, that shit was awful) but it won't be anything to write home about or even be a decent example of the style. But FM 966 is a pretty damn good Saison. Not the best, but Shiner has really stepped up their game and brewed a true craft beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 03:47:50 | More by kyleelton

Pegasus

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Slightly hazy, deep golden body with a large, dense cloud-top head that retains very well. The lacing is Belgian-like. A modest number of fat bubbles drift lazily to the surface.

Aroma: Prominent spicy notes, coriander and pepper especially, as well as grassy hops. There are some bread-like malt notes as well, and a sort of mustiness I associate with old hay. Perhaps a little understated for the style, but not bad at all.

Taste: Opens with cracker malt flavors, and a very decent flourish of hops. A wave of phenolic flavors soon appears, these carry throughout the taste. Grapefruit rind is present as well. There is a bit of tropical fruit sweetness near the finish. Mildly bitter herbal hops linger on after the close of the taste.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, very pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A very nice example of a Saison/Farmhouse Ale. Perhaps just a touch on the light side. Nonetheless, well done, Shiner! FM 966 is a very ambitious effort that more than succeeded. Also, this beer a drop-dead bargain at the typical retail prices that Shiner beers are offered for.

Presentation: Packaged in a twelve-ounce brown glass bottle with a twist-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.

Sourced: Purchased at HEB in Georgetown, Texas at $11.77 for a twelve-pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:52:40 | More by Pegasus

JMad

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a bright golden yellow color with a white foamy head that quickly dissipated to a thin layer. Smells a bit funky and sweet with some aromas of grass lemon and hay. It tastes of grassy hops with lots of bread and a hint of lemon. The beer is light bodied with charp carbonation and a dry finish. This is one of Shiner's best offerings, I could drink this year round.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 22:57:51 | More by JMad

raznug

Ohio

4/5  rDev +19.8%
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

Brooksington

Texas

4.06/5  rDev +21.6%
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

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.2/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Shiner FM 966 has a thick, fluffy, off-white head, a hazy, golden appearance, some streaming bubbles, and some lacing left behind. The aroma is very bursting- spicy pepper, cracker, subtle citrus, and some other indistinguishable smells. Taste is of spicy, yeasty malt, some hops, maybe coriander, white bread, and sweetness. Mouthfeel is medium and slick, and Shiner FM 966 finishes mostly dry, easy drinking, and delicious. Overall, this is nice and well made. Check it out!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 18:44:09 | More by RonaldTheriot

elNopalero

Texas

4.21/5  rDev +26%
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

tubeyes

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Shiner fm 966 farmhouse.
A Clear light golden, frothy white pillow head, leaving minimal lacing.
S Nose of banana and light but chipper fruityness.
T More of the nose, delicious banana fruitiness.
M Great carbonation and fruity banana aftertaste.
O Impressed by the fantastic banana farmy goodness. From note, had on tap at OSDH in Denton, TX in their winter flight on 12/23/12. Also in bottle, live, 01/19/13. Prosit!

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 05:54:37 | More by tubeyes

AnalogReigns

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Really nice saison...from an American (large) low-priced craft brewer. Good stuff!

I recently had "La Fin Du Monde" on tap...and honestly, I think this beer compares favorably to it...though yes, they are different styles--still a saison is similar to a tripple. No, it's not as good, but...hey, it's less than $9 for a sixer.

Has an earthy, almost sour beer taste--like a homebrew, but fresh and refreshing--definitely a classic saison. I can guarantee, if this beer were from Belgium, in a fancy bottle...it would be rated quite high. As it is, it's a bargain!

Try it friends, I think you'll love it.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 05:00:51 | More by AnalogReigns

json83

Ohio

4.48/5  rDev +34.1%
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