Shock Top Belgian White - Anheuser-Busch

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Michelob/Anheuser-Busch is not a brewer I normally associate with flavorful beverages, so it came as a surprise when someone handed me a Shock Top at a party and I found myself wanting a second. With a strong nose bearing intense citrus aromas--mainly orange, with hints of lemon--and coriander, this Witbier immediately ranks higher than anything else Michelob has put out.

On the tongue, the brew is hugely sugary and citrusy, orange again outranking everything else, but joined by hints of lemon and lime, coriander, and Grape Nuts-flavored malts. These flavors last well into the aftertaste, with little change. However, while the beer is quite flavorful--perfect beach fare, in fact--it's obvious that Michelob made up for small amounts of malts and hops through the addition of pounds and pounds of orange, lemon and lime peels to the tanks.

For discerning (picky) palates, this will be equivalent to covering a third-rate cut of meat with extra salt and black pepper--i.e. an obvious band-aid solution. I have no doubt, however, that many will think this beer delicious. I certainly think it's the tastiest beer Michelob has ever put out, and will reach for it again on my next camping trip.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 20:08:25 | More by jondeelee

Srive009

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +24.6%

05-18-2013 23:42:42 | More by Srive009

foxyaardvark27

Washington

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-18-2013 04:19:34 | More by foxyaardvark27

Dave7500kl

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +24.6%

05-16-2013 23:02:36 | More by Dave7500kl

Nolen12

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-16-2013 20:06:36 | More by Nolen12

thebigredone

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Some buddies ordered a pitcher of this after a soccer game. I was going to keep drinking Spotted Cow until one of them said, "There's something wrong with this, this beer is sour." I have no idea how a macro product gets soured, but sure enough, the beer definitely had a pleasant sour aspect to it. Review is based on this soured batch.

Appearance, very hazy light gold/yellow color.

The aroma was sort of wheaty, with a moderate sour aroma.

The flavor followed the nose, with the moderately sour aspect dominating whatever light wheat flavor was in the beer. Certainly not how the beer was intended to taste, but I'm positive it tastes better this way than whatever it was supposed to taste like.

On the whole, I actually really enjoyed this. It tasted like a nice entry level lacto-based sour. For $10 a pitcher, I'll drink a decent sour all night.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2013 12:42:52 | More by thebigredone

JoshFrierson86

Arkansas

4/5  rDev +32.9%

05-16-2013 12:31:38 | More by JoshFrierson86

NickThePyro

Washington

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-16-2013 08:02:05 | More by NickThePyro

ajtorres311

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -16.9%

05-15-2013 22:50:14 | More by ajtorres311

Matt73

New York

2.75/5  rDev -8.6%

05-15-2013 18:02:42 | More by Matt73

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-15-2013 13:23:24 | More by pcsnyder

flux702

Nevada

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-15-2013 04:26:18 | More by flux702

lucasj82

Indiana

2.75/5  rDev -8.6%

05-15-2013 01:29:28 | More by lucasj82

crewfan1952

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-15-2013 00:31:37 | More by crewfan1952

KerryCummins1977

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev +8%

05-15-2013 00:09:19 | More by KerryCummins1977

spencek91

New York

2.25/5  rDev -25.2%

05-14-2013 23:17:55 | More by spencek91

ziggyzoggy

Ohio

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-14-2013 17:29:38 | More by ziggyzoggy

bconsidine

Maryland

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-14-2013 17:21:05 | More by bconsidine

rainfairy

California

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-14-2013 08:17:16 | More by rainfairy

aty11b

Texas

2.75/5  rDev -8.6%

05-14-2013 01:56:35 | More by aty11b

aLenwell

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -8.6%

05-14-2013 00:33:58 | More by aLenwell

EyeBeeFameUs

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +57.8%

05-13-2013 22:38:04 | More by EyeBeeFameUs

HinghamRick

Massachusetts

2.25/5  rDev -25.2%

05-13-2013 03:44:04 | More by HinghamRick

pin

Australia

2/5  rDev -33.6%

05-13-2013 03:42:48 | More by pin

xip

Indiana

3/5  rDev -0.3%

05-12-2013 19:26:25 | More by xip