Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat - Anheuser-Busch

Mosstrooper

California

3.28/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 330ml Corsendonk tulip glass.

Appearance: Hazy red-orange color with a small off-white head that dissipates pretty quickly and leaves behind spotty lace. There are also some pieces of sediment floating around in the glass.

Smell: Pumpkin pie dominates- cinnamon and nutmeg with, of course, pumpkin.There are some hints of the watery citric character of regular Shock Top in the background.

Taste: Begins citric, rounding out to wheaty flavor and finishing with a well-rounded pumpkin pie type flavor. This actually tastes pretty good overall, but lacks a true punch of flavor.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with sharb carbonation and a watery finish.

Overall: As with many other macro attempts at creating more craft-oriented beer, this is pretty damn good. However, true to form, it also is just short of aggressiveness in flavor and aroma while also being too carbonated to make it a great beer. I would be fine having this again, but wouldn't search it out. This could also be a good beer to introduce to newbies.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 02:59:49 | More by Mosstrooper

sommersb

Tennessee

2.65/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Tasted On: 12-29-2011
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Sam Adams perfect pint
Purchased: 6-pack from Publix

My mom bought these beers for me when I was coming to visit her.

A: Color is a light orange on this mostly clear brew, with a good amount of bubbles seen in the glass. The head is off-white and stands at 2 and a half fingers. Head retention is good, while the lacing is fair.

S: Smells of pumpkin fruit and muted spices, but overall very weak aromas.

T: The dominant flavor is of pumpkin fruit, but it has an unpleasant character to it. Slightly sweet, with a bland overall impression.

M: Body is thin, with medium to high carbonation. Aftertaste is of pumpkin and pumpkin spices, but has the same off-taste as noted earlier.

O: Overall this is an easy-drinking ale, but is nothing remarkable and not a beer I'd seek out.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 02:45:14 | More by sommersb

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.55/5  rDev -18%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

High on spice and with a slightly off-balanced malt/grain ratio, this Pumpkin Ale on training wheels may find favor with avid drinkers of American Lagers wishing to venture out a bit.

Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat pours with a copper and orange color that actually resembles pumpkin color to a slight extent. Hazy as to be expected from wheated beers, the beer forms a part-foamy, part-fizzy head that retains a little better than I expected, but not as good as classic Belgian-style Wheat Ales. No lace and fleeting carbonation leaves this beer looking somewhat lifeless after a few quick drinks.

Spicy sweet aromas carry the added spices of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg reasonably well. A light backgound note of starchy (pumpkin?), caramel, and citrus round out the simplified nose in somewhat mild to timid intensity.

Grainy-sweet flavors of malted and raw barley along with wheat provide a thin sweetness that could side better with pilsner malt and wheat. But the spicy additions and caramel flavor help to support the notion of pumpkin pie for a short time. Thin malty richness allows the beer to die at mid palate and ushers in a bland and watery finish with a lingering of perfumy spice.

Grainy sweet to texture as well as the beer never develops the malty creaminess or the malty-dry finish of either Belgian Witbiers or common Pumpkin Ales. Watery, thin, and oddly sweet- the combination of aspirtame and dish soap reveals the unpleasantries of spices, grain, and lacking malt balance.

Those who are venturing out of the shaddow of industrial lagers may find comfort with this grainy-sweet version of Pumpkin Ales, but this is among one of the weakest brands on the market.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 05:27:16 | More by BEERchitect

LXIXME

New Mexico

2.75/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pouring this from an inch or so above the glass gives you a medium sized off white to light tan head that quickly dies above a cloudy honey colored wheat beer.

A slightly washed out but yet big aroma of pumpkin, pumpkin spices, and nutmeg.

A light bodied drink with tastes of pumpkin spices and a light nutmeg, a let down from the aroma which itself lead you to believe that the beer would be decent or at least alright to drink.

Not much aftertaste to this beer, maybe a light dryness.

Why does AB insist on producing mediocre beers when they have at their disposal the ability to produce some outstanding ales and lagers, if only they cared about the costumer a light and not just the almighty dollar.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 23:35:41 | More by LXIXME

gerite

Alabama

2.78/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Had this beer at a restaurant with a burger since it was the only draft beer available that I had not tried. I usually don't like wheat beers, but I do like pumpkin beers, so I gave it a try.

The beer was served in an American pint glass and looked really good. The appearance was a slightly brownish orange with a distinct pumpkin and wheat taste that lived up to its name. There was about one finger of creamy tan head but it rapidly dissipated. In spite of the small head, there was a good amount of lacing but not much carbonation. I found the beer to be overall lacking in mouthfeel and aroma, but still a good drinkable brew. What can I say? Its a pumpkin flavored Budweiser.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2011 02:21:11 | More by gerite

CowsCanBark

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear dark orange with a quickly dissipating half finger head. No lacing is left on the glass. Color is nice, though.

Smell: Actually smells really great! A strong odor of pumpkin and pumpkin spice, such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Sweet malts and a light citrus hint are also noted.

Taste: It's quite delicious. This reminds me of pumpkin pie in beer form; a strong, nice pumpkin flavor, with noticeable pumpkin spice characteristics throughout. Light hops and malts dominate the background, with the wheat barely apparent. Surprisingly good.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and moderate carbonation, refreshing and drinkable.

Overall: Good job, A-B, you've surprised me with this offering. A delicious pumpkin ale that I would certainly buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 03:00:50 | More by CowsCanBark

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours an orange/golden color nice tan 1/2 foam cap, some sediment floaty bits none to alarming but enticing.

S: Aroma has a light fragrance of cinnamon and spice, very typical of style.

T: Taste is of pumpkin pie spices and sweet malts slightly hopped.

M: Mouthfeel is medium bodied lightly carbonated, with a silky finish.

O: Overall a drinkable beer not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 02:39:32 | More by nukem5

robmorris31

Washington

5/5  rDev +60.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The hands-down best Pumpkin Wheat this season! Finishes smooth and leaves a warm pumpkin pie taste in your mouth. Be sure when pouring to leave about an inch at the bottom and stir the bottle to bring out the unfiltered wheat. Wonderful! I bought a case and am rationing it out keeping it all season long. Best with turkey or large banquet style Holiday meals! Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 21:40:56 | More by robmorris31

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.28/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap 11/13/2011 at Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep golden brown color, with a very thin white head that fades very quickly and leaves a very thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains pumpkin, spices, light caramelized malts and almost no hops.

T: The taste starts out with sweet flavors of pumpkin and spices followed by a thin malt character. The hops presence is mild but creates a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, there are several other beers in the style better than this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 21:50:56 | More by TheManiacalOne

skibumma70

Massachusetts

2.15/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pumpkin taste is noticable in the beginning of the first sip, then the cloves, nutmeg,and allspice take over the beer. The carbonation is a bit harsh, and has a strange aftertaste. Overall, I would rate this at the bottom of the pack of the pumpkin beers I have tried this year. The aftertaste is strange, and even turns my stomach a little. The original sips aren’t bad and the pumpkin flavor is slight, but there is something about this one that just does not agree. I don’t hate it, but I won’t be purchasing this one again

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 19:29:40 | More by skibumma70

danmcg62

Massachusetts

2.55/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A-Poured into a pint glass. Pours a hazy orangey color with a white fluffy head that is still hanging around for a bit. Decent looking brew.

S-At first whiff I'm getting a real citrusy aroma. The pumpkin and spice is very mild.

T-Just a mish mash of wheat, citrus fruit, and spice. Just OK.

M-Real thin, watery feel. Not a full bodied as other pumpkin beers.

O-Overall this beer is just OK. It feels like the beer doesn't know what it wants to be - a hefeweizen or a pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 02:00:02 | More by danmcg62

DoubleJ

California

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pry-off or twist-off? This is an Anheuser Busch product, so I will say twist-off....I was right! On to the beer:

Looks like dark copper with carbonation bubbles racing through its body. The body is much cleaner than expected. The head on top is small and its retention is run of the mill, though it does splash up a little lacing. A lot of nutmeg and cinnamon in the nose, also some minerals and tap water. Somewhat pleasant, though it's close to being downgraded.

Vague spice, thin body, and medium high carbonation greet me at first. I eventually catch a little pumpkin and some cinnamon. From here it's decent, nothing wowing nor disgusting.

For what it's worth, it's better than the Shock Top Wheat Ale base. Nothing special, though still better than what a majority of people drank during pumpkin carving.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 05:18:20 | More by DoubleJ

matjack85

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

I found this latest Shock Top offering at the newly opened Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. $6.99 for a 6-pack during the Halloween week sale. Not sure what they'll go for when the sale is over. No freshness date and no information about the beer on the label or on Bud's website (yet).

The beer poured a slightly hazed orange/amber color and made a nice 2-finger fluffy white head. Unfortunately the head disappeared completely in about 30 seconds and not a trace of lacing was left behind.

The beer had a mild pumpkin smell, but the other pumpkin pie spices of cinnamon and nutmeg are more pronounced. Smells decent for a pumpkin beer.

A sweet wheat maltiness is the main flavor here. Pumpkin flavor is there, but not very pronounced. I do get some cinnamon and nutmeg spiciness as well, but it's all just too weak. The best pumpkin ales (like Southern Tier's or Uinta's) make you feel like you're drinking a liquid pumpkin pie. This one does not do that. It needs more pumpkin.

Light to medium bodied with high carbonation.

This is definitely drinkable, but not the best pumpkin ale out there.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 09:56:09 | More by matjack85

DarthKostrizer

California

3.58/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Look: Very deep orange in color almost copper 1/3 inch head and decent retention

Smell: Lots of pumpkin spice upfront and some other autumn and baking spices. One of the better pumpkin noses I have smelled

Taste: Surprisingly good flavor. Nice pumpkin and cinnamon flavors but I dont really pick up too much wheat

Mouthfeel: Thin body and medium carbonation

Overall: Surprisingly good beer from Michelob

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 06:56:18 | More by DarthKostrizer

BigDRS

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A - Deep orange/tangerine color with quite a bit of haze. Head initially is about a finger tall but quickly dies down to a very insignificant film. Doesn't leave any lacing on my glass to speak of.

S - The smell is the most impressive thing about this beer imho. Cinnamon, nutmeg, some pumpkin and clove all come through. The other so called pumpkin ales I've had this year have been fairly one dimensional in this area, so this is a pleasant experience.

T - Good, but it doesn't wow me by any means. Cinnamon and pumpkin are the strongest players in the taste on this beer. There's just a hint of clove and some other spices.

M - Meh. Not good but not bad. Mouthfeel gets a solid C.

O - Not a bad pumpkin ale, but nothing that's going to blow your pants off. If it's offered to you for free gladly accept.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 03:13:25 | More by BigDRS

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Friend left a few of these over so I figured I might as well try it.

A - Pours a hazy orange/amber with a decent 1 finger head. Unfiltered beer, so a lot of floaties floating around in it.

S - Caramel malt, sugar, touch of clove, a tad bit of pumpkin.

T - Somewhat of a hodgepodge of spice, some clove, a touch of cinnamon, orange peel, and slight hint of pumpkin. Malt bill is decent.

M - Quite a bit of carbonation present, but smooth.

Overall - A decent pumpkin brew. It was a bit of a grab bag of spice, but it captured the style fairly well and didn't taste bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 01:51:49 | More by BeerBuckeye

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Orange amber, with a slight haze. Head was initially thick and frothy, quickly fading to a thin but lingering layer that left a fine lace on the walls of my glass.

S: Sweet malt is the most noticeable aspect. There is some spice and (if you really search for it) some pumpkin notes as well.

T: Again, it's the sweet malt that grabs my attention at first sip. The pumpkin pie spices are there as it washes over the tongue, but not overwhelming. The finish is a typical hops bitterness... Wait a minute! Where was the pumpkin?

M: Wet up front, but drier in the finish. Average carbonation.

O: Just so-so. Not unpleasant, but not enough pumpkin to be worthy of the name, even with the expected spices. Still, I find it easier to down than plain Shock Top.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 03:48:08 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

Royalenfield1990

Alabama

2.08/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

I purchased a 6 pack at my local Publix.

A- Drank straight from the bottle. I did not notice.

S- Smells like pumpkin spice, not bad.

T- Very watery for what it should be. Pumpkin flavor and spice were more faint than expected.

M- Too watery. Medium carbonation

O- I like many types of brews, but I did not really like this one. Try another brand if looking for a pumpkin ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 02:26:58 | More by Royalenfield1990

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle given to me by my neighbor Brian, and poured into one of my new Penn State pint glass with the football etching on the bottom.

A: Pours an orangish-amber hue, with a thick white head that dissipated somewhat quickly and left a little lacing on the glass as I worked through it.

S: I pick up pumpkin, cinnamin, and nutmeg, all at moderate-to-low levels. I'm not picking up my yeast/bread/wheat in the nose.

T: I know it's trendy on this board to s*** on Anheuser-Busch, but this really isn't a bad beer for what it is (that being a "novelty" beer, pumpkin + spice, made for a specific season). And props to the brewers for delivering on more true *pumpkin* flavor than a lot of the competition does. This beer also has those "pumpkin pie" spices that are so prolific in the style (those being cinnamin, nutmeg, and sweatness), but there is more actual pumpkin flavor here than a lot of micros.

The wheat/bread is in the background here, but provides a pleasant backbone on which to layer all of the other flavors mentioned above. I'm not a big Hefeweizen fan, so this really works for me. Heife/wit purists may be disappointed by this, but I'm not

M: It's a touch heavier in the mouth than I like it to be, and doesn't leave a whole lot behind on the finish.

D/O: This is an enjoyable change-of-pace, but the wheat makes it a bit heavy and detracts from it's drinkability for me, and the spices make it a bit of a one-trick pony.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 01:44:20 | More by psuKinger

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Orangey medium copper, just shy of clear with a bit of chill haze. Alright size just barely off-white head. It settles fast but keeps a ring and tries pretty good to leave lacing.

S: Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves – spices for sure. Perhaps there is pumpkin behind that, but a ways behind. Some toasty grain, sort of wheaty, with some light caramel sweetness. No hops. Pumpkin grows as it warms, and it gets sweeter smelling too.

T: Opens with a mix of pie spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves), and malts – toasty grain, doughy wheat, and a bit of light caramel sweetness. I don’t know that it is clearly pumpkin, but middle to end have a pronounced vegetal character. More green and leafy than squash. Some malt sweetness sticks around in the end with a faint bit of breadcrust. No hops jump out, unless they are part of that herbal/vegetal something.

M: Medium to medium-light body, carbonation just a hair under matched. Smooth with just a enough carbonation to carry the spices. Semi-sweet finish.

D: Fair (at best) wheat beer with okay use of spice (but the mix doesn’t seem quite right). Pumpkin is rather strange – sort of unripe – more vegetal than gourd. Still – tons more flavor and character than their mainstream affair. Okay to try, but it won’t be calling you back.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 16:44:24 | More by SickGnar

Gmann

New York

3.13/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours an orangy golden color, slightly hazy, with a small tight white head that settles into a light cap.

The aroma is of light pumpkin spice; nutmeg and allspice. Decent aroma, perhaps some light lemon in the end.

The flavor has a considerable wheat base; smooth and unoffensive. Very light pumpkin spice; some nutmeg and allspice. Some lemony astringency in the end. Kind of boring but not bad.

The feel is light, almost watery. Crisp carbonation and a clean finish, easy to drink. A bit dry and astringent in the end.

An ok pumpkin to get introduced to the style. Not extremely flavorful but does give you a hint of the spice profile. Harpoon's pumpkin wheat is much better.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 23:27:49 | More by Gmann

chinchill

South Carolina

3.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The aroma is quite spicy: but with a closer sniff, there is also a fairly good pumpkin aroma and a hint of malt. The spice complement is a bit atypical; it has some of the things usually found in pumpkin pie or pumpkin ales, like nutmeg and cinnamon, but doesn't taste like the typical mix of pumpkin pie spices. Also a bit lemony.

Mouthfeel: thin and watery, but with good carbonation.

O - Beer #1 in a Halloween eve Pumpkin tasting session. This one is over-spiced, particularly in the room-filling aroma. "Tastes like Halloween" says a fellow tester.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 01:39:59 | More by chinchill

Rantingfury

North Carolina

3.13/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured the beer into a glass in two parts per instructions on the bottle. A three finger bisque colored head, that faded quick with a little bit of residual lacing, was evident. The second pour was 1/2" from the bottom of the bottle swirled the spices and topped off the glass, which resulted in a orange and cloudy tint to the color. The aroma was spice with the nutmeg and cloves dominating and a flash of the cinnamon on the back end. The pumpkin made a light showing, but you can tell it is there in the aroma. There was no malt or hops that I could discern. The taste was decent. with the spice dominating the first of it fading to the pumpkin and then a little malt taste making a token appearance. Mouthfeel is ok with the carbonation tickling the tip of the tongue, but the body is somewhat watery. I was apprehensive in buying the beer at first, the raspberry beer was a disaster, and I took a few minutes staring down the beer in the cooler before giving it a try. Overall not a bad seasonal beer. Newer batches should concentrate on keeping the aroma and appearance while maybe bringing out the malt some.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 20:54:02 | More by Rantingfury

DavidST

Texas

3.3/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. This pours a slightly hazy orangish color with a short lived white head. Smells mostly of pumpkin, spices and maybe a hint of wheat. Feel is medium to light with decent carbonation. The taste is pretty light, a little pumpkin and spice, kinda sweet, its okay but weaker than most of the pumpkin beers (but far better than the buffalo one).

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 00:33:21 | More by DavidST

RickS95

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Kind of orangey with floaties in it. And off white head, thickish with good staying power.

Smells likes the bottle says...pumpkin, wheat, and nutmeg.

Tastes like it smells, mostly pumpkin and not so much pumpkin spice.

Lots of spiciness, but a slight more bitter finish than I'd like; a bit thin with an abrupt ending.

An above average fall beer, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 02:43:37 | More by RickS95