Shock Top Wheat IPA - Anheuser-Busch

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #62 (Mar 2012):

LOOK: Hazed gold

SMELL: Dried grass, orange peel, faint coriander, chalky, clean, somewhat absent

TASTE: Slick, semi-crisp, pulling orange peel, hop bitterness, muted coriander, grainy, bread crust, very dry

The whole entire character of the beer meets the nose and palate halfway, then just drops off like it was never even there. What is the reason for such a lackluster aftertaste? It had potential. Perhaps this beer is what differentiates between macros and what is going on deep in the craft beer world.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 23:12:02 | More by BeerAdvocate

vicg12

New York

3.1/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Very light, very little hop flavor. This should not be considered an IPA by any means. Pathetic head with nonexistent lacing. Other than that, really not a bad beer. Nice color, easy drinking smooth taste. If they could add some more carbonation and call this just a wheat ale instead of a wheat IPA I would have much more respect for this brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 16:08:35 | More by vicg12

egrace84

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -12%

05-18-2013 14:55:33 | More by egrace84

JoyHelfrich

Illinois

2/5  rDev -29.6%

05-15-2013 04:53:45 | More by JoyHelfrich

greggy1972

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +23.2%

05-12-2013 15:41:44 | More by greggy1972

TheDoak

Florida

3/5  rDev +5.6%

05-12-2013 04:06:35 | More by TheDoak

Slay40

Michigan

3/5  rDev +5.6%

05-12-2013 02:36:40 | More by Slay40

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +23.2%

05-10-2013 15:57:41 | More by pcsnyder

Kelp

New Hampshire

1.5/5  rDev -47.2%

05-09-2013 05:31:09 | More by Kelp

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -3.2%

05-05-2013 13:31:33 | More by ZEB89

mactrail

California

2.65/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

It would be more educational to do blind tastings of these industrial brews. It's so easy to have prejudices, deserved or not. From the 12 oz bottle from the supermarket. My first Shock Top.

These guys know about carbonation. The smell is not very inviting. Flavors are muted and a little muddy. This one tastes like it has some margarita mix in it. Not sweet, however. Not malty, not hoppy. It's just a beery taste with some earthy, murky flavors. I can't actually taste anything like hops, but it does have a bitter aftertaste that is far from pleasant. There's really nothing to hate in this, but it doesn't seem to have any of the good flavors of either an IPA or a Witbier. Plenty of concept, though.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 05:48:11 | More by mactrail

BrianSherry

Michigan

2.75/5  rDev -3.2%

05-01-2013 20:59:07 | More by BrianSherry

CorvetteMike

Rhode Island

2.01/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

From bottle to glass orange color with 1" head.
a: Orange color, 1" head
s: Mild orange smell
t: Lemon/Orange taste
m: Wheat beer taste, not really an IPA, with no aftertaste
o: Disappointing taste, not a good wheat or an IPA

Purchased only one bottle, and that was enough.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 02:33:07 | More by CorvetteMike

Aosemidey

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -12%

04-13-2013 17:43:48 | More by Aosemidey

cjnuxoll

California

4.5/5  rDev +58.5%

04-13-2013 01:31:13 | More by cjnuxoll

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -20.8%

04-09-2013 03:03:42 | More by SmellsofMahagony

troynos

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +32%

04-04-2013 13:21:49 | More by troynos

FlemingVSKing

Florida

3.25/5  rDev +14.4%

03-28-2013 19:12:03 | More by FlemingVSKing

tom91281

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +5.6%

03-24-2013 19:26:56 | More by tom91281

Herky21

Iowa

2.5/5  rDev -12%

03-22-2013 22:43:00 | More by Herky21

Lare453

Florida

2/5  rDev -29.6%

03-22-2013 15:38:57 | More by Lare453

Kelly42

California

4.5/5  rDev +58.5%

03-17-2013 01:17:53 | More by Kelly42

TaySuth

California

2.14/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Serving Type: 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Golden brown in color with a white medium head that dissipates rather quickly leaving behind a medium amount of lacing. I would have expected a slightly lighter color and better head retention but it is not bad appearance.

Smell: Despite it's claim as to be a wheat IPA, the wheat malt dominates the nose rather than the hops. While the wheat malt is pleasant, the hops are pretty minimal with minor notes of lemon, orange, and grass.

Taste: While there is some flavor of wheat malt, hop notes of lemon, and some decent bitterness (for an ABinBev wheat ale), unfortunately the thing that sticks out of is a watery flavor. Very disappointing.

Mouthfeel: Too light and watery. Semi-dry. Carbonation feels off and I can't tell if more or less would even be better. Strange description but it seems to have a slippery mouthfeel. Not pleasant.

Overall: Very disappointing. In my attempts to always try new beers, I decided to give this one a shot despite my tendency to shy away from Shock Top (homebrewer and I can't reuse their twist off bottles). Save your money on this one and buy something else.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 23:12:19 | More by TaySuth

Adambeerdude22

Kansas

2/5  rDev -29.6%

03-11-2013 06:16:46 | More by Adambeerdude22

Zuidman

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -3.2%

03-09-2013 00:40:08 | More by Zuidman