Shadow's Wild Black - Anheuser-Busch

psugrad98

Pennsylvania

2.74/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours blueish black with thin whispy head, looks a bit chemical. No lace, very soda like. Nose is of blackberries, and somewhat artificial blackberries.

Cloying sweet blueberry, almost soda like. A bit of bitter finish that transitions to sweet and then back to bitter astringency.

Almost like drinking an alcoholic soda that seems more intent on hitting you on the head with blackberry flavor. No trace of nuance. A fun beer if you don't care what you drink, and want something sweet, but other than that a bit of a disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 20:36:37 | More by psugrad98

davey101

Connecticut

2.03/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Another gem from match1112. 12 oz bottle into an over sized wine glass.

A - Pours a dark purple body with thin light purple edging. Straight 4'Loko style.

S - A pretty intense aroma of fake blackberries and a touch of vodka. Such a strong smell!

T - How do people drink this? Sugar, sweetener, sugar syrup, black berry jam, and sugar cubes. Its so over the top, this taste like an alcoholic sucralose fruity blackberry bomb. Thick and syrupy.

O - There are zero redeeming qualities to this beer. Its cheap and highly alcoholic, but you would have to break through a wall of artificial sweetener and defeat the inevitable headache to achieve any sort of buzz. Just stick with fruited vodka.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:32:09 | More by davey101

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle, with no apparent bottled on date present. I tried this beer and it's two companion beers sometime last summer, and I remember being underwhelmed, but for the sake of knowledge I decided to give this beer another go. I do remember enjoying this one the most out of the three.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours about two fingers of fizzing pinkish / purple/ white colored head on top of a ruby red / purple berry fruit juice concentrate colored body. Looks like some fruit juice concentrate in a glass with some cotton candy head on it.

S - Smell is of generic berry juice concentrates more than it is of actual genuine blackberry or blueberry flavor. No natural beer flavors to comment upon.

T - Taste is comprised of artificial fruit juice flavor and a hint of hot medicinal alcohol presence. Tastes like some kind of punch mixed with a bit of cheap vodka more than it embodies an actual fruit beer. Minor tartness. Virtually no legitimate blackberry flavor to be found here, and that is apparent from the first sip onward. I suppose you could argue that there is faint corn husk and grain adjuncts present here as well, but that is debatable.

M - Feel is fruity, sugary, sticky, & artificial. Some burning nail polish remover alcohol astringency.

Overall, another awful Anheuser-Busch attempt to infiltrate the world of craft beer, with shady marketing schemes like releasing this beer under a separate moniker so you wouldn't know it was an Anheuser-Busch product, until you got home, drank it, and realized what a horrible rip-off it is. However, in the grand scheme of the beer world, it is palatable, inoffensive, and packs a solid 8.00% abv so it is sure to please those looking to rage during the summer.

Anheuser-Busch Shadow's Wild Black ---2.5/5

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 01:56:39 | More by mfnmbvp

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

2.64/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

Pours a magenta color with a lip of off-white foam that even laces a bit.

Smells of grain and berry Kool-Aid. Maybe melted Royal blackberry gelatin. Hardly any hops.

Oh man. Super sweet. Tangy and boozy. Artificial berry and grain gruff. Can't say much more.

Mellow carbonation. Soft body. Too much alcohol presence.

A mess of a fruit beer. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 02:56:15 | More by thecheapies

Antikythera

New York

2.45/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

You know what -- I don't want to review this as a beer. If I reviewed it as a cooler, I might like it. I do like coolers and "alco-pop" sometimes.

This stuff does not taste like beer. It's more like a purple fruity soda. Tastier than grape soda, actually, but I never liked grape soda. For what it is, a sweet party drink, it's fine. As a beer, it's ... not beer at all.

I'm more annoyed that I inadvertently bought an Anheuser-Busch product, which I try not to do. The label made it seem like something made by a smaller local brewery. Ethical buyer, beware.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 01:39:35 | More by Antikythera

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

1.43/5  rDev -43.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

In my defense, this beer was purchase as the filler beer to complete a pick-a-six. From the label, I would not have known this is A-B. I did not know until I looked on BA, so I prepared for foul swill.

In appearance, it looked like a thinned version of IHOP's blueberry pancake syrup. There was a very slight white head with a purple tint after pouring. In the appearance, there is little that resembles beer. There is a liquor blackberry aroma which reminds me of schnapps. It also reminds me a little of a fountain soda. The initial taste is bubbly cough syrup. Normally when I drink Nyquil, I don't have 11 more ounces to go after the first sip. On the sides of the tongue, it runs very tart. There is nothing in the taste that makes me think this is beer. The mouthfeel is bubbly like a soda, but has the sticky mediciney taste of cough syrup. The aftertaste continues to remind me of cough syrup as the medicine notes linger in the back of the throat. This beer really is as bad as the scores suggest.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 01:48:45 | More by JohnnyHopps

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.05/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.75

LOOK: Pours like what you can imagine carbonated blackberry juice would look like, the head has a pinkish hue and does not last very long.

SMELL: Blackberry juice and cereal grains. Smells fruity and sweet but not all that bad.

TASTE: Strong sweet blackberry, a bit of corny lager, rice and a small alcohol heat but pretty well disguised. This is a good beer alternative, since it will get you drunk, but if blindfolded I would not think this was a beer.

FEEL: Light bodied, a bit syrupy and cloyingly sweet. Somehow manages to be watery.

OVERALL: Closer to jailhouse hooch than a fine beer, this sweet alcoholic drink could be used in a pinch to please female house guests, other than that its uses are limited.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 19:53:10 | More by Stinkypuss

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

2.38/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

12 oz twist-off bottle poured into a pilsner glass.
8% ABV, 12087
(Reviewed 06-24-12 - from notes)

A - Shadow's Wild Black pours a dark plum purple with ruby highlights and is crowned by a light purple head. Effervescent and fizzy, it evaporates to a thin skim with a wimpy collar of foam.

S - Artificial jam aroma. Should I be getting ready to spread this beer on a toasted English muffin, or drink it? It also has a very awkward light scent of pizza sauce spread over thin crust, oddly enough. A swirl of this beer brings out plenty of sugar.

T - Exceeding my expectations, the blackberry flavor, while artificial and sweet, isn't plain awful. Grainy malt lingers behind but remains at an acceptable level.

M - Cloying sweetness shouldn't be any surprise following the other two versions of this beer. Thick feeling through the moderate carbonation, Wild Black has a faint alcohol kick along the finish.

O - Out of all the "Wild" series of these AB beers, I find this the least offensive and most likely to substitute well for a wine cooler, but it begs the question, "why?" Sadly, I'm left speechless for an answer.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 16:28:31 | More by BeerFMAndy

GorrestFump

1.68/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

You're probally better off buying a 4loko. High-Body, sweet and artificial. The stench is overpowering. Grape, Grape, Grape... Not Black berry, it was was fizzy like a carbonated drink but not like a lager. This is a glorified wine-cooler, wife-beaing juice.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 06:18:17 | More by GorrestFump

mralphabet

Virginia

1.54/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.75

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Poured a clear purple with a fingers worth of pink foamy head the dissipated very quickly to nothing with just a touch of lacing. Looks nothing like beer, more like Welch's Grape Juice.

S: OK... Smells like blackberries and cherry flavored Nyquil.

T: First thing I'm getting is the sweet blackberries, but that quickly goes tart, then quickly to cherry flavored Nyquil. The aftertaste is a strange mix of sweet blackberries and Nyquil.

M: Light bodied, crisp and sharp with a dry finish.

O: OK, this tastes nothing like beer to me.... More like a wine cooler mixed with Nyquil.... Not a tasty combination. Not something I'll be coming back too.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:52:57 | More by mralphabet

RickS95

Indiana

1.54/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a dark ruby red, burgundy color with a light pinkish, purpley white head. Bubbles are fleeting with little retention and leave no trace of lacing.

Doesn't smell like a beer, not even really a fruit beer. If anything, a wine coolor or cocktail. Nothing but berries, though it's fairly subdued.

Tastes like grape juice.

Doesn't feel like a beer, more like a glass of 7 UP with some grape juice added. It's mostly sweet, overly so, with some fizz for feel and bubbles. No hop presence, just a nice burn from the carbonation and acid.

Overall, it's not a beer. I knew it would suck, just wanted to check off another beer in my quest to try them all.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 03:58:44 | More by RickS95

DirtyPenny

Massachusetts

1.6/5  rDev -37.3%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.75

I hardly review beer any more. I mean, I love beer and all, but I've reached a point where I don't feel the need to try out and take notes on everything under the sun, and many's the beer I've tossed in the back of the fridge for later, telling myself that I didn't want to put the effort into reviewing it just yet. And many of those have ultimately ended up being drunk but un-reviewed because I got tired of waiting.

Part of it is probably that it's winter now and most of my favorite brews are out and most of the beer I have here are like old familiar friends. But wait, suddenly there's a knock on the door! A Wild Black appears!

Barging into your homely house like Aunt Frieda on one of her famous five-day Mr. Boston benders, Wild Black's red and rosy cheeks reek of sugary sweet blackberry and taste like the Robotussin you'll be needing when Frieda's sloppy kisses leave you flu-ridden and nauseous. You'll smooth things over in the name of family togetherness, but you'd be wise to lock your doors to the ol' beast in the future.

TL;DR: Like bobbing for gummy bears in a bucket of Nyquil.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 22:11:47 | More by DirtyPenny

mostpoetsdo

Rhode Island

2/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 ounce bottle into 16 ounce US pint glass.

A: Bright purple/ruby, lots of bubbly carbonation, finger length purple-white head which quickly vanishes. Looks like grape soda.

S: Artificial blackberry juice, apple, cough syrup.

T: Upfront tart, fruity taste of blackberry is then drowned in a sea of overly sweet cough syrup. The high ABV must result in a product that is far too sweet. Similar to Four Loko grape. Slight tinge of alcohol at the end. Aftertaste is slightly malty with that lingering NyQuil taste one usually chases with orange juice.

Ml: Over carbonated; the unpleasant flavouring makes one's face wince. Rather thin, given 8% ABV.

O/D: It's a one and done, flavour wise. If you can make it that far. I can see many BeerAdvocates making this one a drain pour. I don't know what demographic Bud was going after with this beer, but I'm assuming it is to relate to a Four Loko crowd. And, as much as it pains me to say it, I'd rather drink a Four Loko and risk diabetes than drinking another one of these "wild" beers. If you're looking for a buzz with a grape soda/cough medicine taste, you found your beer of choice.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 23:19:10 | More by mostpoetsdo

zeff80

Missouri

2.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A - Poured out a clear, purplish brown color with a two-finger, white head of bubbly foam. The short lived head left little to no lacing.

S - It smelled of blackberry -- real blackberry, at least.

T - It tasted of blackberries. Nice and tart. There is some spiciness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light bodied brew with a dry finish.

O - This is better than the blue and the red. Still it isn't something I'll drink again.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 05:01:32 | More by zeff80

MrDanno96

Ohio

2.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours very dark with purple hues when held to light. Some spotty lacing and only about have a finger of fizzy head.

S: Grape soda (or, I guess in this case, blackberry soda). That is really the only aroma I get. Doesn't smell like beer at all.

T: This isn't beer. It tastes like grape soda. I like grape soda, so this tastes good to me. But as far as beers go, this does not taste like beer.I wouldn't be surprised if this was brewed with no hops.

M: Thin and spritzy, like carbonated water or soda. I can't believe it is 8% abv, though. The alcohol is hidden incredibly well.

O: I know it's a fruit beer, but even fruit beers should have some beer characteristics. I think you could give this to someone and tell them it is soda and they would believe you. It would pair well with blueberry, grape, or blackberry pie and could be interesting to cook with. But as far as "beer" goes, you can barely say this is a beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 04:31:42 | More by MrDanno96

gestyr

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bought a 12oz bottle at a local shop.

A: Pours a deep garnet/ almost puple into the glass. The head is thin and fades quickly.

S: Fruity. Nothing but fruit.

T: Too heavy on the berries. Totally dominated by the berries. Nothing but berries.

M: Too thick and syrupy. Hard to drink

O: Not impressed. It did remind me on my high school days when we would take blackberry brandy with us on ski trips. I am not likely to buy again.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 23:09:03 | More by gestyr

hardy008

Minnesota

1.8/5  rDev -29.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Dark purple with a thin light purple fizzy head which fades quickly leaving a spotty lace. Smells like artificial blackberries, and is overly sweet.

Tastes like overly sweet fake blackberries. There is no bitterness for balance. Has a bit of a cough syrup taste. What were they thinking?

Syrupy with low carbonation and not worth trying again. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 02:51:21 | More by hardy008

darkstar12

Maryland

2.43/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: dark red wine color, single-finger head that lasts quite a while. some lacing.
S: mild fruitiness, but not overwhelming
T: Very disappointing - reminded me of an overly sweet cough syrup. A far cry from a good Belgian lambic.
M: Thick, syrupy, some fizziness from the carbonation
O: I love fruit beers and love blackberries, but won't be having this one again - just too sweet and syrupy. Ended up pouring 2/3 of it down the drain.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 23:34:58 | More by darkstar12

Cyberkedi

Georgia

2.4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear dark brown with a thick, though not persistent, tan head. Blackberry dominates the aroma - and I love blackberries, but it doesn’t really smell like a beer. Flavor is pleasant, sweet and fruity - but not really like a beer. Might as well be fruit juice - doesn’t quite taste like wine or cider, either. Texture is smooth and fizzy, but body leaves something to be desired. I don’t believe I’ll be looking for its "sister" beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 02:02:48 | More by Cyberkedi

tdm168

North Carolina

3/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - dark purple with a thin, fizzy layer of purple head that fades quickly

S - blackberries

T - sweet, tart blackberries

M - medium bodied, crisp

This is definitely more juice than beer. For those who like blackberries this might be a good offering, but for a fan of beer this is a miss.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 04:58:11 | More by tdm168

WVbeergeek

Ohio

1.85/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

This one pours like a deep dark glass of grape juice ruby tinted light comes through, head is a purple tinted color with fine lacing that becomes speckled as it sits for a bit. Aroma has tart vinous berry notes, I can't tell you it's blackberry from any other berry infused product out there. However, the flavor is horrible literally soaked with alcohol and tart/sweet gag inducing foulness. This beer is not what I want in any terms of the word beer, it lacks anything refreshing. Another four loko wannabe, 8 percent alcohol by volume just doesn't do it for me. When the only flavors I can give you are watery berry, alcohol, and carbonation. Okay it's straight cough syrup in a bottle burns with alcohol and generic berry fruit. Carbonation and mouthfeel is a bit rougher in this one. I will officially never drink any beer from this series again.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 17:31:10 | More by WVbeergeek

CloudStrife

New York

2.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours the same color as a blackberry juice Minimal head that quickly disappears. Some visible carbonation.

S: Very strong berry aroma, real sweet. Smells good but very sweet. Fairly one dimensional. Where are the malts and hops?

T: Not as much berry in the taste as there is in the smell. Can pull some malts through but thats about it. Only plus is the alcohol is well hidden.

M: Seems a little flat on the tongue, a little syrupy.

Overall the smell is the best part of this beer. Really needs something else other than berry to round it out. The lack of carbonation distances it from any lambic I've tasted.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 01:41:51 | More by CloudStrife

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Aroma: Blueberry and some blackberry. Slightly more bitter than sweet. Can smell from 18"-24" away.

Appearance: Very dark red. Looks very clear when held up to a very bright light.Head is pale red and is of moderate height. Decent retention and lots of lacing.

Taste: Sweet blueberry and grape, mildly bitter blackberry. Some light malts. A bit medicinal (their Red was better), but is good nonetheless.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body. Mild to moderate carbonation. Thin and oily.

Overall: Good, but not as good as their raspberry. A bit of cough medicine flavor.

Note: I did not know this was brewed by the almighty Anheuser-Busch at the time of the review.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 00:26:20 | More by soulfly1492

Darkmagus82

Montana

2.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a deep purple color with a purple tinged head. The head was quite persistent but slowly faded to give a light amount of lacing.

Smell – Quite sweet aroma of blackberries and blueberries are present here. They are slightly pie filling or syupy like sweet and artificial and but no unpleasant.

Taste – A huge sweetness overwhelms the tongue. It is blackberry and blueberry syrup just as the nose let on. These flavors are so strong nothing else can really be taste. It is like a carbonated blueberry soda with the tiniest bit of alcohol flavor.

Mouthfeel – An average to below average thickness and high level of carbonation Again very soda like.

Overall – This is not the brew for me. It’s really only has an intriguing look and nice sweet (albeit artificial) aroma. Unfortunately it is way too much like a wine cooler or a spiked berry soda. If you want something sweet this is for you if not stay away.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 00:21:40 | More by Darkmagus82

harrymel

Washington

1.93/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Bottled...whatever.

Pours a pretty dark purple with a solid light purple foam sheet. Smells like blackberry meat and a little grape juice with the lager underneath. Slightly sweet, but not overly so. Tastes like sugar free, blackberry jelly (not jam), lacks any of the tartness or astringency that comes along with a good, quality blackberry. Really, way too sweet, artificially so. Thin with lower carb than anticipated, which is nice. Overall the beer would be so much better if not for the profound, excessive and reprehensible use of sweeteners. That makes the beer horrid.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 05:20:29 | More by harrymel