How's this for my first beer tasting blog of the new year. A post to celebrate Texas's own Shiner and their 100th anniversary. Since 2005 Shiner has been releasing a beer leading up to 2009 and their hundredth anniversary. Shiner 96 was a Marzen, 97 was a black lager that was so good it became a regular part of their line up. 98 was a bit of step back in my opinion with a Bavarian Amber, and 99 was a pretty solid Helles. So what was 100? Well if you know German beer and you've noticed the name in the title its a Dopplebock which is appropriate since Shiner's flagship brew is a Bock. As excited as I am that Shiner put out a dopplebock to celebrate this special year, the question remains, how does it taste? Fear not, I'm hear to help answer that question.
The Beer: The beer pours a rich mahogany with a thin taupe colored head. The nose is malty, rich with raisins, and bready notes. The mouthfeel starts full with rich dark fruits, figs, raisins, and dark rye bread, nicely sweet, and easy drinking. Sometimes easy drinking can be a good thing, but in this case it's almost a negative. Its a good beer don't get me wrong, and up front there is some good flavors there, but it seems very 2 dimensional...meaning there's no depth to the flavor. It hits you and then disappears lost forever. A good beer, but not a great one. I'd pick up more, and I'll seek it out on draft to see how it compares. Its not a miss, but it's not a homerun either. Call it a standup double. This one gets a B- from me.
8 comments:
Just curious -- where did you find it?
I found it at my local Spec's down in Clear Lake on Bay Area Blvd.
I picked up a 6 pack last night. Had a party for the game, and opened Salvator and SA Double Bock to compare (I bought 9 cases of SA Double Bock a year ago - stored in a cool, dry place!). No contest. I wrote Shiner and told them this beer was, at best, a bocknahalf. As noted above, no depth. More like a heavy version of their regular Bock. I was SO looking forward to this beer...
Anon,
I like the comparison. It is a bock and a half. I agree its a shame because I had high hopes for this one.
I agree with Anon. Shiner 100 is what everyday Shiner Bock should be.
I think this is the old Shiner Bock. It's a lightly hopped, malty, semi-sweet, doppelbock.
Although the company will not admit it, Shiner Bock changed about 10 years ago. To me, and several others I know, Shiner Bock tastes watered down, and less full bodied that it did in the early to mid nineties.
I like Shiner 100 and hope that it stays around.
It taste great to me.
Finally, a Shiner product that doesn't taste reminiscent of equine urine. I bought my second 6-pack today. This is a pretty good beer, but I agree that the finish is lacking. Perhaps more hops would've helped.
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