Shiner Bohemian Black Lager
Spoetzl Brewery

Shiner Bohemian Black LagerShiner Bohemian Black Lager
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From:
Spoetzl Brewery
 
Texas, United States
Style:
Czech Dark Lager
Ranked #69
ABV:
4.9%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,776
Avg:
3.45 | pDev: 15.07%
Reviews:
564
Ratings:
1,559
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 04, 2024
Added:
Sep 02, 2006
Wants:
  25
Gots:
  272
Germans call it a schwarzbier (black beer), but Shiner fans know this one as Shiner 97. Unusually smooth for a dark beer, our Bohemian black lager is brewed with roasted malts and Czech Saaz and Styrian hops. All else pales in comparison.
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by generallee:
Photo of generallee
Reviewed by generallee from Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a Pilsener glass. The label has a brief description of the beer but no ABV or freshness date.

Appearance: Its body has a dark almost black color with deep crimson highlights. On top sits a tall creamy light tan head which is long lasting and keeps a small covering to the last sip. Along the way down the glass it makes nice lacing.

Smell: It has a dark roasted and toasted maltiness as well as some sweet candy like notes as well.

Taste/Palate: The flavor is right on with a nice mix of dark roasted maltiness and hop bitterness. There are notes of dark or burnt toast, dark roasted coffee with an underlined sweetness like dark caramel and a slight hint of cherry chough drop. Hops are light but do offer some mellow bitterness. The finish is a little roasty with pleasant bitterness. Its palate feels smooth and mildly carbonated.

Notes: This is a solid example of the style. It's dark and tasty yet supper easy to drink.
Sep 27, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.52 by Monkeyknife from Missouri

Mar 04, 2024
Photo of nburl92
Rated by nburl92

3.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Not bad, but honestly, a bit too crisp and tame for a black lager. Expecting a bit more maltiness and flavor from Shiner beers.
Mar 01, 2024
 
Rated: 3 by wac9 from Pennsylvania

Nov 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by jewellrunner from Missouri

Nov 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.65 by Whyteboar from Michigan

May 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.67 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Apr 28, 2023
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

3.61/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3/29/23 On tap The Original Mexican Restaurant & Bar, San Antonio River Walk.

Aroma is metallic, some roasted. Bright. Faint molasses.

Taste... Simple. Some licorice, some roastiness.... Not much else, but it's enjoyable for what it is; especially with the DW sitting on the river in San Antonio!
Mar 29, 2023
Photo of JZH1000
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado

3.49/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle best by April 9th 2023

On the (hard) pour 2 fingers of, at first fizzy, khaki head formed. After a short wait the head began looking more fine and smooth, but retention isn't fantastic. Despite that after a few minutes a decent creamy covering sits atop the beer. Body is very dark and almost black until held up to light. Dark brownish red.

Aroma is quite acidic, likely from some of the dark malt mixing with meh lager character. Still quite smooth, but the yeast wasn't the happiest.

Taste is fine. Very drinkable and a light roast, but overall flavor is very light. No adjunct flavor, just too light. The flavor itself is quite clean if not a bit too lager-y.

Feel is actually really good. Full bodied but refreshing with a crispness and easy drinking. Carbonation is medium to high, but the full bodied start switches to a medium finish that quickly dries.

Overall this isn't amazing, but it isn't bad. If someone gave me this for free I would be very happy, but a 6er cost 9 bucks, which isn't quite cheap. I'm still not convinced Spoetzl is actually craft.
Feb 01, 2023
Photo of Mardinae
Reviewed by Mardinae from Texas

3.36/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Refreshing, but about what I would expect from a lager. Tastes like a better version of Negra Modelo. At first the drink is malty but the roasted taste comes a little bit after and in a way that complements the light character of the beer.
Dec 14, 2022
Photo of mrpoizun
Reviewed by mrpoizun from South Dakota

4.55/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
This is an excellent example of a black lager. A little bit of coffee, black licorice, and malt flavor..... It's the king of the Shiner line. Not heavy and very drinkable. I just wish it was as widely available as their very overrated Bock.
Oct 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.25 by sglooney316 from Texas

May 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.02 by SteveTheDog from Texas

Jul 07, 2021
Photo of TwilightBeerCareer
Reviewed by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

2.29/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Pours a reddish black with a quickly dissipating head, leaves no lacing. Smell is that of weak coffee. Taste follows the nose, which isn't much. Weak coffee, weak roast, and a mineral like quality. Hops are nearly nonexistent. Watery and flat is an understatement. Maybe an old bottle, no date code to be found. Glad I only purchased a single.
Mar 30, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by Jonnybgood from Massachusetts

Feb 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.25 by Chipwells from Georgia

Feb 05, 2021
Photo of TedHead
Reviewed by TedHead from Illinois

3.47/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a very pretty brownish black that has hints of red to it when you hold it up to some light. It smells like darker pumpernickel bread with very subtle hints of coffee and chocolate. The taste has that same dark bread start with a very mild coffee like bitter finish. It goes down smoothly but has a surprisingly thin mouth feel. Overall a very easy to drink dark beer and pretty decent.
Dec 01, 2020
 
Rated: 3.62 by BlueSpader from Washington

Sep 30, 2020
 
Rated: 3.55 by dubnation from Kansas

Sep 15, 2020
 
Rated: 3.71 by TonyStarks2231 from New York

Aug 21, 2020
Shiner Bohemian Black Lager from Spoetzl Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 1559 ratings