Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

Yeah, info seems sparse. I'd say definitely don't expect Hoponius Union level hopping, but the level it's at -- especially nice and fresh like this bottle was -- worked right nicely.

 

Found a retailer with some Trumer and, since I haven't seen the new Shiner Pils, decided to grab an $8 six-pack. I point this out because it was one of the cheaper six-packs I've seen around here for some time. I only wish this retailer carried 12 packs.

Glad to be sampling this again after being absent from my larder for a while -- it's still very nice and just about the most perfect Pils to be found in the U.S. Herbal hoppiness and bready Pils malt in terrific concert. Crisp and easy drinking -- definitely need a good, new source for this.

 

Have seen some Summit Pilsner in cans at a local retailer for s little while now and decided to grab a six-pack tonight. No dating to be found, but cans are supposed to keep beer fresh, right? Hmm, not so much. Little winy in nose and flavor with some sourness and pretty thin hop character. Too bad, because I've always liked Summit beers and they're always hit or miss in availability around here. Like to (re)try the Pilsner in a fresher state.

 

How long a beer lasts in a can is a function of a number of variables. Principally how good the canning line is at mitigating air (oxygen) ingress during the canning process (i.e., what is the Total Packaged Oxygen (TPO) level at the time the can is sealed) and how was the beer stored temperature wise once the can left the brewery.

Even a well-produced canned beer (i.e., a low TPO value) can get easily damaged if exposed to hot storage temperatures. Anybody can run this experiment but placing some cans in the trunk of your car in the peak of summer for a couple of days. Compare those canned beers to others that were not abused.

And no beer lasts forever (canned or bottled).

Cheers!

 

Having really enjoyed their recent Birthday Beer 107 - Hoppy Pilsner, I picked up a super fresh Shiner's Family Reunion sixer, in which you get six different beers (really cool idea, btw). This one included Shiner Premium (an AAL), Shiner Kosmos Reserve (which, per the website, is an all-malt lager brewed with extra hops, although the IBU is only 18), Shiner Black Lager, Shiner Bock, Shiner Ruby Redbird, and a seasonal, which was Shiner's Bavarian-style Amber Lager (which, again per the site, is 30 ibu and includes roasted munich malt and German hops).

Anyway, broke into the Shiner Premium yesterday and sadly found it no better than your standard Bud/Miller/Coors. Watery, very little malt flavor, touch of sweetness, no hops, you get the idea. Ah well, you can't win 'em all. Looking forward to breaking into some of the others (and really thinking I need to circle back to my local to pick up a sixer of the Hoppy Pilsner).

 

I've given in and bought the Bock a couple times because I really want (wanted) to like it, but each time it's been horribly disappointing -- especially when compared with the specialties they've been producing. It's now forefront in my mind to remember how much I dislike it.

 

A few years ago I took a tour of Spoetzl (Shiner) brewery. During the tour the tour guide mentioned how much Shiner Bock they produce; If my memory is serving me right it is something like 75% of their production.

IMO Shiner Bock is the style of American Amber Adjunct Lager (AAAL). This is not a style that is in my top 10 of favorite styles but Shiner sure sells a lot of Shiner Bock so obviously there are lots of American beer consumers that like this sort of beer.

On a related topic AB produces their take on this beer style called ZiegenBock that is solely distributed/marketed in Texas.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29/2544/

Cheers!

 

Would you say it's comparable to Yuengling Lager?

I've taken a sip or two at bars to try Shiner Bock, but I've never had a full beer. I have no recollection of what it tasted it like to be honest. I don't remember it being terrible or memorable, that's about it.

 

Gave the Shiner Bavarian-style Amber Lager a go last night. Man, haven't had a blast of DMS like that in a while. I know you sometimes get a little of that with good, fresh lagers, but this was a bit too much for me, less nice mineralic notes than a bit stinky/suphury and light creamed corn. It finally settled down after like half an hour in the glass (at which point I was nearly done). Beyond that, just not enough good bready malt character for my palate. Sort of danced around it a little but ultimately unsuccessful. Although, come to think of it, I'm not sure I've actually had an amber lager from Germany before. All the ones I can think of are American - Eliot Ness, Sam Adams, etc. Is this even a common style in Germany (or, per Shiner, Bavaria)?

 

Spaten, Paulaner, or Hacker-Pschorr Amber Märzen? Even Weltenburger's Anno and Winter. Nevertheless, this doesn't sound like it's on par.

 

Hmmm, didn't think about Amber Marzens, though I suppose it's the same general idea, no? Maybe that helps to explain it, too, as I always preferred the wies'n versions. I suppose that most "amber"-colored lager that I really enjoyed that I can think of is HB's maibock, so...yeah.

 

Yes.

Cheers!

P.S. I would recommend that you try Genny Bock; that is my preferred American Amber Adjunct Lager.

 

Again, glad I could help!

You have great taste (but we already knew that ). Nice to hear the Rothaus held up, I've been avoiding purchasing it because I haven't seen a new lot in this area for awhile, the current lot I've seen around was bottled in mid-August.

I don't mean to pry, but does your brother have dirty glassware? Or was it simply one of those occasions in which you just enjoy your company and drink straight out of the bottle?

 

Matt,

I am a HUGE fan of Urban Chestnut Zwickel!!

You bring up an interesting discussion topic. Have any of the Germany folks tasted the Urban Chestnut beers brewed in Germany? If so, whazzup?

“Bürgerbräu Wolnzach, a small brewery located in the town of Wolnzach, Hallertau,..”

http://urbanchestnut.com/2015/01/09/urban-chestnut-to-open-small-brewery-in-hallertau-bavaria/

Cheers!

 

Toward the end of December I found a glut of different beers (had to travel out of state to do so) to stash away until my "beer fast" is over in February. I'm participating in Dry January for a myriad of reasons; not the least of which is being more healthy, but a palate recalibration is a solid benefit.

However, I have a hand-written review of HB's Winter Spezial that I plan to upload soon, along with a review of the new Shiner Birthday Beer: Hoppy Pilsner -- @breadwinner it's a keeper. Look for those soon, and I'll see you guys more frequently in a few weeks!

 

Glad you liked the Shiner, brother! We'll miss your contributions until Feb., but glad to know you finished out the year with some good brews

 

I look forward to the review, I couldn't find it in my area.

Good luck with Dry January. I couldn't do it with playoff football!

 

It's not so much the football as the variety of stash I collected:

• Goose Island Festivity Ale
• Sierra Nevada Celebration
• HB Helles
• HB Winter Spezial
• Shiner 107
• August Schell Pils

Not to mention that Goose Island is expected to release their new Pilsner sometime soon.

All waiting for February in a cool, dark place!