Shiner Wild Hare: A Valentine's Day Quickie

This reminded me today that I had not done my post on Wild Hare. The folks at McGarrah Jessee were kind enough to send me a few bottles to "review." The beer was good. An almost solid pale ale. Nice bitterness. Easy to drink. It was bit muddy maltwise. I want to try it on draught. Great packaging as always. A promising foray into ale-hood for Shiner.

Next an IPA? Imperial Stout?

Neighborhood BOCK Party with Shiner and Birds Barbershop

Remember the news of Shiner and Birds hooking up? They totally hooked up. In the press release they said:

Further invitation details will be included on a free koozie that will accompany all Shiner beers served at Birds Barbershops starting later this month.

Well, they were not lying. I stopped into Birds for a haircut this past Sunday. I was starting a new job on Tuesday and I needed to look sharp. This was my first time getting my mop cut at Birds. I must say, it is kind of awkward trying to enjoy a beer while someone is trying to cut your hair. There were wide gaps of time between sips. That koozie worked brilliantly though. And BAM, right there on the koozie it said I was invited to a Neighborhood BOCK Party!

WHEN: August 18, 7-11pm
WHERE: Birds on S. Congress, 1902 S. Congress Ave.

Cost? Who knows, I'm bringing my koozie as a ticket.

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies

Nice to see Real Ale popping up on the list this year. Congrats to Shiner and Saint Arnold (I think Saint Arnold was on last year's list) as well. Texas coming up. From the Brewers Association:

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies (Based on 2010 beer sales volume)

Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
2 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
3 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
4 Spoetzl Brewery* Shiner TX
5 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
6 Independent Brewers United (IBU)* Burlington VT
7 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY
8 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
9 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
10 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
11 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
12 Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co. Juneau AK
13 Long Trail Brewing Co. Bridgewater Corners VT
14 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
15 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
16 Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
17 Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
18 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
19 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
20 Summit Brewing Co. St. Paul MN
21 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
22 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
23 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
24 Kona Brewery LLC* Kailua-Kona HI
25 Rogue Ales Newport OR
26 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
27 Sweetwater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
28 Flying Dog Brewery Frederick MD
29 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
30 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
31 BJ’s Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. Huntington Beach CA
32 Stevens Point Brewery Co. Stevens Point WI
33 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
34 BridgePort Brewing Co.* Portland OR
35 Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants Louisville CO
36 Oskar Blues Brewery Longmont CO
37 Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue NY
38 Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe Eureka CA
39 Big Sky Brewing Co. Missoula MT
40 North Coast Brewing Co. Inc. Fort Bragg CA
41 Mac and Jack’s Brewery Redmond WA
42 The Saint Louis Brewery, Inc. Maplewood MO
43 Bear Republic Brewing Co. Cloverdale CA
44 Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego CA
45 Breckenridge Brewery Denver CO
46 Utah Brewers Cooperative Salt Lake City UT
47 Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants Chattanooga TN
48 Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Houston TX
49 Real Ale Brewing Co. Blanco TX
50 Ninkasi Brewing Co. Eugene OR

New Shiner: Ruby Redbird

Not my favorite Shiner label. Made with grapefruit juice.

I eat a grapefruit almost everyday at work, when they are available. I don't eat it until around 3, sometimes later. It is always my last piece of fruit for the day. First I break the skin with my teeth. Then I peel off the outer skin. If you've ever peeled a grapefruit you know that there is a second layer, a soft white fibrous skin most people tear off and discard. I do peel it off, but I eat it. It is very bitter. The bitter skin prepares me for the tart, sweet fruit. I eat the grapefruit pieces one by one. I try to only eat one per minute. THAT is how you eat a grapefruit.

Shiner on a tear

Wow, I hope the beers are as good as the labels (I liked the Dortmunder last year as Frost). Beernews.org's got all the info.

Shiner 96 Coming Back

Never had it, but I do love a Märzen!

Top 50 Craft Breweries For 2009

From the Brewers Association:

1. Boston Beer Co.; Boston MA
2. Sierra Nevada Brewing; Chico CA
3. New Belgium Brewing; Fort Collins CO
4. Spoetzl Brewery (Gambrinus); Spoetzl TX
5. Pyramid Breweries; Seattle WA 6. Deschutes Brewery; Bend OR
7. Matt Brewing; Utica NY
8. Magic Hat Brewing Company; Burlington VT
9. Boulevard Brewing; Kansas City MO
10. Harpoon Brewery; Boston, MA
....
48. Saint Arnold Brewing; Houston TX

H/T: Brookston

Shiner 101

I have not been drinking much beer of late (do to some dumb weight loss bet, which is almost over!), but I had some of these over the weekend. Decent, very drinkable. One I wish Shiner would turn into a year round beer.

More Shiner 101 Info, Sort of

He's talking about the beer, right? Who knows...

Stay clear of HEB on NYE

HEB was a madhouse tonight, but I saw and passed up (for now) these new beers:

I can't wait to try this one.

Thoughts on this one?

They had Red Hook's new spring ale. I don't think it is their regular Copperhook, the label said it was a Nut Brown ale. But I can't remember the specific name. Investigate that for me, will yah?

Shiner 101 - Czech Style Pilsner

More info at Texas Beer

And like I say with all new Shiner beers: Please be good. Please be good. Please be good. Please be good.

Shiner Frost

This could be interesting.

Shiner 100 Bottle Salute

Smoked

A fair bit of discussion (starting with Paul, who seemed to be start a conversation that seemed some were just waiting to happen) is going on over at BA about the smoke levels of Shiner Smokehaus. I know I sort of raved about it. Obviously the smoke level is weak. It's dumbed down for the bonehead mass audience, to quote George Costanza. I thought it was good, but remember, I always have very low expectations for Shiner. Some other thoughts:

Pint Log
Travis Poling
All Good Beer

Shiner Smokehaus - UPDATED

Has anyone tried it? I bought a sixpack yesterday. Yet to enjoy one. My mother in law had one. I asked her if it was "hammy" or like "bacon." "No, why?" was her response. To me, this did not bode well for Smokehaus. I am planning on having one with Schlotzsky's today. It BETTER be good.

**UPDATE: Now I can say I have a favorite Shiner beer. This one fits easily in that spot. Light smoke aroma and flavor works well with this beer. It is not nearly as smoky as Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier, but that was to be expected I guess. Super drinkable, refreshing. CLICHE WARNING: Perfect for a hot Texas summer day, bbq-ing of course. I was so impressed with this beer, I am going to go back to HEB to pick up the twelve pack (10.99).

Shiner v. Stone, not really

Anybody seen it. It should be here soon. If I could get on my damn facebook, I could post some pics of Smokehaus being bottled. As I have said before, I love a smoked beer. Speaking of smoke beers, I still have not seen this, maybe this fall.



I know, I know, Stone again. Well, I couldn't let it pass without mentioning this. I was at Whole Foods today during my lunch break trying to find sugar-free lollipops (a birthing thing, so I am told). And of course I could not go to Whole Foods without swinging through their "beer alley." What did my brown little eyes see, but Stone Imperial Russian Stout for around $6.50. Get you some!

Personally, I am more excited for the Shiner Smokehaus.

Smokey Smokerson

Please be good. Please be good. Please be good. Please be good.

A good mantra to repeat before trying any Shiner beer. I always want them to be good. I always want to like them. And on both acccounts I hardly ever do. But I feel like this one could be different (I say this everytime too). This is the one.

Shiner Smokehaus - June 1

Via TEXAS BEER:

Spoetzl finally announced the release of their newest beer, Shiner Smokehaus, via their Facebook page on Monday, May 4th. The Smokehaus will be a German helles style brewed with mesquite-smoked malt.

Shiner Smokehaus should be available as a summer seasonal in six-packs starting June 1st.

Interview: Shine On

Lee Nichols interviewed Mike Renfro, author of Shine On for the Austin Chronicle. He will have the uncut interview on I Love Beer next week.

Thirsty Thursday #18

Shiner 100 - Commemorator
by Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, TX
Style: Dopplebock
ABV: 6.7%

I got five left. Anyone wanna trade?

Shiner is 100! To celebrate their anniversary they’ve released this stark bier, or dopplebock. It looks good, smells ok, but the flavor just ain’t there. I say go ahead and try it. I mean come on 100 years, that is pretty cool. Just don’t expect it to touch Ayinger’s Celebrator.