Shiner Bock: Ipa Or Not?

Shiner Bock is a dark beer with a history that dates back to the 1400s in the German city of Einbeck. The beer was traditionally brewed by monks for celebrations like Christmas and Easter and served as a source of nutrition during fasting periods. By the 1600s, the beer was adopted by Bavarian brewers, and due to their accent, Einbeck sounded like ein bock. Over time, the beer became known simply as bock. Shiner Bock, specifically, is a famous beer known for its flavour profile, alcohol content, and intriguing history. It is brewed by the Spoetzl Brewery, founded in Shiner, Texas, in 1909, by Czech and German immigrants. While Shiner Bock is a dark beer, it is known for its surprisingly fresh taste, with a touch of roastiness, sweetness, and fruitiness, and a clean, refreshing finish. In addition to its classic bock, Shiner has also introduced a new IPA series, including the Tex Hex IPA, which features unique ingredients like cactus water.

Shiner bock is a dark beer

Although Shiner Bock is significantly darker in colour than other beers in its market segment, its body does not seem to match. It is malt-forward but lacks the sweetness and body of its namesake style. It has a wonderfully clean finish. Shiner Bock is a wonderful beer because it is relatively flavourful compared to most beers in its market segment. It is also below 5% ABV, making it a great session beer.

Shiner has also released a new IPA series called Shiner Tex Hex IPA, which includes Bruja's Brew, Desert Mirage Hazy IPA, Twin Dream Double IPA, and Wicked Haze Double Hazy IPA. These beers are brewed with cactus water and rare Amarillo hops, delivering a medley of flavours from tangerine and pineapple to citrus and stone fruit.

It's sweet and fruity with a refreshing finish

Shiner Bock is a sweet, fruity beer with a refreshing finish. While it is not an IPA, the iconic Texas beer has a loyal fan base and is considered a wonderful American classic.

Shiner Bock is an American-style dark lager, originally brewed as a seasonal beer for Lent. It is brewed with rich roasted barley malt and German specialty hops, and has a distinctive aroma and flavour. The beer is clear, with a copper to amber colour, and a dense tan head.

The aroma is notably sweet and sugary, without the maltiness usually associated with such sweetness. This is due to the corn used in the recipe. The taste is equally sweet, with very little bitterness or depth from hops. The mouthfeel is thin, and the beer is highly effervescent, with a slight sting from carbonation.

Despite the sweetness, Shiner Bock is a refreshing beer with a clean finish. It pairs well with Mexican cuisine or seafood, including sushi. Its relatively low ABV of 4.4% also makes it a great session beer.

Shiner Tex Hex IPA is a new series of IPAs

Tex Hex Bruja's Brew is a unique, mystical IPA brewed with cactus water and Amarillo hops, celebrating the brand's Texas roots. The beer delivers a strong hops-forward aroma and flavour profile, featuring a mix of bright, citrusy, resinous, and tropical notes, including tangerine, pineapple, and stone fruit. With an ABV of 7%, this IPA has a slight haze, reminiscent of an unfiltered IPA, and is sold in 6- and 12-pack cans.

The character of "La Bruja", a dark, mysterious shaman who roams the Texas desert in search of ingredients for her magical creations, is featured on the cans and packaging of Tex Hex IPA. This character adds a layer of intrigue and storytelling to the beer, capturing the imagination of IPA drinkers.

The launch of Shiner Tex Hex IPA marks the brand's return to the IPA category, and with its Southwestern ingredients and distinct flavour profile, it promises to be a groundbreaking addition. The brewery plans to follow up with two more IPAs under the Tex Hex umbrella, building on the success of their initial release.

The Spoetzl Brewery, founded in 1909 by Bavarian-born Kosmos Spoetzel, has a long history of brewing excellence in Shiner, Texas. Shiner Bock, their famous dark beer, is known for its sweet and fruity flavour, with a refreshing finish. With the introduction of the Shiner Tex Hex IPA series, the brewery expands its offerings, showcasing their ability to innovate while staying true to their roots.

Tex Hex Bruja's Brew IPA is brewed with cactus water

Shiner Bock is a lager, not an IPA. However, the makers of Shiner Bock, the Spoetzl Brewery, have recently expanded their IPA offerings with the addition of the Tex Hex IPA series. The first beer in this series is the Tex Hex Brujas Brew IPA, which is brewed with cactus water.

Tex Hex Brujas Brew IPA is a unique beer that combines cactus water with Amarillo hops to create a medley of flavours, including tangerine, pineapple, citrus, and stone fruit. The beer has a bright, fruity finish with notes of minerality and cactus blossom. Cactus water is derived from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus and is said to have health benefits, although these cannot be claimed by Shiner due to the alcoholic nature of the beverage.

The Tex Hex Brujas Brew IPA was launched in January 2022 and is the first of three new IPAs to be released under the Tex Hex umbrella. The beer has a hops-forward aroma and flavour that is a mix of bright, citrusy, resinous, and tropical notes. The use of Amarillo hops gives the beer a sweet citrus aroma and flavour, with the addition of cactus water providing a unique twist.

The Tex Hex Brujas Brew IPA is named after "La Bruja", a dark, mysterious shaman who roams the Texas desert gathering ingredients for her otherworldly creations. The character of La Bruja is prominently featured on the cans and packaging of the beer. The beer is described as being "forged with fire, magic, and sin" and is said to be only for the worthy, those "called by the wind".

The Tex Hex IPA series is a response to fan demands for more IPAs from the Spoetzl Brewery, with the Brujas Brew IPA being the first of three new IPAs to be released in 2022. The beer has a 7% ABV and is available in 6- and 12-pack cans, with additional formats planned for the future.

Shiner bock is a famous beer with a fascinating history

In search of a trained brewmaster, the SBA found Bavarian-born Kosmos Spoetzl, a former soldier who had trained as a brewmaster in Germany. Spoetzl brought with him a family recipe for a Bavarian beer made from malted barley and hops. In 1914, he co-leased the brewery with Oswald Petzold, with an option to buy in 1915, which he did, renaming it the Spoetzl Brewery. Shiner Bock was introduced in 1913, and it has been brewed almost as long as the brewery has been in business.

During Prohibition, Spoetzl kept the brewery afloat by selling ice and making near beer. He was even accused of bootlegging and served some time. After Prohibition, Spoetzl kept things small and simple, never venturing more than 100 miles for business. In the 1970s and 1980s, the brewery's Shiner Premium Beer and Shiner Bock accounted for less than 1% of the Texas beer market. However, sales improved after Carlos Alvarez of San Antonio acquired the brewery in 1989, and production has grown significantly since then.

Shiner Bock has become a well-known beer, distributed throughout the United States. It has a loyal fan base and has received numerous awards, including golds at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival and European Beer Star. It has a unique taste and aroma, with a sweet and sugary flavour and a thin mouthfeel. While it may not appeal to every beer drinker, it is a fantastic choice for those seeking a nationally distributed alternative to America's big beer companies and who want to avoid the bitterness found in many craft bock brews.

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