Shiner is a small Texas city located between Houston and San Antonio. Only a few thousand residents call Shiner their home, but the city is still high on the beer drinker’s radar thanks to the presence of the Spoetzl Brewery, makers of Shiner Bock and other beer products. The company has been known to deliver a few decent products from time to time and one of them is Shiner 102 Double Wheat, an anniversary brew.
Beer Bio:
Style: American Wheat Ale
Calories: 184 per 12 oz. serving
Carbs: 14 grams per 12 oz. serving
Alcohol Content: 6.2 percent by volume
Shiner 102 Double Wheat pours to a golden straw color and if poured agressively, it does manage to display a good deal of foam, which falls apart rather quickly. The body of this beer is completely clear and the beer offers an aroma that combines sweet grain and cardboard. Flavors present include wheat, corn, a touch of honey, some light citrus, etc., with a slightly medicinal finish. The beer finishes with a dab of grassy hops before turning back to the flavor of citrus in the aftertaste. Shiner brews this beer using Brundage wheat, Saaz hops, and Goldings hops.
Spoetzl Brewing continues to make a name for itself as a small- town brewing operation gone national. Most everyone is at least familiar with Shiner Bock, the company’s flagship brand, and Shiner continues to introduce new beer products each year to appeal to the tastes of an increasingly discerning American palate. Shiner 102 Double Wheat is one such product. It is different from other Shiner products with a higher alcohol content and slightly more overall flavor.
Initially, Shiner 102 Double Wheat isn’t very impressive. The beer’s aroma has a certain cardboard- like quality, which is common with lower quality products. The foam falls apart quickly and I wasn’t sure this product would meet my minimum standards when I sampled for the first time. And while my taste experience wasn’t anything incredible, I can’t say that Shiner 102 Double Wheat is a bad product, either. It is certainly stronger than other Shiner brews and it does offer some interesting complexity, with flavors of citrus and honey. But on the other hand, the flavor is very ordinary and a bit of a letdown, especially when you consider the name, “Double Wheat.” My expectations reach a new level when I read the word “double” on a beer label, but Shiner 102 Doube Wheat doesn’t live up to that standard.
Shiner makes some okay products and Shiner 102 Double Wheat is one of them. It is a moderately interesting brew and I like the fact that this beer doesn’t have the watery finish common to other Shiner products. Oh sure, it would be nice if this beer offered more wheat character, but Shiner 102 Double Wheat continues to grow on me with each bottle I open. It could stand to be improved, but it has enough good points to award it with a small recommendation.
Rating: 5 Cheers out of 10
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