Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Goodbye Shiner Dunkelweizen, Hello Holiday Cheer

Breaking news from Spoetzl Brewery: Continuing the line-up changes to their seasonal offerings, Shiner Dunkelweizen will be going the way of the dinosaur. Too bad — I'll miss that cool label with the bats emerging from beneath the Ann Richards (formerly Congress Avenue) Bridge.

However, the replacement sounds interesting. From Spoetzl's PR man:
Shiner will be releasing a new winter seasonal in November. It’s a dunkelwizen, but with a twist. They’ve added a hint of peach and pecan flavors. Between the dunkelweizen style and the Texas pecans and peaches (from Stonewall), this beer recognizes both the German heritage and Texas roots of the Spoetzl Brewery. The current version of Shiner Dunkelweizen will not be offered this season.

It’s called Holiday Cheer and will be available November through January. It has an ABV of 5.43% and the IBU = 22.

13 comments:

hiikeeba said...

I'm sad and I'm happy. I liked the dunkel, but am interested in the new beer.

Thanks for the breaking news.

assurbanipaul said...

Sounds yummy, but a particularly odd decision to replace the dunkelweizen. That just won a silver at the World Beer Cup.

Lee said...

Yeah, but was it winning silver at the cash register? Ultimately, that's what's gonna keep a beer on the shelves.

Anonymous said...

Too bad they couldn't keep both around. Dunkel was a good beer, but I guess the sales weren't that hot. Perhaps they'll bring it back every other winter or something. I also missed Koelsh this summer. :(

Lee said...

War Horse: This is what happened to Kolsch (scroll down the page until you get to it)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info Lee. Good lord, that's horrible! I was glad to see Shiner try to get into the 99 calorie market, but if they dropped Kolsch to do it, then that's just crazy.

Anonymous said...

Holiday Cheer is out! I picked up a case from Central Market this evening and almost half is gone already. Pretty decent stuff, the peach & pecan thing had me worried.

Anonymous said...

we tasted it this past weekend from a shiner rep at czhilispiel (chili cookoff in flatonia (about 20 miles north of shiner) pretty tasty!

Anonymous said...

I tried it last night.. very subtle with the peaches and pecans. They better make lots of it, because I'm stocking up... big time.

Big Mike said...

Wow, I picked up some without having an idea that it was a peach/pecan dunkel. I have to say it surprised me with the very first taste. Fruity not sweet and kind of a pine aftertaste.
It wasn't what I was expecting, and it kind of grew on me. I didn't hate it, but there are others I like much better.

Unknown said...

Could someone tell me if Shiner beers are lagers? Shiner is my husband's favorite and I'm trying to make a no-knead bread that calls specifically for 3 oz lager beer. It would be best if I could use a beer that he can finish. We have Cheer and Shiner blonde. Thanks

Lee said...

Carla: It depends on the beer – some are ales, some are lagers. But Blonde is a lager.

Unknown said...

Thanks! I'll swipe one his blondes. That didn't sound too good but you know what I mean ;-)