Shiner Bock is the flagship beer of the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX.  This is an older recipe (originally brewed in 1913) and has a nice dark amber color very similar to a black tea, with a thin light (almost white) head.  Shiner Bock has a very malty smell almost like a lager or pilsner, with hints of caramel behind.  As for taste Shiner Bock starts clean and fresh on the palate and more surprisingly a little on the thin side (at least thinner than most other Bocks I’ve had) and ends with an earthy or charcoal like bitterness reminiscent of a stout, but again on the thin side. This is different from most bocks I’ve had which usually have a nutty or oak like flavor, Shiner Bock on the other hand has a malty clean flavor with a more noticeable bitter ending.  If you are looking for a beer to start venturing away from lagers this wouldn’t be a bad choice.  With a crisp clean start and a slightly bitter finish I think this might be a decent entry level bitter beer, as it’s not as bitter as most pale ales, but definitely more bitter than the traditional lager or light beer. In terms of comparison it’s almost a Labatt Blue start with a bitter nut ale finish, like Newcastle or Moose Drool.

Brewery: Spoetzl Berwery - Shiner, TX

Malty —-|——— Bitter

Light  ——|——- Dark

ABV: 4.4%
-Mike Fournier

Sam Adams Black Lager is a Schwarzbier or literally translated  ”black beer.” Now the best way to describe this beer is as a cross between a bock and a stout, and the color to match. Specifically for color I had a bit of a deja vous pouring this beer, because I had some Pepsi in a pint glass the night before (don’t ask) and this beer is the same color as a cola the most significant visual difference being the head which is much thicker.  Black Lager has a really nice chocolate/coffee flavor from the malts used and unlike a lot of other modern plays on older beer styles this is fairly lightly hopped.  The malty/dark beer of note tends to be Porter, which can get kinda sweet (depending on the brew).  Sam’s Black Lager on the other hand while being low on bitterness is not all that sweet and has a nice earthy bread like flavor to it.  It drinks pretty smooth and will for a lot of people, in part because it is not quite as dark as a normal stout, and it’s low bitterness gives it a smoothness usually reserved for lagers.  The best comparisons for this beer are probably stouts, if you like them but are looking for something a little less heavy, or if you like bocks and not too bitter nut ales this is probably right up your alley.  It’s got a whole lot of flavor, is not all that bitter and drinks nice and smooth.

Brewery: Boston Beer Company - Boston, MA

Malty —|———- Bitter

Light ————|- Dark

ABV: 4.9%

-Mike Fournier