Cheers!

Normally I will try to refrain from committing an entire post to a drink, especially one that comes in a bottle, but this is an exception. At a recent restaurant (will post on that later- still digesting 2 weeks later), Matt and I were told to try the new Shiner special release, Shiner Cheer. Mattie and I are always game for a Shiner, I do not think we have found a Shiner we don't like. Disappointed as I might be that I can find this release and not Dunkelweissen, I thought I would give it a whirl. We found the six pack in festive red and green packaging with promises of Texas peaches and roasted pecans. Matt and I really like Pyramid Apricot Weissen so the hints at peach flavor did not scare us off because often those flavors are more of an essence or breathy afterthought from your sip (or glug) of beer. We took the six pack home, placed them in the fridge and waited for dinner to try. When the designated hour came we took our beer upstairs (to watch Mongol-great movie by the way) and tasted what was promised to be a good brew. As we put the cold bottle to our lips, angels must have began singing. It at least tasted that good on our palates. The essence of peach was there and while Matt swears there is no pecan, I think it lends an extra toastiness to the drink (and I am reverently apologetic that I have to refer to this sweet and toasty nectar as a mere drink). It has an appropriate balance of wheat and toasted ale flavors much like the before mentioned Dunkelweissen. The initial flavor is more of a hoppy, toasty flavor, but mellows into the light, wheat flavor. Additionally, the peach essence is there without being inappropriately sweet and not overpoweringly pretentious at all. It is easily drinkable with a wide variety of foods (we have had mac and cheese, pizza, and burgers so far with plans to make beef pot roast- with the beer in the crock pot next week). If you like beer, and I do not necessarily qualify Bud anything as a beer (more along the lines of calorie laden water- it has it's purposes, but not when you want something to actually complement your meal), please go buy a 6 pack or case or whatever of Shiner Cheer. If you live outside of Texas, sorry, Mattie and I will drink your six pack for you.