Shiner 98

I'm going to try a YouTube insert here...

That's the story on Shiner 98 from the Spoetzel brewery in Shiner, Texas; you'll find it an unusually fact-filled bit of marketing, even giving specific malt and hop information. I got some samples of this a few weeks ago, and we've been enjoying it -- slowly, because we aren't sure where we can get more! Shiner 98 is the third in a series of five beers leading up to the brewery's 100th anniversary in 2009. Shiner 96 was a Märzenish lager, Shiner 97 was a damned nice schwarzbier.

Shiner 98 is a "Bavarian Amber Lager." What's that? I asked, and was told that it was a helles, but they just decided to make it darker. More of that vaunted American innovation, I guess... The malt comes through big and clear -- this is a decocted beer, with a full 20% share of Munich malt in the mashbill -- and although it's supposed to have 30 IBU, the hops are unobtrusive, German-style. Mmmm, full and delicious, and it's very good with food, sausages and stuff. I'm going to finish off my samples tomorrow at our 4th of July picnic. And then... I think maybe a trip to Delaware is in order. I saw Shiner 97 there last year; might get lucky.