Shiner 97

[VirtualBob]

For Austinites ... Whole Foods on Lamar has scads of the new Bohemian Black Lager reissue of 97.

Note:  That is a counting stat for those scoring at home.

[JimR]

For Austinites ... Whole Foods on Lamar has scads of the new Bohemian Black Lager reissue of 97.

Note:  That is a counting stat for those scoring at home.

i think it will be in lots of places by this weekend.

[remy]

As of last night it still wasn't at Specs at Brodie and  Ben White.

[SaltyParker]

As of last night it still wasn't at Specs at Brodie and  Ben White.

Brodie doesn't intersect Ben White

[remy]

Brodie doesn't intersect Ben White

290, whatever the hell it's called. You know where I'm talking about.

[Frobie]

I was just driving by the little Spec's on Holcombe close to the Medical Center and figured I'd stop and check.  No luck, so I picked up some Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale for tonight.  I told the cashier that I don't usally stop and buy beer before noon, but she just looked at me funny.

Some good news is that while browsing at Spec's I stumbled upon another schwarzbier that I'd never seen or heard of before, something called Ugly Pug Black Lager by Rahr & Sons in Fort Worth (never heard of the brewery, either--anyone know anything about them?).  That makes at least 5 schwarzbiers that I know about that are available in Houston: Shiner, Kostritzer, Sam Adams, Xingu, and Ugly Pug.  I wonder if there are others.  If/when I am able to find the Shiner I think I'm going to do a side-by-side tasting.  Of course, I'll have to buy 30 beers to do it... but I'll find some way to get rid of them.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I was just driving by the little Spec's on Holcombe close to the Medical Center and figured I'd stop and check.  No luck, so I picked up some Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale for tonight.  I told the cashier that I don't usally stop and buy beer before noon, but she just looked at me funny.

Good pickup.  I had the Celebration for the first time this year at the Saucer on Monday.  It's got a lot more hops than your average winter beer, but it is from Sierra Nevada for a reason.  Hope you enjoy it!

[Duke]

Good pickup.  I had the Celebration for the first time this year at the Saucer on Monday.  It's got a lot more hops than your average winter beer, but it is from Sierra Nevada for a reason.  Hope you enjoy it!

Speaking of Winter beer, ever drink Anchor Christmas beer?  I had some at the Admirals club in San Jose on my way to Asia last year.  Fabulous!

[Gizzmonic]

My accountant buddy is telling me that the price of beer will rise 10% in the next year due to a hop shortage brought on by the ethanol craze (farmers now growing corn instead of hops) as well as a rise in the price of aluminum.  Anyone else heard that?

For Austinites ... Whole Foods on Lamar has scads of the new Bohemian Black Lager reissue of 97.

Note:  That is a counting stat for those scoring at home.

[Limey]

My accountant buddy is telling me that the price of beer will rise 10% in the next year due to a hop shortage brought on by the ethanol craze (farmers now growing corn instead of hops) as well as a rise in the price of aluminum.  Anyone else heard that?

Nope.  Never.

[Bench]

I was just driving by the little Spec's on Holcombe close to the Medical Center and figured I'd stop and check.  No luck, so I picked up some Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale for tonight.  I told the cashier that I don't usally stop and buy beer before noon, but she just looked at me funny.

I just called the Spec's on Smith St. to see if it was in. The "specialty beer manager" Rudy said not yet, and wasn't sure when they would get it. "Whenever the distributor gets it to me," was the best I could get. Sigh.

[austro]

For Austinites ... Whole Foods on Lamar has scads of the new Bohemian Black Lager reissue of 97.

Note:  That is a counting stat for those scoring at home.

My dear wife picked up a couple six-packs for me yesterday at the 620/Anderson Mill HEB while she was grocery shopping. Seems odd that they would get it before Spec's, but there you go.

[Taras Bulba]

My dear wife picked up a couple six-packs for me yesterday at the 620/Anderson Mill HEB while she was grocery shopping. Seems odd that they would get it before Spec's, but there you go.

Howard E. Butt was a closet Shiner drinker and he always had a case sitting in Leon Creek.

[Andyzipp]

I just called the Spec's on Smith St. to see if it was in. The "specialty beer manager" Rudy said not yet, and wasn't sure when they would get it. "Whenever the distributor gets it to me," was the best I could get. Sigh.

Call Houston Distributing and ask when they're going to start delivering it...Or Faust Distributing if you're South/ East/ South East of Houston.

[JackAstro]

I'm sitting here drinking one right now, and life is good. Is it just me, or is it just a touch different this time around? Not different bad, just different.

[Frobie]

Good pickup.  I had the Celebration for the first time this year at the Saucer on Monday.  It's got a lot more hops than your average winter beer, but it is from Sierra Nevada for a reason.  Hope you enjoy it!

Dang, you weren't kidding.  I like it but it's just a tad over-the-top for me.  The smell reminded me a lot of Liberty Ale, one of my favorites, but this is a good bit more bitter in my estimation.  Still a nice change-of-pace, though I think I liked SN's Anniversary Ale a little better.

This is a dumb question, but does the new Shiner 97 have the same label as the old one did?

[JackAstro]

This is a dumb question, but does the new Shiner 97 have the same label as the old one did?

No. It's called Bohemian Black Lager, and it's a black label with silver type. There's a tiny 97 on top, but it's easy to miss.

[Frobie]

Still none at the big Spec's on Smith Street as of this morning.

[Bench]

Still none at the big Spec's on Smith Street as of this morning.

The beer manager told me he won't know anything until Tuesday.

[TheWizard]

Nice find..

[JimR]

Grapevine Market has it.

[HudsonHawk]

The beer manager told me he won't know anything until Tuesday.

The beer guy at the Specs at Louetta and Steuber Airline told me yesterday that they recieved it from the distributor last week but had to send it back because they weren't set up in their computers to sell it and they couldn't keep what they couldn't sell.  He said check back next week.

[MusicMan]

The beer guy at the Specs at Louetta and Steuber Airline told me yesterday that they recieved it from the distributor last week but had to send it back because they weren't set up in their computers to sell it and they couldn't keep what they couldn't sell.  He said check back next week.

I knew I didn't like that Spec's.

[Ty in Tampa]

The beer guy at the Specs at Louetta and Steuber Airline told me yesterday that they recieved it from the distributor last week but had to send it back because they weren't set up in their computers to sell it and they couldn't keep what they couldn't sell.  He said check back next week.

That he even admitted that to you would be reason enough to not check back.

[hostros7]

The eagle has finally landed in Houston at Spec's on Smith.

You still have 33 minutes to ascertain the deliciousness this evening.

[T. J.]

Available on tap at the Sugar Land Berryhill's.  You'll have to wait for my review because I was already stuffed to the gills and two Dos Equis in before I noticed it.  Just FYI if you're in the area.

[Bench]

The eagle has finally landed in Houston at Spec's on Smith.

You still have 33 minutes to ascertain the deliciousness this evening.

Of course, this finally happens the weekend I have an early morning flight to Boston.

[EasTexAstro]

Copperfields on Kingwood Drive had two cases....

I said "HAD" two cases.

I didn't want to run out.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

I actually tried the Bohemian Black Lager recently.  I'm not a die hard lager fan but it was a nice afternoon beer.  Notice I said one.... I felt like I had eaten a multi-course meal after that single beer.  But definitely enjoyable. 

[JimR]

I actually tried the Bohemian Black Lager recently.  I'm not a die hard lager fan but it was a nice afternoon beer.  Notice I said one.... I felt like I had eaten a multi-course meal after that single beer.  But definitely enjoyable. 

wow, i did not think it was heavy at all. i was surprised by that, actually.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

wow, i did not think it was heavy at all. i was surprised by that, actually.

It may be the fact that I normally drink XX or Tecate. 

[Limey]

It may be the fact that I normally drink XX or Tecate. 

I haven't had any of the new batch, but I distinctly remember being surprised at how light '97 was.  Especially for having so much flavour.

[JimR]

I haven't had any of the new batch, but I distinctly remember being surprised at how light '97 was.  Especially for having so much flavour.

this batch is light, too. i did not have any of the original 97.

[Limey]

this batch is light, too. i did not have any of the original 97.

Blink, and you missed it.  They didn't make the same mistake with the '98: you can't go anywhere without tripping over that stuff!

[Frobie]

Success!!

I just found one six-pack at the little Spec's on Holcombe.  Also snagged some Xingu, Ugly Pug, and Asahi Black--which may or may not be a schwarzbier depending on where you look--for comparison purposes.

This weekend might be kind of fun.

[JackAstro]

Success!!

I just found one six-pack at the little Spec's on Holcombe.  Also snagged some Xingu, Ugly Pug, and Asahi Black--which may or may not be a schwarzbier depending on where you look--for comparison purposes.

This weekend might be kind of fun.

Good man. Report your findings while consuming. For science.

[Ty in Tampa]

Jealousy reigns.

[gleach]

EastTexAstro was nice enough to share with me, what a nice guy.

[VirtualBob]

It may be the fact that I normally drink XX or Tecate. 

Shut yo mouth!

[VirtualBob]

this batch is light, too. i did not have any of the original 97.

A good Bohemian black lager is "light" in terms of its "drinkability" ... It is neither a heavy, sweet bock nor a creamy stout ... just a full-flavored version of a smooth lager.  My new batch is waiting for me at home when I get back in the correct time-zone, but the original 97 was perfect in that regard.

[Amy]

I went to my local Kroger today and they had several six packs.  Good stuff!  I like it better than the 98.

[guitarcec]

HEB on Stuebner-Airline and Louetta had several of them. i picked up 2 six-packs and have had 2 already today while watching the Horns win. very good beer - great flavor, but doesn't feel like you're drinking a meal...i wish they made the '97 and '98 beers all the time - i'd only get regular Shiner when i go out.

[Frobie]

Good man. Report your findings while consuming. For science.

I wasn't wearing my lab coat when I did my tasting, so I hope my results are still valid.

The only black lager I've had that's better than Shiner's is Kostritzer.

Kostritzer
Shiner
Sam Adams
Asahi Black (though for $12 for a sixer, it should be awesome)
Xingu--the least lager-like of the schwarzbiers I've had; could almost pass as a porter
Ugly Pug--I actually got a bad (as in soured) six pack so I need to try it again

There's definitely something to be said for a "local" brewery making a decent and affordable version of this relatively obscure style.

As always, I think I need to do some more research.  For science!!

[JimR]

HEB on Stuebner-Airline and Louetta had several of them. i picked up 2 six-packs and have had 2 already today while watching the Horns win. very good beer - great flavor, but doesn't feel like you're drinking a meal...i wish they made the '97 and '98 beers all the time - i'd only get regular Shiner when i go out.

97 is now a permanent selection.