I love when I have a conversation one day, and then a couple days later that conversation’s topic jumps up again elsewhere.

Monday night, I was talking about how Shiner has been doing a yearly brew for the last several years. Specifically:

• Shiner 96 — Märzen/Oktoberfest
• Shiner 97 — Bohemian Black Lager
• Shiner 98 — Bavarian Style Amber
• Shiner 99 — Munich Style Helles Lager
• Shiner 100 Commemorator — Starkbier
• Shiner 101 — Czech-style Pilsner
• Shiner 102 — American Style Double Wheat Ale
• Shiner 103 — Wild Hare Pale Ale

I mentioned they had to be on 104, but I had no idea what it was. Then two days later it appears on my Facebook feed. Shiner White Wing. Then today, I snagged myself a six pack of it. Serious. Joy.

 

Now, anyone familiar with my beer preferences knows I call myself a “wheat beer girl,” so when I found out 104 was a Belgian-style wheat ale I might have squealed. Out loud. In fact, no might to it… I did.

That cloudy, golden color. That bright white head. I’ll take that over any other beer ANY day.

If you’re looking for the next Blue Moon,  you’re not looking in the right place. Personally, I compare it more to the classic Hoegaarden and I can’t wait to try my next glass with a squeeze of lemon. It’s more about the wheat than it is the orange and coriander, so it ends very dry on the palette.

Hoegaarden was my first favorite witbier, and I regret having strayed from it over the last five years. I’ve become a big fan of Shocktop, even over Blue Moon, because its much more fruity of a flavor. But when I took my first drink of Shiner’s White Wing, I was slammed back in my memory of my first favorite. I love me a fruity beer (see Abita Strawberry Harvest) but sometimes… sometimes you gotta go back to the flavors of the standards that have stood the test of time.  I’d expect nothing less from oldest independent brewery in Texas than to bring to my taste buds a classic witbier flavoring. And boy did they deliver! Love it!