Balcones Texas Bock

I appreciate Balcones. I enjoy Shiner Bock. I consume both frequently... With that established, I was highly anticipating this collaboration. Balcones used the Shiner mashbill (minus hops), fermented it with Shiner’s special yeast, distilled it, and aged it in new oak for a minimum of 2 years. It's a straight malt whiskey. Besides the roasted barley malt, I'm unsure of the other mashbill components. On the nose, this whiskey has a deep, earthy quality. It resembles their single malt Mirador with added heartiness like their Pot Still Bourbon. The roasted barley note is prominent on the nose. I detect some dark dried fruits, like raisins, and a hint of spice. It reminds me of toasted raisin bread. I love it. The taste features allspice, some maple syrup sweetness, and more of that roasted barley. There's some barrel char and heat on the finish. About 30 minutes later... I'm still noticing maple syrup in the taste. Quite interesting... Overall: Even though it's the Shiner Bock mashbill, the Balcones character is definitely present. Try it and get a bottle soon before it sells out.... Cheers!

I am a significant admirer of all things Balcones, holding them in high regard on my bar. That said, my perspective is admittedly favorable. The aroma brings to mind Hudson's maple barrel, with a subtle undertone of banana nut bread. Its deep golden hue perfectly complements the Shiner label. While the mash bill shares similarities with the Shiner beer, the malt is as prominent as in Balcones' peated varieties. The palate is lighter than anticipated, with a shorter finish compared to, for example, Brimstone or even True Blue 100. Without a doubt, this is a highly intriguing product, and I'm eager to see if this beer mash collaboration continues. It offers more character than artificial wood aging methods.

This whiskey unmistakably tastes like Balcones and also distinctly like Shiner Bock - both of which I enjoy! The upfront aroma and taste are pure Balcones, transitioning to Shiner Bock in the finish. Don't expect a typical whiskey profile here, or you might be disappointed. However, if you anticipate something wonderfully unique, I believe you'll be very pleased!

I don't care for rating spirits on a numerical scale. I evaluate them based on 'was it a good purchase?' and then 'would I buy it again?'. This one is worth purchasing once. It's difficult to say if it resembles Shiner. It's not a great example from this distillery, but if you enjoy this producer, it's an interesting one to have for variety. I believe this one warrants a higher score...if that sort of thing were important to me.

Balcones is one of my preferred distilleries. The appearance is a lovely dark amber. On the nose: cherry, some charcoal, and licorice. Joyful to taste. It's definitely Balcones. The cherry is present, alongside some light coffee. There's a slight warmth afterward that lingers for a bit. I have great affection for Balcones and Texas.

I'm not typically a malt enthusiast, but this is seriously good! Abundant maple syrup on the nose and plentiful barley on the palate. The finish certainly has lingering notes of Shiner Bock. Many similarities to Brimstone and even some faint traces of True Blue. Overall, incredibly delicious. Extremely pleased.