A couple months ago, my friend Betty, who splits her time between Oregon and Texas, sent me package with a mixed pack of Spoetzl/Shiner beers. I’ve already reviewed their Shiner Bock, Marzen Oktoberfest, and Bohemian Black Lager, so I was looking forward to trying a few more of their beers in the mixed pack.
The bottle says, “This copper colored, medium to full bodied Düsseldorf style. Alts features a balance of malt and hops. A long lasting, creamy head, and a dry, smooth finish. This smallbatch brew is our first brewer’s pride selection, and we hope you savor every sip.”
Location: Enjoyed the bottled beer, in a pilsner glass, at home in Bloomington, IL.
Numbers: 4.2% ABV, ~ 140 Calories
Appearance & Aroma: It’s clear, and copper brown in color, with plenty of carbonation. There’s a decent, very creamy, cream-colored head on it, which left some decent lacing on the glass as I drank the beer. It’s got a good, caramelly, and slightly bready, Oktoberfest-like aroma.
Taste & Feel: The body is light, with a little bit of creaminess in the mouth feel, and a tinge of carbonation upfront. There were some nice bready and caramel malt like flavors in the middle, complemented by the creaminess. It finished very clean and light with a hint of bitterness masked by the caramel malt flavor.
Food Pairing: I would definitely have this with a thick, juicy burger, because of the bready and caramel flavors, but it would also go nicely with wienerschnitzel or other heavy German dish as it would add to the flavorfulness, but would also help to wash it down.
Overall Impression: I found this be be very drinkable, even in this summer heat. However, I think I would enjoy this a whole lot more in the fall, as I really enjoyed the bready and caramel malt flavors. This one only comes a single beer at a time in the Shiner mixed six pack, so put this one in the fridge and save it for a nice October evening.
My Rating: 
Reader Ratings[five-star-rating]
