Shiner 106 Birthday Beer – Spoetzl/Shiner Brewery

My friend Eric gave me a bottle of Shiner 106 Birthday Beer brewed by  Shiner Brewery . This is a beer that is chocolate stout that is brewed once a year.  So you will have to be on the look out for it. As you can see from the picture above, Birthday Beer looks wonderful in the glass.  It has a black body color that is contrasted by the light brown foamy head.  The head dissipates slowly and ends up as a one-finger thick during the rest of the tasting. Birthday Beer has very distinct chocolate aromas along with vanilla in the  background.  This beer has an inviting aroma that reminds me of chocolate cake.  How appropriate. Upon taking that first sip, I am greeted with that chocolate flavor right up front.  It is more of a milk chocolate flavor with a nice bready/earthy-yeast that then flows into a pleasant sweet chocolate malt finish. The hops keep this beer in check so that it is not too sweet.  This brew has a medium-bodied mouthfeel and low carbonation. Since Shiner brews the Birthday Beer once a year, you will have to wait until next year to try it, if you haven't already.  If you ever see it, buy a bottle or two.  Maybe a six-pack. ABV = 5.0%