hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Shiner Holiday Cheer

Shiner
Tap to rate
🌍 United States · Dunkelweizen · One of 35 Dunkelweizens in hopIQ

Shiner Holiday Cheer has been the brewery's winter seasonal since 2010. It is a dark wheat beer in the Bavarian Dunkelweizen tradition, brewed from malted barley and wheat with Texas peaches and roasted pecans, and smoothed by kräusening. The malt brings bread crust and light toffee, the yeast a soft banana and clove note, and the peaches and pecans add gentle stone fruit and nutty warmth to a smooth finish at 5.4 percent.

ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter22 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
dark30
See all Dunkelweizen alternatives →

AWARDS

Bronze · 2013
Australian International Beer Awards
★Bronze — Australian International Beer Awards
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Very crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Dunkelweizen.
Malt character
bready
nutty
caramel
malty
wheat
Fermentation & yeast
banana
clove
Distinctive notes
peachdark fruit

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Wheat Beers→

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Shiner Holiday Cheer

◎ Appearance

Dark brown to mahogany hue with deep amber undertones when held to light, characteristic of the Dunkelweizen style. The head is cream-colored and persistent, with fine bubbles that cling to the glass in delicate lacing. Slight cloudiness from the wheat and yeast character is expected and contributes to the beer's traditional appearance.

deep mahoganycreamy headfine lacingwheat-derived haze

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with soft banana and clove notes from the weizen yeast, followed by bread crust and subtle toffee sweetness from the dark malts. Texas peaches emerge as gentle stone fruit, while roasted pecans add a warm, toasted nuttiness that frames the overall bouquet without dominating. The aromatics are approachable and balanced, inviting further exploration.

banana and clovebread crustpeach and stone fruitroasted pecan warmth

◐ Taste

The palate presents smooth malt complexity with bread and light toffee flavors supported by the wheat's soft body. Banana and clove from the yeast integrate naturally with the peach and pecan adjuncts, creating a cohesive sweetness that doesn't cloy. Bitterness is restrained at 22 IBU, allowing the fruit and nut character to remain prominent through the mid-palate.

soft malt sweetnessintegrated fruit and spicelow bitternesssmooth wheat body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and warming, with lingering pecan nuttiness and a faint stone fruit echo that fades gracefully. No harsh drying or alcohol burn; instead, a gentle warmth carries through to a dry, pleasant conclusion.

pecan warmthdry fadegentle finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
76
Finish
76
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Shiner Holiday Cheer

Serve at 7–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 7–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Weizen glass
Recommended for this style

Tall and narrow at the base, flaring at the top — designed to hold the abundant foam of a wheat beer while showcasing its hazy golden body.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Shiner Holiday Cheer

About Dunkelweizen

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dunkelweizen?

Dunkelweizen is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Dunkelweizen

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clove, banana, peach character as Shiner Holiday Cheer will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Dunkelweizens in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Dunkelweizen beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →