Shiner's Fröst: A Dortmunder Style Golden Ale

Here's what the bottle has to tell us: "First brewed in Dortmund, Germany for the hardworking coal miners of the town, this deliciously distinctive style bring a hint of malty sweetness that quickly fades to show a crisp, hoppy character." Though I had to overcome some initial hesitation in purchasing an obscure German style beer from a brewery in southeastern Texas, I was persuaded to try Shiner's Fröst thanks to the discount price of $5.99 per six pack at my local Aggie Liquor. I can't say that it was equivalent to a day's work of inhaling suspended particulate matter in a man-made cave, but I did try to pay my respects to the proletarian heritage of the brew by drinking one after a day that involved pushing around 40 tons of cow and horse manure with a front loader, cutting alfalfa, and repairing a worn out belt on a flail mower. Perhaps the vocational difference explains the disconnect between the flavor experienced by my Deutsh counterparts and the one I endured today. Could the coal dust sufficiently dull the palate to make an overpowering, knock-you-on-your-ass-and-make-you-wish-you-would-have-had-a-glass-of-water-instead-of-a-beer maltiness seem like just a "hint" of sweetness? And where is the crisp, hoppy character? Was it accidentally replaced with some skunky spice blend leftover from the Weimar Republic, thus explaining the bargain blow out price? Despite its flaws, the Shiner Fröst is, at very least, smooth and refreshing. At a reasonable 5.5% ABV, the beer provides just enough to replace the annoying tingling sensation in the tips of your fingers resulting from hours spent clenching a fiercely vibrating tractor steering wheel with the more comforting and familiar tingle of a slight alcoholic buzz. And what's more? My cat likes the smell of the empty bottles making for perfect photo opportunities.