I needed the proper ambiance to write this blog. The right moment. Dusk, on a warm night. Cat on my lap (well, it’s not like that’s unusual). Winding down from a hard day at work with some hard work at the ranch. And this. This. This. Glorious. Brew.

Let me introduce you to Shiner Cold Brew Coffee Ale.

The first sip is like a coffee revelation, full and rich and no bitterness, all the signatures of a true cold brew coffee (which, if you haven’t tried it, isn’t just hype – it’s wonderful. Just don’t be an idiot and warm it up). It’s one of the few beers where I honestly can’t detect a variation in flavor between a bottle and a can, and living in Texas we’re “drink it straight from the container” folks. I swear I read a chocolate note, but there no mention of it in Shiner’s description:

The ale has fine carbonation and nary a hop note, which is just fine with me. In fact, it’s hard to detect that there is an ale in here anywhere other than the carbonation, which is why this treat gets dinged on so many beer review sites. Okay, point taken, it’s a beer, there should be some relationship to beer, but frankly this is so damned good I could care less. I would drink this for breakfast and dinner, make a float with it, eat green eggs and ham on a boat with it.

I’ve had my share of excellent coffee beers — the local brewery Real Ale’s Coffee Porter is a standout — but this one is a breed apart. Or a brew apart. Highly recommend, especially to all you java heads. Even if you think you don’t like beer, you might give this one a try thanks to the most excellent Chameleon Cold Brew base that gives it that perfect coffee note (did I mention not bitter?)

No idea what kind of head it has. I’m busy drinking the thing. Savoring is more the word. This is almost a sipping beer, with some of the tongue feel of a porter, but the carbonation lifts it to be a fine porch-sitting summer drinker as well.

Too bad it won’t be around that long. Shiner has made some fine seasonals over the years (some of which are featured in my other Strange Brew blogs), but this is a real departure from the brewery in the middle-of-nowhere Texas (a great visit if you ever get to Shiner, Texas, BTW). Like some of their other seasonals (notably Ruby Redbird and Strawberry Blonde) perhaps this will earn a place on the full-year rotation. Fingers crossed.