So after I poured Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat, I read the bottle.  In small white lettering, on a background of pumpkins, is a set of directions.  The directions on the neck read, “Pour down side of glass until 1/2 inch is left in bottle, swirl, and pour remaining brew to properly blend spice and release the aroma and flavor.”  From what I recall of the age group Shock Top is popular among, most people weren’t drinking Shock Top from glassware, let alone reading directions from the bottle.   Most of the time, if it came it a bottle, they seemed to be drinking it from the bottle (unless there was an extra curricular activity going on).  That aside, why would you make the lettering so small and not put it anywhere else on the label?

Anyways, I must be getting old, how is my improperly poured Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat?  

Sight:  A brighter orange, a little closer to the yellow side.  Little in the way of head.

Smell:  There’s not a lot going on here, there’s a weak sort of pumpkin, cinnamon, and a bit of wheat.  It’s light though.

Sip:  That’s a lot of carbonation right after a touch of malty sweetness, that’s followed by a sort of squashy wheat flavor.  The spices are muted again, but it’s mostly unexciting.  The light body isn’t helping. [5.2% A.B.V.]

Savor:  It’s a bit squashy, but mostly it’s just kind of there with an incredibly subtle wheat note that you have to really concentrate on.

Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat would be better without directions.  In terms of pumpkin beer, or even beer, it’s drinkable, but it’s not really standout.  For that matter, most pumpkin beers don’t require agitation to blend the spices, and they taste a lot more interesting while keeping a similar level of drinkability.  If you are a Shock Top fan this might be for you, but everyone else may just want to kind of want to move on to anything else.

Verdict:  Uninspired, Squash, Easy to Drink
Price: $1.49 / 12 oz bottle
St. Louis, Missouri
http://www.shocktopbeer.com