Storm Caster IPA - Shiner Texhex Review
Shiner is a Texas icon built from immigrant courage and founded firmly in tradition. It’s hard to separate the idea of Texas Bock love from the name of Shiner. But this week we step away from the malty rich Bock and step into Texhex IPAs.
Texhex is Shiner’s unique approach to the varieties of IPAs that circulate our current beer culture. But Shiner adds a unique twist, not of hops, but with cactus water used to brew their elixirs. It really doesn’t get more Shiner or South Texas than that.
This week we’re stepping into the dry desert to try Storm Caster Juicy IPA, first brewed by Shiner in 2023 with Premium 2-row malt and experimental hop HS 17701, and don’t forget the cactus water. This blend offers us a very approachable and juicy brew with 5.5% ABV and 35 IBU.
We don’t know much about this hop, but we’re eager to learn with Shiner as our guide, so let’s pour.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes: Storm Caster pours hazy and golden and is topped with a cream-colored head. It certainly looks like a Juicy IPA.
On the Nose: Citrusy and kind of sweet. It’s always difficult to pinpoint aromas from unknown hops, but the complex aroma offers waves of citrus and melon with a sweet apricot-like note and a touch of floral hopiness. Expressive and juicy—Let’s drink!
On the Palate: Stronger and more bitter than I would have expected from a juicy IPA and from the aroma, but expressive nonetheless with sweet citrus at the start and a dense floral kick you might expect from a double IPA. The floral bitterness brings with it a pithy citrus zest that lingers mildly through the juicy finish. The malt bill is simple, supporting a medium body and an easy platform for the experimental hop to spring. It is quite smooth without the additional wheat or oat malt you might find in hazier beers; this may be due to the use of cactus water.
Final Thoughts:
Experimentation and intrigue propel the American craft beer scene forward. I mean, how many crazy products have we seen come out over the years? This keeps it fun for brewers and drinkers alike. I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised when Shiner started coming out with an IPA series, being a company so deep in tradition, but this only proves their plan to forge ahead with the other innovators, and they do so with their Texhex series.
Shiner also caters to their crowd of Texans by brewing these IPAs with cactus water, a truly sought after flavor for folks down here. But they go a step further with Storm Caster by using the experimental hop, which brings a lift to the Juicy IPA. The strong citrus and powerful floral notes are certainly not what you might expect when grabbing a juicy IPA, but it works with Storm Caster because the hops and cactus water offer an underlying sweetness that bounces off the smooth, medium body. If I were to attempt to relate this hop I would say it reminds me of the wild and zesty citrus side of Comet hops and the peachy, fruity, and floral side of Galaxy hops. A truly great pairing for a fun and unique summer beer with a fine juicy finish.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Want more from the tap? Check out Saint Arnold’s Juicy IPA or Founders All Day IPA!