Grade: B-

The Beer: Originally introduced as a seasonal brew in February 2006, Shock Top joined the year-round Anheuser-Busch specialty blends in November 2007. Shock Top won the 2006 Gold Medal and the 2007 Bronze Medal at the North American Beer Awards for the Belgian Wit (White) category. Though Shock Top is a little bit on the bitter side if served too cold, it is an exceptionally smooth brew that is perfect for a summer day.

The Good: Though the flavor is on the sweet side, the light taste benefits the beer in this regard because it keeps the sweetness from becoming overpowering. Additionally, the light hint of orange and lime flavors are easy to taste, but don’t overpower the other tastes.

Shock Top is best served in a glass to enjoy the excellent foam the brew produces. Also, the somewhat high 5.2 percent alcohol content is well masked.

The Bad: Shock Top’s flavor is more on the mild side and is a little too thin for a Belgian White. If the flavor was as strong as the aroma, the beer would be better. Shock Top also tends to foam up too much to drink from the bottle.

The Cost: $6.99 for a six-pack

The Recommendation: Shock Top is a good domestic Belgian White and has a better taste than comparative brews from Blue Moon and Sam Adams. Hoegaarden is the superior brew, but Shock Top is much more economical.

The Bottom Line: Does the American Brewers Association award really have any value, or are Americans just bad at making Belgian White brews? Shock Top is a good brew, but award-winning is a stretch.