SHINER, SPOETZL BREWERY

  • Shiner Bock Dark Lager
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let's tap into their story!

Shiner Bock’s story began in 1909, when a group of Czech and German immigrants didn’t strike gold, but instead, they struck water. Shortly after, they learned that they could turn that water into gold. Well, that’s what tasty beer is worth anyways.

The brewery was originally called the Shiner Brewing Association and was one of many small, independent breweries in the United States at the time.
Say It With Shiner
Shiner Bock’s story began in 1909, when a group of Czech and German immigrants didn’t strike gold, but instead, they struck water. Shortly after, they learned that they could turn that water into gold, well, that’s what tasty beer is worth anyways. The brewery was originally called the Shiner Brewing Association and was one of many small, independent breweries in the United States at the time.
In 1914, German immigrant brewmaster Kosmos Spoetzl learned of the brewery and coleased the facility with Oswald Petzold with an option to buy. Spoetzl had apprenticed in Germany for 3 years and worked at the Pyramid Brewery in Cairo, Egypt, for 8 years before moving to San Antonio for a better environment for his health.

He brought with him a family recipe for Bavarian beer to Shiner and bought the brewery within a year. Spoetzl renamed the brewery to “Home Brewery” and began to produce beer in wooden kegs and bottles. In 1920, a nationwide constitutional law prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. During the prohibition, Spoetzl produced near beer - low-alcohol beer - and had to commit to construction work on the side in Florida to keep the brewery afloat.
After Spoetzl’s wife passed away in 1921, Spoetzl wanted to abandon the brewery and return to Bavaria but was convinced otherwise by his daughter, Cecile. Cecile took charge as the business manager of the firm and saved the brewery from death. With the repeal of the prohibition in 1933, business resumed and the brewery was thriving; sales were made within a 100-mile radius!

Shiner Bock’s signature brew

What exactly is Shiner's signature brew? Shiner’s signature, the Shiner Bock, is a dark, strong bock beer that has its origins in Germany. A bock is traditionally brewed in the winter and is associated with the coming of spring. In the early 20th century, many German immigrants in the United States continued to brew bock beer as a way of maintaining their cultural heritage.

At the Spoetzl Brewery, the Shiner Bock features German specialty hops amidst rich roasted barley malts. The lightly-hopped dark lager is a fan-favourite among locals, but it wasn't until the 1970s that the Shiner Bock began to gain wider recognition. In the 1970s, the brewery began to focus exclusively on brewing bock beer and rebranded itself as the Spoetzl Brewery in honour of its founder, Kosmos Spoetzl.

In the years that followed, Shiner Bock continued to grow in popularity, thanks in part to its distinctive flavour and its association with Texas culture. The brewery also introduced new variations of the beer, including a blonde ale and a seasonal Oktoberfest brew.

Shiner Bock - the shining star of Texas

Today, Shiner Bock remains one of the most popular beers in Texas and is widely available across the states. The brewery continues to produce a variety of different beers, including a light lager, an IPA, and a grapefruit beer, but Shiner Bock remains their most iconic brew.

Despite its many close encounters with death over the years, Spoetzl Brewery has become an icon of Texas culture. Shiner Bock is more than just a beer; it is a symbol of the hardworking, independent spirit that defines the Lone Star State!
 

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