On our journey across Texas we made a quick stop in Shiner, Texas to visit the K. Spoetzl Brewery, home of Shiner Beer. We had some gen-u-ine Texas brisket, toured the brewery and had some Shiner Beer before heading off into wine country.
The Spoetzl Brewery started in 1909. It was originally named The Shiner Brewing Association (SBA) and was founded by German and Czech immigrants who had settled around the central Texas town of Shiner. Unable to find the type of beer they had known in their home countries, they decided to brew their own. It is the oldest independent brewery in Texas and one of the oldest independent breweries in the U.S.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the brewery’s Shiner Premium Beer and Shiner Bock accounted for less than 1% of the Texas beer market. In 1983, Spoetzl produced 60,000 US beer barrels of beer; in 1990, only 36,000 US beer barrels. Sales improved after Carlos Alvarez of San Antonio acquired the brewery in 1989. Production grew to 100,000 US beer barrels in 1994, and over the next 10 years production nearly tripled. The company now has 120 employees and as of 2012 it was the fourth-largest craft brewery in the United States.
It was a good visit, and some of the Amber Bock even made it home for us to share with our friends, neighbors and family! 😉
Interesting that I have never heard of them before but then again I don’t drink. But that brisket sure looks tempting. It is amazing how wonderful they make these breweries look. Or you just do a wonderful job of presenting them. Well done!
I only knew about it because one of our neighbors is a fan. Otherwise, nope. It is a really beautiful facility. Like a lot of breweries and distilleries I think it has been spiffed up to look good for visitors. And yes, the brisket was perhaps the best I’ve ever had! 🙂
Now that thar is TEXAS! BBQ and a Shiner Bock. Yeeeee-Haaaa!
Yessiree, Bob! Or is that Jeff-Bob? 😉