Midway between San Antonio and Houston, the Spoetzl Brewery of Shiner, Texas, began brewing beer in 1909 as the Shiner Brewing Association. The brewery started with its first offering, Shiner Premium, and then followed in the German tradition when it first released Shiner Bock as a seasonal beer in 1913.
In 1914, the brewery recruited German immigrant Kosmos Spoetzl as its first brewmaster to bring his Old World recipes and experience to the brewery. After a one-year lease with an option to buy, Spoetzl did just that in 1915.
When Prohibition began in 1920, the brewery made ice and birch beer, sometimes known as “near beer,” and was rumored to continue to produce Shiner Premium for local farmers. By the end of Prohibition, Shiner was one of only five Texas breweries to survive the dry spell.
Upon Kosmos Spoetzl’s death in 1950, the tradition lived on as his daughter took the reins and renamed the facility the K. Spoetzl Brewery.
Changing with the times and adapting to trends and practices, Spoetzl added cans as an option for Shiner beers in 1970, and by 1973 Shiner Bock became a year-round brew.
Brewed with inspiration from Bock and Euro Dark Lager styles, Shiner Bock is decidedly American and amber in color, brewed using a process that creates an inviting, smooth taste without the excessive bitterness that characterizes many micro, specialty and imported beers.
In addition to Shiner Bock, Spoetzl beers include Shiner Light Blonde (American All-Malt Lager), Bohemian Black Lager (Schwarzbier), Hefeweizen and a variety of seasonal and special-release beers.
Source: Spoetzl Brewery
