Make The Happy Hours Count With Shiner Bock
Shiner Bock is the flagship brew out of Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas. Spoetzl independent brewery is a long time player in the brewing game operating for over a hundred years!
Bock beer is generally a darker lager, amber-like or deeper in color, heavy and malty. What makes Shiner Bock American-Style Dark Ale so desirable is that it manages to keep a distinct flavor profile and some maltiness without overwhelming the palate or being too heavy, making it a suitable craft option to drink year-round.
Learn more about Shiner beer in this Q&A with Spoetzl Brewery's Master Brewer Jimmy Mauric.
The Daily Meal's Heidi Carter: When did you start to find your passion for the brewery life?
Master Brewer Jimmy Mauric: When I started at the brewery at 17 years old it was about having a job and being independent and making money to support myself. Then after a few years, it became more than that. I felt like I was truly an important part of the process and the culture of making beer and it was unique and really something to be proud of. So, then it became more than a job. It was a challenge, a career and a passion.
What do you like most about working at a Brewery [in small-town Texas]?
Lots of things. First, the small-town environment. It seems like everything is a little slower and down to earth. Second, the people. It is great spending time with the people I work with outside of the brewery after the job is done. And last, the experience. At a smaller brewery, you get the chance to wrap your hands around the whole brewery and not just one area of the process.
What would you say is most unique about Shiner Bock?
That it started out just a seasonal beer so long ago and grew up to be such a great longstanding iconic Texan craft beer.
How would you describe Shiner Bock with only three words?
Easy to drink!
How would you describe what to expect when it comes to the hops in Shiner Bock and why?
The style of Shiner Bock and the hops that are used are meant to be generally milder and not overbearing. This is an American Dark Lager and we want the hops to compliment the maltiness and not overtake it.
What is something that the general public may not know about Shiner?
That every drop of Shiner Beer is made in Shiner, Texas since 1909.
What is a simple food to pair with a Shiner Bock?
That is easy, BBQ!
What is your favorite food to pair with a Shiner Bock?
Everything else after BBQ!
Shiner has a lot of variants. Would you say new concoctions stem from individual inspiration or would you say you like to give the people what they want, or a little bit of both?
I personally think it has to be a little of both. There are over 6,000 breweries here in the United States and people have choices when it comes to their beers. We have no problem with choices as long as that choice is a Shiner Beer!
Shiner Bock has spread well beyond Texas borders. What region has most surprised you for their Shiner love / sale spikes, and why?
Shiner Bock is such an easy-drinking, well-balanced beer that it's not really surprising to see it catch on across the country. I suppose it's most surprising to see that even people who tend to drink other styles of beer, from IPA to Pilsner are catching on to it.
Is there a new brew or anything you've been working on under wraps you'd be willing to share some details about?
Of course there is, but if I tell you it would not be under wraps anymore would it? I can say to keep an eye out for something brand new coming in September that will have a certain popular juicy hazy style to it.
What efforts do you make to be environmentally friendly?
We do a lot more at the brewery than most people realize. For starters, we source as many ingredients locally as possible – Grapefruit for Ruby Redbird comes from the Rio Grande Valley, Pecans for Holiday Cheer come from Mission, TX. Our primary ingredient (water) comes from our artesian well right here at the brewery. And 95% of the waste generated at the brewery ends up being recycled – over 13,000 tons of spent grain and yeast goes to local ranchers, 300 tons of glass and 200 tons of paper get recycled annually, and all of our storm water and wastewater gets reclaimed for irrigation. Finally, to cut down on energy consumption we have natural lighting from skylights and utilize the energy coming from our equipment to help heat our brew kettles.
Is there anything else you would like to include?
That we have a beautiful "109-year-old brand new brewery" that we love to show people deep down in South Texas. We offer tours and most recently started doing Saturday brewery tours for the first time in history.