New Brew
Iconic Texas beer cracks open first-ever non-alcoholic brew
Shiner lovers can now choose similar brews with less than 0.5 percent ABV.
One of the most iconic Texas breweries, Shiner Bock has created a culture around its brews for nostalgic and unfussy drinkers. And now even San Antonians who aren't drinking alcohol can be part of the Shiner gang.
On November 20, the brand (made at Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas) announced its first-ever non-alcoholic series, Shiner Rodeo (styled Rode0).
It all starts with one beer: Rodeo Golden Brew, which according to a news release, will still taste like a Shiner beer even without the alcoholic kick — totaling less than 0.5 percent. (That's about as much or a little more than kombucha.)
"Styled after a classic American lager, this light and refreshing brew offers crisp and malty notes that are perfectly balanced by delicate esters and a gentle hop profile," it notes.
Rodeo Golden Brew will be available by January, when many people who are usually beer drinkers are experimenting with a pause — sometimes as "Dry January." The brewery will expand the line in the following year, including a red amber beer.
The release also pointed out a trend in 2023, which saw non-alcoholic sales rise more than 17 percent in Texas. This was a significant jump, but still less than in the rest of the country, where they rose 23 percent overall. It must have been enough to inspire change at a more than 100-year-old brewery — Shiner Bock's timeline places its first drops since "about" 1909.
This news comes six months after Spoetzl Brewery announced a new onsite distillery, K. Spoetzl Distilling Company. This addition enabled Shiner Bock to expand its portfolio to vodka, gin, moonshine, and eventually barrel-aged spirits still to come.
"Fans of Shiner have consistently requested non-alcoholic options to complement our more traditional beers," said Director of Brewery & Distillery Operations Tom Fiorenzi in the release. "We're proud to introduce the first of three non-alcoholic brews to our fans. Brewed using the same method as our iconic Shiner beers, the Shiner Rode0 line is authentically Shiner, just without the alcohol."
