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Beer News, Beer Releases and New Breweries

Archives for September 2021

UConn Partners With Kinsmen Brewing To Introduce Husky Hops

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Kinsmen Brewing

MILLDALE, Connecticut – On Saturday October 16, Rentschler Field will be more than just the venue for the UConn Huskies vs. the Yale Bulldogs, it will be the location for the debut of Husky Hops, a delicious new hazy IPA which is the result of a partnership between the University of Connecticut Division of Athletics and Kinsmen Brewing Co. of Milldale, CT.

“Husky Hops is a great tribute to our Husky spirit,” said David Benedict, UConn Director of Athletics. “We are particularly proud of being able to partner with a growing local company and participating in an industry which is growing throughout Connecticut and the region.”

Husky Hops will be available at concession stands at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field (including special kiosks located in the UConn Alumni section of the stadium) as well as a kiosk at the entrance to the Gampel Pavilion and at concession stands at the XL Center and across multiple sports, including baseball, soccer and hockey. Additionally, the new brand will be sold at all on-campus facilities that sell beer.

Former UConn Huskies Football Co-Captain and Kinsmen manager, Jeff Delucia, was instrumental in forming this new partnership. “It’s an honor to be part of such a great celebration of Husky spirit with such a phenomenal IPA brewed by Kinsmen,” DeLucia said.

The new IPA is described as “medium bodied yet refreshing” with a base made from clean American pilsner malt and fluffy malted wheat with intense notes of pineapple, white peach and tangerine. “We had been discussing the idea of a special Husky craft beer with the University for quite a while,” said Kinsmen co-owner, Bruce Staebler, “and we are so proud of the product developed by our team.”

The Husky Hops label is graphically arresting and all-husky, featuring a close-up of the full front face of Jonathan, the University’s vaunted canine icon, with his penetrating, piercing eyes in muted shades of dark blues offset by the product’s name in bold white letters outlined in red.

“We’ve used our experience and experimentation to create a definitive Kinsmen hazy IPA that is perfect for enjoying while watching a UConn game,” said Bob Bartholomew, Kinsmen’s Operations Manager, “We use a blend of our favorite American hops to create the punchy, clean, juicy flavor profile of Husky Hops.”

Sustainability is also a large part of the Kinsmen brewing process. “Our spent grain is donated to a local farmer who uses it to supplement some of the feed for his livestock while our solid fermentation waste is given to Blue Earth Compost, where it’s recycled into compost for local gardens.”

“Kinsmen Brewing Co. is a unique place,” said Greg Caucci, Kinsmen’s President and co-owner, “While many craft breweries are emphasizing their wholesale business, Kinsmen is all about a more curated beer experience which can be seen in all of our spaces. This includes our taproom which creates a rustic family atmosphere in a beautiful historic building, our event space and even our own in-house craft pizza venue, aptly named Sauced. It’s a combination of craft beer heritage with a modern twist. We’ve taken this Kinsmen experience and blended it with UConn Athletics to create a whole new experience that can be enjoyed on-site at the game.”

Kinsmen Brewing Co. is located at 409 Canal Street in Milldale, Connecticut.

About Kinsmen Brewing

Kinsmen Brewing Co. in Milldale, CT is central Connecticut’s fastest growing craft beer brewery, featuring a spacious rustic taproom with a large fireplace, a long customer-friendly bar, a large event space and its own in-house pizza restaurant, Sauced. But, most of all, it offers some of the most delicious craft beers and IPAs available anywhere.

For More Information:
https://www.kinsmenbrewing.com/home/

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Five Boroughs Brewing Co. Expands Distribution to New Jersey

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BROOKLYN, NY – Fresh off of its expansion to Connecticut in June, Brooklyn-based Five Boroughs Brewing Co. is excited to add another neighboring state to its distribution roster: New Jersey. The move will bring Five Boroughs beer to the Garden State starting in October and finalizes the four-year-old brewery’s push to serve the entire tri-state area.

“It was a very busy summer,” said Blake Tomnitz, who co-founded Five Boroughs with Kevin O’Donnell in 2017. “We launched Party Water hard seltzer, expanded to Connecticut, celebrated our fourth anniversary, and, now, we’re making the move across the Hudson River to kick off the fall. Our team is so grateful for the opportunity to bring our brews to New Jersey, a craft beer-loving state that we’ve had our eye on since opening.”

Five Boroughs will enter New Jersey in partnership with Remarkable Liquids, an independent craft beer distributor with a strong track record in the state.

“We are thrilled to partner with Five Boroughs Brewing Co.,” said Matt Hartman, co-founder of Remarkable Liquids. “Our team is passionate about every product that we sell, so we’re eager to introduce New Jersey craft beer fans to Five Boroughs’ excellent offerings.”

Five Boroughs’ core, seasonal, and one-off releases, will be available in New Jersey starting in October.

For More Information:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUYM8ZvpXrx/

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21st Amendment Brewery Releases Autumn Seasonal Hell or High Mango

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SAN FRANCISCO, California – The 21st Amendment Brewery releases the autumn seasonal Hell or High Mango nationally to 33 states this month following the summer craze for its beloved Hell or High Watermelon Wheat. Lady Liberty shines bright at our sunset gate with welcoming arms for a sweet transition into the glow of the orange and red leaves of fall. An iconic woman symbolizing freedom and inclusivity, the Statue of Liberty graces the Hell or High line’s packaging and cans year-round. Brewed with real mangos, Hell or High Mango eases us from warmer days to an oasis brimming with tropical floral aromas and slightly tart, fruity flavors.

“Hell or High Watermelon Wheat has been a summertime favorite since we first started brewing it in 2000 at our San Francisco South of Market brewpub near the SF Giants’ ballpark. With such an overwhelming response to Hell or High Mango’s first year of release in the autumn of 2020 we’re especially excited to bring it back. The Instagram and social media comments were super positive, people are really digging this one. What’s also great about this beer is that behind all that luscious mango flavor and aroma is a wonderful wheat beer with its biscuity, light bready notes. And at a mere 4.9% ABV, Hell or High Mango is the perfect companion to enjoy all fall season. Get some,” says Shaun O’Sullivan, Co-Founder and Brewmaster.

New School Beer touts about Hell or High Mango, “Tropical flavors are hot right now, almost as hot as the iconic Lady Liberty eating mangos on the Golden Gate Bridge depicted on the label.” AmericanCraftBeer.com notes, “Another tasty example of the brewery’s commitment to fruitful brewing, Hell or High Mango is a 4.9% ABV mango-infused Wheat Ale brimming with floral tropical aromas and tart, fruity flavors.” UPROXX says, “I love 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon (they also have some new flavors like mango). They feature Lady Liberty, and the fruit is subtle and in balance. It’s a crisp beer with a hint of fruit.”

Hell or High Mango is yet another testament to 21st Amendment’s ingenuity at brewing delicious expressions of flavors where fruit, hops, and grains intermingle for a splendid drinking experience. Hell or High Mango is an American wheat beer bursting with mouthwatering yumminess that finishes clean and refreshing. Hell or High Mango is available now in all 33 states where 21st Amendment distributes. Due to high demand for Hell or High Mango, 21st Amendment extends its seasonal availability to four months on shelves and on draft nationwide through December 2021.

About 21st Amendment Brewery

21 years ago (established in 2000), Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan opened the doors to the 21st Amendment brewpub in San Francisco’s historic South Park neighborhood. In addition to quickly becoming one of the city’s favorite pubs, 21st Amendment began expanding beyond the Bay Area by helping to pioneer the movement to canned craft beer. Known for their witty names and delicious brews, 21st Amendment offers year-round selections, as well as seasonal offerings and their infamous once-in-a-while limited-edition releases. Sold in 33 states plus Washington D.C., 21st Amendment produces beer in its state-of-the-art brewery headquarters in San Leandro, California and is among the top 50 craft beer brewers in America.

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Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company Releases Cake! Fall Flavored Ale

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Exhibit 'A' Brewing

FRAMINGHAM, MA – If fall flavors are your jam, Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company’s Cake! is fall’s must-have beer. Scheduled for release on September 29th, Cake! is a pastry beer with flavors of coffee and pumpkin spice coffee cake, designed for cool weather drinking. In keeping with Exhibit ‘A’’s commitment to local partnerships, the beer features cult-favorite pumpkin spice coffee cake from My Grandma’s of New England, along with delicious light roast Daily Driver coffee from Share Coffee Roasters of Hadley, cinnamon and vanilla. Cake! leads with a delicious cinnamon aroma, and lands with a malty body and medium finish at 6.0% ABV.

Cake! will be available on draught and in 16oz cans in the Framingham taproom at Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing and in retailers throughout Massachusetts. As always, Exhibit ‘A’’s focus is on local grain sourcing and each case supports about 3 square feet of local farmland.

For More Information:
https://www.exhibit-a-brewing.com

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Great Central Brewing Company Commemorates Oktoberfest With Limited-Edition Festzelt Brew

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Great Central Brewing

CHICAGO, Illinois – Great Central Brewing Company, a Chicago-based collaborative brewer for brands like Middlebrow, Pollyanna, Cruz Blanca, Old Irving, Maplewood, and Illuminated Brew Works, is celebrating the fourth anniversary of their taproom with the launch of their limited-edition Oktoberfest beer dubbed the Festzelt.

With an ABV of 5.7%, the Festzelt uses a Vienna Malt to create a light caramel taste and bring out the underlying bready notes. The Oktoberfest brew pairs well with the season while maintaining the crisp, clean, and drinkable flavor and quality Great Central is known for.

In addition to using ingredients imported directly from Germany, the Festzelt is brewed using a decoction process, a traditional way of German beer brewing, to support superior foam and flavor.

Because the company’s anniversary coincides with the Oktoberfest season, they are celebrating the Festzelt and four years of success with an Oktoberfest-inspired event. From noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 9th, patrons can stop by Great Central’s taproom at 221 N. Wood Street in Chicago’s Fulton Market district to enjoy authentic German-style beer, Bavarian food, live music, and a Lederhosen contest. There will also be a 50/50 raffle where half of the proceeds will go to Alliance for the Great Lakes, whose mission is to provide clean water to all.

In order to attend the event, patrons will have to provide either a COVID-19 vaccination card showing their fully vaccinated status or proof of a negative COVID test within the previous 72-hours of October 9th to be admitted.

“Oktoberfest represents a time honored tradition in Germany. This celebration just so happens to coincide with the anniversary of our own brewery, and the release of our seasonal beer, Festzelt, a German-style Oktoberfest. What better way to celebrate another year than to gather with our community at Great Central for a celebratory Oktoberfest-inspired event,” says CEO and co-founder, David Avram.

Not only is the Festzelt available on tap at select local restaurants such as Gino’s East, Kaiser Tiger, Lucky Dorr, Roots Pizza on Dearborn, and 2Twenty2 Tavern, but individual cans are also available for purchase at various craft beer shops and food markets across Chicago, namely Beermiscuous, Bitter Pops, Beer Temple, Fresh Marketplace, Joe’s Wine Cellar, and Green Grocer, retailing for $9.99 for four 16 ounce cans. It’ll only be around until the beginning of November, so be sure to try it while it’s available!

About Great Central Brewing Company

Great Central Brewing Company is a collaborative brewery that helps brew a wide variety of craft beverages for growing brands, while brewing their own line of authentic German style beer. Brewing great, timeless beers free from trends, Great Central Brewing Company celebrates a classic Chicago attitude: work hard, be good to each other, and share a beer with your neighbors every now and again. Created in 2015 with the love of beer and desire to contribute to the craft beer community in mind, Great Central Brewing Company is dedicated to keeping the Chicago-born spirit of ingenuity pumping and alive in the world. With the Great Central Train Station as its namesake, this local taproom and brewery honors its “great central” heritage with everything they create.

For More Information:
https://www.greatcentralbrewing.com/

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Affy Tapple and Phase Three Brewing to Bring Back Caramel Apple Beer for Second Year with More Than 100% Increase in Production

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Phase 3 Brewing

LAKE ZURICH, Illinois – Affy Tapple and Phase Three Brewing Company announced that they are releasing their craft beer collaboration, A Bushel of Apples, for a second year with a more than 100% increase in production and expanded distribution. After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback on the initial release last year from beer and Affy Tapple fans alike, there was no question that the partners needed to distribute the beer another year.

“We are enormously pleased that A Bushel of Apples was so well-received last year. It was exciting for us to see fans who have grown up with our Caramel Apples experience the classic flavors in an entirely new way,” says Todd McClamroch, Vice President at Affy Tapple.

The beer precisely captures what it’s like to bite into an Affy Tapple Original Peanut Caramel Apple, with the tart apple taste hitting your taste buds first, followed by caramel and peanut, with a crisp finish. Phase Three started with a traditional blonde ale recipe then added apple juice and natural flavors to create the indisputable aroma and flavor of an Affy Tapple Caramel Apple.

“The response to the initial release of A Bushel of Apples was so encouraging, we knew we achieved our goal of creating an authentic Caramel Apple beer that was both fun and delicious, and had to bring it back – not to mention, fans have been calling asking for it since last fall,” says Shaun Berns, Co-founder/Head Brewer at Phase Three Brewing.

“It was also heartening that customers were so supportive of our initiative to raise money for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a food bank serving Chicago and all of Cook County, through the proceeds from A Bushel of Apples. We ended up raising more than $4,000 with our 60-barrel batch and hope to top that this year with our continued partnership and increased production,” says Evan Morris, Co-founder/Director of Operations at Phase Three Brewing.

Features of A Bushel of Apples include:

A craft beer with notes of tart apple, sweet caramel, and roasted peanuts
$1 for every 4-pack sold benefits the Food Depository
A Bushel of Apples is available starting Saturday, October 2nd and Sunday October 3rd, with a kick-off, family-friendly fall event sponsored by the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce at Paulus Park, 200 South Rand Rd. in Lake Zurich, IL featuring live music, food vendors, 20+ draft beer options, to-go beer, various activities for adults and children, and of course all the Affy Tapple treats you-can-eat! The event will take place from 11am – 9pm on Saturday and 11am – 6pm on Sunday. Admission is free and proceeds will benefit the Food Depository and Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce. 4-packs sold at the taproom will be priced at $11.99. Broader distribution of A Bushel of Apples will begin the week of October 4th, at these retailers: affytapple.com/phase-three/

About Affy Tapple

Affy Tapple, The Original Caramel Apple, has been a beloved Midwest tradition since 1948. You can buy Affy Tapple Caramel Apples year-round and ship them nationwide. Whether you call us a Caramel Apple, a taffy apple, a candy apple, or Affy Tapple, we have maintained a loyal following for generations by using fresh, crisp apples dipped in our famous, small-batch caramel.

About Phase Three Brewing Company

Phase Three Brewing Company is a startup brewery formed and led by Shaun Berns, Brittany Berns, and Evan Morris. In March 2018, the owners combined their 20+ years of brewery operations and marketing experience to form the brand, Phase Three Brewing Company. Lessons learned and experiences shared together drive Phase Three Brewing Company’s dynamic and quality-focused approach to craft beer.

About the Greater Chicago Food Depository

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. The Food Depository is at the center of a network of more than 700 partner organizations and programs.

For More Information:
https://www.phasethreebrewing.com/our-story

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Firestone Walker Releases Nec Bones

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Firestone Walker

Buellton, CA – Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks is releasing another wild child with the 2021 edition of Nec Bones—a barrel-aged elixir co-fermented with 3,000 pounds of Honey Fire nectarines grown in the brewery’s backyard of California’s Central Coast.

“These locally grown Honey Fire nectarines are bright red, sweet, flavorful and juicy with a relatively low acidity—a perfect variety for showcasing pure nectarine flavor in a wild beer,” said Barrelworks Master Blender Jim Crooks. The 2021 edition of Nec Bones is now rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in corked 375-milliliter bottles.

Audaciously Fruited

The journey of the 2021 Nec Bones began when Crooks secured 3,000 pounds of Honey Fire nectarines grown at Fair Hill Farms in Paso Robles, where Firestone Walker’s main brewery is located. Owned by the Rydell family, Fair Hill Farms is treasured locally for its sustainably grown, small-batch fruits, including apples, peaches, apricots and nectarines. Crooks also sourced an additional 3,000 pounds of nectarines from Olson Family Farms in California’s Central Valley.

After being harvested, the whole nectarines were delivered to Barrelworks. Next, a knife-wielding team hand quartered and pitted the fruit for two weeks.

“There’s always a question of ‘why’ we ask ourselves while cutting fruit for days on end, but it’s because the aromas and flavors from the fresh fruit will be unparalleled in the finished beer,” Crooks said.

The quartered fruit was added to a French oak foeder and topped off with a barrel-aged base beer composed primarily of Lil’ Opal, Barrelworks’ proprietary “brett’d” saison. This fruited blend was matured for another full year, after which 2,000 pounds of fresh nectarine purée from Central California’s Wawona Farms was added to make the beer even bolder in flavor.

The result is the most heavily fruited batch from Barrelworks to date, with 4.5 pounds of fruit used for every gallon produced.

The 2021 Nec Bones delivers bold stone fruit aromas combined with deep, juicy nectarine flavors and balanced acidity. “It’s like biting into the flesh of a fresh nectarine,” Crooks said. “We have turned up the fruit intensity several notches to make an undeniable wild beer.”

About Firestone Walker

Founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker in 1996, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a California beer company with three innovative brewing facilities. Firestone Walker’s main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio ranging from iconic pale ales to vintage barrel-aged beers. The Barrelworks facility in Buellton makes eccentric wild ales, while the Propagator pilot brewhouse in Venice specializes in R&D beers and limited local offerings. Firestone Walker is also the brewery behind 805, one of the nation’s fastest-growing beers. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine.

For More Information:
https://www.firestonebeer.com

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Les Trois Mousquetaires (LTM) Returns to the US Market

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Fairfax, VA – Award Winning Les Trois Mousquetaires (LTM) from Brossard, Quebec is returning to the US craft beer market after a two year absence. LTM is imported by Winter Dog Cellars in Fairfax, Virginia and will go into immediate distribution effective October 1 in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. Additional markets will be added selectively for the remainder of 2021, with substantial expansion planned for 2022.

LTM is an award-winning brewer of traditional styles with a modern craft twist. Their flagship Porter Baltique is an eight-time gold medal award winner at the World Beer Awards, including being named Best Baltic Porter in the world in 2010 and 2013, and was also named best overall beer in Canada in 2020 by Rate Beer. Other award- winning flagships include their Ceci N’est Pas Une Gueuze oak-aged blended sour, their Saison Brett saison, their Doppelbock, and their Stout Imperiale and Dejeuner Imperiale imperial stouts.

LTM was founded in 2004 and has steadily grown into one of the most respected craft breweries in Canada and is recognized around the world. They make extensive use of local Quebec malts and other ingredients in all of their products. Their goal is to order to “offer the consumer a Quebec beer, all the while encouraging the economy and local know-how. The reputation of our high quality products, our passion, our skills and the dynamism of our team contribute to making us progress constantly and has allowed us to become world renowned.”

LTM was named one of the Top 100 Breweries in the World by Rate Beer in both 2013 and 2020.

For More Information:
https://www.lestroismousquetaires.ca/en/

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Sycamore Brewing Announces Rising Hope IPA in Partnership with Brewing Funds the Cure

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Sycamore brewing

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Sycamore Brewing, a Charlotte-based brewery known for eccentric packaging and unique flavor combinations sourced from top-notch ingredients, has announced its second year of partnership with Brewing Funds the Cure for the release of its Rising Hope IPA. One hundred percent of proceeds from the sale of this beer will be donated to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Rising Hope IPA will release Saturday, September 25 at the Sycamore Brewing Taproom. The beer will be available on tap and draft at select locations in North Carolina.

“This initiative, started by Brewing Funds the Cure, is an incredible way for Sycamore Brewing to give back to such an amazing cause and help fund pediatric cancer research,” says Sycamore Brewing Co-Owner, Sarah Taylor Brigham. “We are honored to be chosen as the only brewery in North Carolina to produce this beer.”

Master brewers from Cigar City Brewing and Florida Avenue Brewing design a new recipe each year and Country Malt Group, Yakima Chief Hops and Amoretti Fruit Puree partners provide free ingredients to each of the participating breweries. In addition, Blue Label Packaging Co has donated can labels and Taphandles is providing signature tap handles for all breweries where Rising Hope IPA will be available. This year’s beer will be a hazy IPA with delicious passionfruit, orange and guava flavors.

About Sycamore Brewery

Sycamore Brewing, a Charlotte-based brewery, has been producing award-winning craft liquids since 2013 and is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team, Justin and Sarah Brigham. Sycamore has grown and expanded at whirlwind speed since opening their doors and has consequently quadrupled its total beer production since 2018. Sycamore operates a bustling taproom and beer garden complete with craft beer, live music, food trucks and more. Sycamore beer and BUBS 77-Calorie Hard Seltzer are available in NC, SC, VA, TN, KY, GA and OH, with additional states to be added this year.

For More Information:
https://nationalpcf.org/programs/brewing-funds-the-cure/

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Shiner Beers Releases New Shiner 1909, Celebrating 112 Years of Independent Craft Brewing

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Shiner, TX – Shiner, the independent, family-owned makers of the iconic Shiner Bock, announce a new beer honoring their 112-year history. Shiner 1909 is a small-batch lager brewed with heritage ingredients celebrating the history, endurance, and Texas heritage of the Spoetzl Brewery.

Every drop of Shiner beer is proudly brewed and bottled in Shiner, Texas at the same brewery founded in 1909 by a group of Czech and German settlers. In 1914, a Bavarian named Kosmos Spoetzl joined the Shiner brewery, finding success using his signature recipe, a combination of old-world Bavarian techniques and his own secret, innovative twist. Kosmos created a legacy with Shiner beers that became a cult classic in Texas and beyond. Today, Shiner Bock is the #1 craft beer in Texas.

Inspired by the simple ingredients Shiner’s brewers used in 1909, their founding year, Shiner 1909 is crafted with Heritage 2-row barley, Noble hops, Shiner’s proprietary lager yeast and water from the same artesian well the founders discovered over a century ago. The result is a light-bodied lager with a toasty aroma, rich malt flavor and a crisp, refreshing finish. “We’re so proud to launch Shiner 1909 in celebration of the brewery’s rich history. For 112 years, Shiner has brewed flavorful, refreshing and sessionable beers, becoming a favorite not only of Texans but of beer lovers nationwide. With this new release, we’re paying respect to our past while toasting to the future, and we’re making it available year-round so we’ll all be able to celebrate our birthday every day of the year,” says Matt Pechman, Spoetzl Brewing’s Head of Marketing.

Shiner 1909 (4.5% ABV) is available now nationwide and comes in 6 or 12-bottle packs.

About Shiner and the Spoetzl Brewery

The Spoetzl Brewery was founded in Shiner, Texas (population 2,069), in 1909, by Czech and German immigrants brewing beer with old-world traditions and recipes for Central Texas. Since then, the brewery has grown to be one of the largest independent craft brewers in the country with beers available in all 50 states and Mexico. To this day, every drop of the award-winning beer is brewed right in Shiner, TX, where it all started 111 years ago.

For More Information:
https://shiner.com/

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