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Not only did they piss in the Spoetzl Brewery’s backyard…AB InBev-owned Karbach Brewing specifically targeted the brewery’s signature beer, Shiner Bock, at a music event they recently sponsored.
And here’s what went down…
Karbach Brewing, which was purchased by Anheuser- Busch InBev in 2016, recently put up billboards around Shiner Texas taking direct aim at the Spoetzl Brewery’s best-selling beer by announcing that there was a “new Bock in Shiner.”
The Houston area brewery should have known that the 110-year old institution which has been brewing Shiner Bock since 1909 wouldn’t take that act of blatant intimidation, sitting down…
And they didn’t…
Last Thursday the Gambrinus Company, who own the Spoetzl Brewery, fired back with a full-page ad in the Shiner Gazette calling out Anheuser-Busch InBev and declaring its fierce independence…
To our friends in Shiner:
We have heard some chatter about uncommon sights around town last month—three billboards and a concert sponsorship touting: “There’s a new Bock in Shiner.”
That’s not Shiner Bock my friends. They are talking about Karbach Brewing Co., which is owned and operated by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, the largest brewer in the United States and in the world.
It is not the Shiner Bock that’s brewed here in Shiner at the K. Spoetzl Brewery. This brewery has been providing jobs and giving back to our community since 1909—that’s 110 years.
It is not the 110% independent and family-owned Shiner Bock. Our beers proudly wear the Brewers Association’s “Certied Independent Craft” seal on our labels—something an A-B-owned beer will never be able to do.
A-B is a public multinational company with its global headquarters in Belgium. A-B acquired Karbach Brewing Co. in 2016. This was part of A-B’s larger scheme to acquire craft breweries around the United States and use its huge plants to produce the former craft beers they now own.
A-B does not want you to know that Karbach is produced at the formerly craft Karbach brewery and at its large, low-cost A-B plant in Houston. This is a huge company with deep pockets seeking to force its way into our town.
It is not the first time they have tried to imitate our iconic Shiner Bock—A-B’s Ziegenbock and Michelob AmberBock have been around for years. Now, Karbach’s Crawford Bock joins A-B’s family of bocks: “There’s a new Bock in A-B.”
But they can try again. It won’t be the first time some local Texans faced unbelievable odds.
We’ve got pride on our side. We are proud of our beer, proud of our independence, proud of our heritage, proud of our authenticity, and proud to be in Shiner, Texas.
To the drinkers who love Shiner, we say “Cheers” and to the giant breweries, as our friends down the road once said, “Come and Take It.”
Thank you for your support.
Your friends at the Spoetzl Brewery
In a statement released to press, Karbach brand manager David Graham explained the brewery’s involvement with the October 19 event…
“When we got the call from Del Papa Distributing in Shiner, Texas, asking us to help them support the Lion’s Club Shiner Music Fest, the partnership was an easy ‘yes’ from us”
“Shiner Music Fest not only has a rich history in the area — it’s also important to our community — and we’re honored to do our part.”
