Shiner Celebrates San Antonio’s 300th Anniversary with Collaboration Beer

Spoetzl Brewery, the Texas- based brewery best known for its lineup of Shiner branded beers, has announced the release of new beers commemorating the 300^th anniversary of the city of San Antonio, Texas. The new brews are being made in collaboration with Agüita Cerveza Artesanal, a craft brewery located on the island of Tenerife, which is part of Spain’s Canary Islands.

Why, you might ask, would Spoetzl Brewery collaborate with a brewery located off the shores of Western Africa? It does seem like an unusual choice, especially when you consider the number of craft breweries in Central Texas that would be more than willing to partner with Spoetzl on a celebratory beer. But the Canary Islands, in fact, are special to the birth of San Antonio because the city was founded by Canary Islanders who helped settle this south central Texas city in the 18^th century. Carlos Alvarez, CEO of Spoetzl Brewery’s parent company Gambrinus, made a special trip to the Canary Islands earlier this year so that he could get to know the local beer culture and the people who brew the island’s craft beer. Alvarez and his family migrated from Mexico to San Antonio in the 1980’s and wanted to do something special to celebrate his new hometown’s 300^th anniversary.

“I made my home in San Antonio and wanted to contribute to the tricentennial celebration with a special beer from our beloved brewery,” Alvarez said. “We had never done a collaboration brew before, but given the historical ties that bind San Antonio to the Canary Islands, I was inspired to travel there and invite the craft brewers from Agüita to collaborate with our highly-skilled brewery team to create these exceptional brews.” added Alvarez.

Combining talents from Spoetzl and Agüita Cerveza Artesanal, the brewers have created two new beers:

Las Canarias Ale– This is a Belgian-style blonde ale brewed using Gofio – a Canary Islands flour made from roasted wheat – Golding and Chinook hops, and two-row barley malts. The result is a balanced brew with flavors of Texas honey, spiced hop character, and a rich amber hue.

Tenerife Ale– This is a session ale made using two-row malts, caramel, Carapils Copper malts, and oats. Honey is added to enhance the natural fermentation and sweetness and the beer is completed with additions of Cascade, Williamette and Mosaic hops for aroma.

Both of these anniversary beers will be available on draught as well as in limited edition commemorative 750ml bottles. The beers were offered first at ‘Olé San Antonio’, a summer-long Pearl District program to honor San Antonio’s Spanish heritage in commemoration of the city’s historic 300^th anniversary. The beers marked their debut at Dia Mundial de la Tapa on Thursday, June 21^st at the Pearl Stable, much to the delight of Elizabeth Fauerso, Chief Marketing Officer of the Pearl.

“We are thrilled to be working with the legendary Spoetzl Brewery team on this project,” said Fauerso. “Being able to share these two incredibly special beers during our Olé event series is a true honor. We are so pleased to see our wonderful city thriving and excited to share its historic origins with San Antonians and now with our new Canary Island friends from Agüita.”

Tricentennials are important celebrations for any city. Speotzl Brewery and its Shiner products have been supplying the state of Texas with beer for more than 100 years with a heritage as rich as the city of San Antonio itself. These two commemorative, limitied edition beers are certainly fit for a celebration of this magnitude, so seek them out while supplies last. And help celebrate the 300 years of vibrancy and culture that have helped make San Antonio a destination like few others.