In 1914, German immigrant brewmaster Kosmos Spoetzl learned of the brewery and coleased the facility with Oswald Petzold with an option to buy. Spoetzl had apprenticed in Germany for 3 years and worked at the Pyramid Brewery in Cairo, Egypt, for 8 years before moving to San Antonio for a better environment for his health.

He brought with him a family recipe for Bavarian beer to Shiner and bought the brewery within a year. Spoetzl renamed the brewery to “Home Brewery” and began to produce beer in wooden kegs and bottles. In 1920, a nationwide constitutional law prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. During the prohibition, Spoetzl produced near beer - low-alcohol beer - and had to commit to construction work on the side in Florida to keep the brewery afloat.

What exactly is Shiner's signature brew? Shiner’s signature, the Shiner Bock, is a dark, strong bock beer that has its origins in Germany. A bock is traditionally brewed in the winter and is associated with the coming of spring. In the early 20th century, many German immigrants in the United States continued to brew bock beer as a way of maintaining their cultural heritage.

At the Spoetzl Brewery, the Shiner Bock features German specialty hops amidst rich roasted barley malts. The lightly-hopped dark lager is a fan-favourite among locals, but it wasn't until the 1970s that the Shiner Bock began to gain wider recognition. In the 1970s, the brewery began to focus exclusively on brewing bock beer and rebranded itself as the Spoetzl Brewery in honour of its founder, Kosmos Spoetzl.

In the years that followed, Shiner Bock continued to grow in popularity, thanks in part to its distinctive flavour and its association with Texas culture. The brewery also introduced new variations of the beer, including a blonde ale and a seasonal Oktoberfest brew.