SHINER, TX (April 22, 2008) - The Spoetzl Brewery, makers of the legendary Shiner family of beers, has been awarded a silver medal for its Shiner Dunkelweizen at the 2008 Brewers Association (BA) World Beer Cup, considered to be one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world. The medal was awarded in the American-style Wheat Beer Category.


The World Beer Cup is a global competition that recognizes the most outstanding beers being produced today. 2,930 of the world’s best beers were entered in the competition by 646 breweries in 58 different countries. Gold, silver and bronze awards were available in 91 different categories, although the judging process is so rigorous that not all categories produce three award-winners.


268 individual awards were handed out April 19 during the World Beer Cup Awards Ceremony in San Diego, California. A panel of 129 judges representing 21 countries handled the judging. The Boulder, Colorado-based Brewers Association, an organization founded to promote and protect the interests of the U.S. craft brewing community, organizes the annual competition.


This award follows closely on the heels of an impressive Shiner showing at the Australian International Beer Awards which were announced in late March. This competition attracted more than 1,000 entries from 217 breweries in 42 countries.


Shiner Bock was a silver medal winner in the Dark Lager Category. Shiner’s two latest limited-edition anniversary beers fared well, with Shiner 98 Bavarian Amber winning bronze in the European-style Lager category and Shiner 99, a Helles-style, awarded a bronze medal in the Amber/Bock/Oktoberfest/Marzen/Vienna category. Bohemian Black Lager won a silver medal in the same category.


Shiner Light and the brewery’s newest beer, Spezial Leicht were silver and bronze medalists, respectively, in the Low Carb category. Spoetzl was one of the most-awarded American breweries in the competition.


Founded in Shiner, Texas (population 2,070), the Spoetzl Brewery is one of America’s oldest independent breweries. While Spoetzl has grown to be the country’s fourth largest craft brewers, every drop of Shiner’s award winning beer is still handcrafted and bottled by only 56 employees, very near the spot where it all started in 1909.

Few things go better with great music than a cold beer. If we’re talking about Texas music, then what beer could possibly go better than Texas’ own Shiner Bock, from the legendary Spoetzl Brewery?


It’s no surprise to find the two together. Shiner beers have been a longtime favorite of Texas musicians and their fans. In return, Shiner has supported music and musicians, in Texas and elsewhere, in a number of ways - concert series, tour promotions, special events and even an affiliate record label to name a few.


The latest partnership for Shiner is with Radio Free Texas, a cutting edge radio station that connects users with the best Texas music via the internet. Shiner is now the Official Beer of Radio Free Texas and will have significant exposure on the website as well as at RFT’s live events throughout the year.


Radio Free Texas plays a wide range of country artists from Texas, as well as some rock, a little jazz, and big acts like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. It’s also known as a champion of the fast-growing “Red Dirt” genre - a unique blend of musical styles with its roots in Oklahoma and Texas.


RTF is also becoming known as the place to hear up-and-coming artists you can’t often find on the formulaic commercial stations or even on satellite radio. That makes it a perfect fit with Shiner, which has remained fiercely independent for nearly 100 years. And when you hear musicians talk about their love of what they do and their obsession with their craft, well, those describe the way Shiner thinks about making beer too.


Shiner started humbly in the town that shares its name. It has now grown into a Texas icon and beyond - Shiner is the fourth largest craft brewer in the nation, available in 39 states. But even now, every drop is brewed by only 55 dedicated Spoetzl workers.


Like Shiner, RFT started by attracting legions of fans in the Lone Star state. Now, thanks to the virtually unlimited reach of the Internet, it is spreading across the country and around the world.


And because it’s web-based, it’s more than a radio station; it’s a community with some of the same attributes that make Shiner, Texas such a special place. Listeners can chat and get to know each other and even interact with the artists themselves. It’s also rich in content, with listeners submitting articles, interviews, reviews and commentary.


Shiner Beers and Texas music have grown up together. Now there’s one more way to let the rest of the world know how well they go with each other.

SHINER, Texas, Aug. 28, 2006 – Chart-topping alternative metal group, Godsmack, will headline the 2006 Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert on Saturday, Oct. 14, in Green Dickson Park. The Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert, known as one of Texas’ premier live music events, celebrates the best of country, Americana, alternative and modern rock, while satisfying thirsty music fans with an assortment of Shiner’s award-winning, handcrafted brews.

Each year, thousands of concert-goers flood the tiny town of Shiner (population 2,070) to attend Texas’ largest, one-day outdoor music festival. Shiner is home to one stoplight, two elevators, and Texas’ Oldest Independent Brewery® – the Spoetzl Brewery. The Shiner Bocktoberfest annually delivers crowd-pleasing, energetic line-ups showcasing diverse music genres. The 2006 line-up is bursting with Texas favorites like Blue October, Pat Green, Old 97’s and Lost Immigrants, not to mention all around crowd pleasers, superstar headliner Godsmack and country blockbusters, Diamond Rio and Restless Heart.

What began as a grassroots celebration of Shiner Beer and Texas music has become a veritable icon among contemporary music events. The Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert began in 1994 as the “Thanks a Million” concert, a tribute to the first million-case sales year achieved by the Spoetzl Brewery. Thousands of people attended the concert as the City of Shiner celebrated – thanking Shiner consumers for their loyalty. Originally held on the brewery grounds, Shiner Bocktoberfest is now held in Green Dickson Park, just one mile east of the Spoetzl Brewery, to accommodate ever-growing crowds.

Wildly popular New England alternative metal group Godsmack has proven their iconic rocker status with the release of its newest album, IV. The captivating combination of front man Sully Erna, drummer Shannon Larkin, guitarist Tony Rambola and bassist Robbie Merrill is sure to have the audience enthralled.

Blue October, formed in Houston in the late 90s, is famous for smash hits like “Hate Me” and “Calling You.” The group is recognized for dynamic live performances sure to rock Shiner thanks to lead singer/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, his brother, drummer Jeremy, Ryan Delahoussaye, guitarist/vocalist C.B. Hudson and bassist Matt Noveskey.

The name Pat Green ensures sold out performances wherever he plays. The three-time Grammy nominee and grassroots artist recently released the spirited Canonball. Green’s distinctive lyrics and music always has his loyal fans cheering for more.

Grand Ole Opry inductees Diamond Rio helped define the “young country” movement of the early 1990s. Their first seven albums are all certified gold or platinum. After 15 years as a band, they’ve released Greatest Hits, Vol .2, which includes their first single, “Meet in the Middle.”

Old 97’s began as a popular Dallas bar band in 1993 recognized for their crowd-swaying, diverse array of alternative country hits. Philip Peoples, Ken Bethea, Murry Hammond and Rhett Miller form the quartet who gained notoriety shortly after the release of their first album, “Hitchhike to Rhome.” Recently, the group made a cameo appearance in the summer blockbuster “The Break-Up.”

Restless Heart, famous for hits like “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” “Tender Lie” and “Bluest Eyes In Texas,” blends back roads country training with contemporary pop and West Coast country-rock. The band’s been a success since the late 80s, and they’re still going strong.

The unique sound of Lost Immigrants is hard to categorize. Equal parts country, rock, pop and blues, their catalog of songs is sure to please even the most selective music fans.

Additional information
Tickets for the legendary Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert are $28 at the brewery gift shop and $35 online at www.shiner.com. With the energetic music line-up featured this year, the Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert is expected to be a sold-out show. If available, tickets will be sold at the gate on the day of the show for $45. As in years past, PARKING IS FREE. More concert information and photos from last year’s event can be found at www.shiner.com.

For concert-goers who want to soak up the entire experience, 600 overnight campsites will be available for tents and RVs in Green Dickson Park, the site of the Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert and only 200 yards from the front gate, for an additional fee. Space is limited so early reservations are required. Register for camping at www.shiner.com.

Gates to the grounds of the concert open at noon, and the evening will end with an orchestrated fireworks show at 10:30 p.m. Concert-goers should leave coolers, cameras, blankets, pets and weapons, including knives of any kind, at home. Bring a folding chair and get ready for a rockin’ good time. Down-home favorite food and beverages – including award-winning Shiner brews – will be available for purchase throughout the day. An ATM will also be available onsite.
What It’s All About
Proceeds from the Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert benefit the Shiner Chamber of Commerce and other Shiner civic and charitable organizations.

For more information on the Shiner Bocktoberfest Concert, the Spoetzl Brewery or the Shiner family of beers, please visit the brewery website at www.shiner.com or see our Wikipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocktoberfest. For more information on the city of Shiner and the Shiner Chamber of Commerce, visit www.shinertx.com.

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For more information, call
Jamie Morris of Stevens│FKM at 713.867.3201.