Ask any Texan what his favorite beer is and 9 times out of 10 you’ll hear Shiner as a response. It isn’t that amazing and isn’t the most affordable but it certainly is Texas. Priding itself on its heritage and small town craft, over the last century Shiner has worked its way into the heart of this state becoming its staple brew. Recently however, Shiner has announced its intentions to expand to both New York and Philly. This is great news to thirsty northerners but raises some mixed feelings in the Shiner loyalist community.
Shiner currently produces about half a million barrels of beer a year. Now annually this means they distribute roughly 35,000,000 cases. All of which brewed in Shiner Texas. Here in lies the problem. They are already running three shifts, which the max a brewery can maintain. In addition they are planning on further expanding their facilities. But how much can 1 brewery really brew? At the moment Shiner has approximately 148 employees, however there always still looking. There’s a local joke which says that if your not employed its by your own damn choice. There could be some truth to this considering the only places to work, the brewery and the wire factory, are always snatching stragglers up.
The problem however is with production and output completely maxed out how is Shiner supposed to keep up with the rising demand, especially with the addition of new distribution states. It would seem their only option is to open a new brewery. But where to do it is the question? Part of Shiners appeal is its claim, “every drop of Shiner, is Brewed in Shiner.” If they decided to build a new brewery should they keep it in Texas, or perhaps just go all the way and build one in New York. In my opinion if they do that then what’s point of moving there in the first place. Lets face it; Shiner is cool because Shiner is Texas. It uses Texas ingredients and employs Texas workers. It wouldn’t be the same with NY water, NY hops, and NY brewers. Well whatever they decide to do I hope they don’t become another mediocre brand with a fancy label, like Coors. (in the 80’s people used to bring Coors by the caseload back from Colorado because that was the only place you could get it. I have faith; I just think Shiner should take a lesson from history and play it smart.