The Gambrinus Company
The Gambrinus Company is a family-owned craft beverage company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, operating the historic K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, TX to produce and distribute Shiner Beers, Shiner Texas Spirits, and LandShark Vodka Seltzer across all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and U.S. military bases globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersSan Antonio, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Gambrinus Company does
The Gambrinus Company is a privately held, family-owned craft beverage company founded in 1986 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Its core operations revolve around the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, Texas — the oldest independently owned and operated brewery in Texas, founded in 1909 by German and Czech immigrants, and ranked as the second-largest 100% family-owned craft brewery in the United States. Every drop of Shiner beer is brewed in Shiner using old-world recipes and artesian well water, with a portfolio spanning Shiner Bock, Shiner Light, Shiner 1909, Shiner Ruby Redbird, Shiner Sea Salt and Lime, the Shiner Tex Hex IPA franchise, Shiner Straight Shooter Hard Seltzer, and the newer Texas Special line. K. Spoetzl Distillery, launched on-site in 2023, produces Shiner Texas Spirits (vodka, gin, moonshine, bourbon) using Scottish-made copper pot stills and rectifying columns, with the Shiner Texas Legend Bourbon released in November 2025 as a $199 cask-strength limited exclusive.
The company sells through wholesale distributors and a disciplined field sales team into all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and U.S. military bases globally, generating revenue primarily through one-time wholesale and retail beverage sales. Customer segments are predominantly mass-market craft beer consumers (grocery, c-store, liquor stores) and on-premise/hospitality accounts (bars, restaurants), with the Rickhouse restaurant and tasting room (opened November 2025, 10,000 sq ft) creating a direct-to-consumer hospitality and tourism channel adjacent to the brewery. Beyond its owned brands, Gambrinus operates the LandShark Vodka Seltzer line in partnership with the Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage Trust — handling production at Shiner, sales, and marketing with a state-by-state rollout that began in Texas, Florida, Delaware, and Kansas.
Recent strategic activity has been defined by portfolio focus and diversification: in April 2026 Gambrinus divested the US rights to Trumer Pils to Firestone Walker Brewing Company and began winding down its Berkeley, California brewery, while continuing to invest in higher-growth segments — premium beer (Texas Special), spirits (Texas Legend Bourbon, Balcones and Garrison Brothers whiskey collaborations), RTD vodka seltzer (LandShark), and DTC hospitality (Rickhouse). The company maintains 101–250 employees, produces over 6 million cases of beer annually, and has accumulated 96+ international awards across the Shiner portfolio. No external funding, venture capital, or private equity investment is indicated; ownership and control have remained with the founding family throughout.
The Gambrinus Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Gambrinus Company
- Legal name
- The Gambrinus Company
- Website
- https://gambrinus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Gambrinus Company is a family-owned craft beverage company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, operating the historic K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, TX to produce and distribute Shiner Beers, Shiner Texas Spirits, and LandShark Vodka Seltzer across all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and U.S. military bases globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Gambrinus Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer and Premium Spirits Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Distilleries (312140), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)
Keywords
Where The Gambrinus Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Antonio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Gambrinus Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Beer Sales: Gambrinus sells and markets craft beer under the Shiner Beers brand, including Shiner Bock, Shiner Light, Shiner Ruby Redbird, Shiner Sea Salt and Lime, Shiner 1909, Shiner Tex Hex IPA, Straight Shooter Hard Seltzer, and Texas Special. Revenue is generated through wholesale distribution to retail stores and on-premise venues across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and U.S. military bases globally.
- Spirits Sales: Gambrinus produces and sells Shiner Texas Spirits including Texas Vodka, Texas Gin, Shiner 'Shine (moonshine), Shiner Texas Bourbon, and Shiner Texas Legend Bourbon. Spirits are sold through the distillery hospitality room, the Rickhouse restaurant/tasting room, and select retailers.
- LandShark Vodka Seltzer: Gambrinus produces and markets LandShark Vodka Seltzer in partnership with the Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage Trust. Production takes place at the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery; Gambrinus oversees production, sales, and marketing. Distributed in 4-flavor variety packs and single-flavor packs.
- Brewery/Distillery Tourism: Direct-to-consumer revenue from brewery tours, distillery tours, and tastings at the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, TX. The Rickhouse restaurant (opened November 2025) offers food and beverage service, including craft cocktails, spirits, and Texas-inspired cuisine.
- Trumer Pils: Gambrinus previously owned and operated the Trumer Brewery in Berkeley, California, producing Trumer Pils for the US market since 2004. The US rights to Trumer Pils were sold to Firestone Walker Brewing Company in April 2026.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Barrel-Aged Doppelbock 24 oz bottle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shiner Texas Legend Bourbon |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Balcones Texas Bock Whisky |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LandShark Vodka Seltzer |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Gambrinus Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Gambrinus Company produces, markets, and distributes craft beer, craft spirits, and ready-to-drink beverages manufactured at the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, Texas. Its portfolio spans the Shiner Beers lineup (including flagship Shiner Bock), Shiner Texas Spirits (vodka, gin, moonshine, bourbon), Texas Special, and the LandShark Vodka Seltzer line produced under partnership with the Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage Trust.
Product overview
The Gambrinus Company is a family-owned craft beer and premium spirits company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Its core operations center on the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, Texas, producing the Shiner Beers portfolio (including flagship Shiner Bock) and Shiner Texas Spirits. The company expanded into spirits with the K. Spoetzl Distillery in 2023, adding vodka, gin, moonshine, and bourbon. Recent additions include Texas Special premium beer (2025), LandShark Vodka Seltzer partnership (2025), and Rickhouse restaurant/tasting room (2025). The company previously owned Trumer Pils (US rights sold to Firestone Walker in 2026).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shiner Beers: Historic craft beer brand brewed at K. Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas since 1909, available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico
- Shiner Texas Spirits
- Texas Special
- Trumer Pils
- LandShark Vodka Seltzer
Products and services
- Shiner Beers Flagship craft beer portfolio brewed at the historic K. Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas, including Shiner Bock, Shiner Light, Shiner 1909, Shiner Ruby Redbird, Shiner Sea Salt and Lime, Shiner Lemonade Shandy, and Shiner Tex Hex IPA. Distributed to retail and on-premise accounts across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
- Shiner Texas Spirits Portfolio of craft spirits produced at the K. Spoetzl Distillery in Shiner, Texas, including Texas Vodka, Texas Gin, Shiner 'Shine (moonshine), and Shiner Texas Bourbon. Earned three medals at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
- Shiner Texas Legend Bourbon First-ever bourbon from Shiner, a limited release aged three years in American oak and bottled at cask strength of 109 proof. Sold exclusively at the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery.
- Texas Special Premium domestic beer introduced by K. Spoetzl Brewery in 2025, including Texas Special Light. Awarded Silver Medals at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards in American Style Lager and Contemporary American Style Light Lager categories.
- Shiner Straight Shooter Hard Seltzer Hard seltzer craft-brewed at the Spoetzl Brewery using artesian well water and traditional brewing methods, naturally gluten-free with zero carbs, zero sugar, and 90 calories per serving. Available in Wild Cherry, Lemonade, Mango, and Grapefruit & Lime flavors.
- LandShark Vodka Seltzer Ready-to-drink vodka seltzer launched in partnership with the Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage Trust. Available in Lime, Pineapple, Mango, and Fruit Punch flavors with 0g sugar, 1g carbs, and 90 calories per 12 oz can; sold in variety packs and single-flavor 4-packs.
- Brewery and Distillery Tours Direct-to-consumer brewery and distillery tours at the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, Texas, recognized by USA TODAY 10Best as best brewery tour in Texas and 2nd-best in the country.
- Rickhouse Restaurant and Tasting Room 10,000 square foot restaurant and tasting room adjacent to the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery, featuring handcrafted spirits distilled on-site, Texas-inspired cuisine, craft cocktails, and live music and event space.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 6 million cases of beer produced annually
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use The Gambrinus Company
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Gambrinus Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Gambrinus Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage TrustcoreGambrinus and the Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage Trust partnered to launch LandShark Vodka Seltzer, a new ready-to-drink spirits-based beverage. Gambrinus oversees production (at K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery), sales, and marketing, while the Trust provides the LandShark brand and lifestyle positioning. The collaboration reflects shared values of authenticity, craftsmanship, and beach-inspired lifestyle branding. The partnership was announced with a planned April 2026 retail launch in Texas, Florida, Delaware, and Kansas.
- K. Spoetzl Brewery & DistillerycoreThe K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, TX serves as the production facility for LandShark Vodka Seltzer, manufactured under Gambrinus' operation for the Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage Trust partnership.
- Firestone Walker Brewing CompanyminorFirestone Walker acquired the US rights to Trumer Pils from Gambrinus in a brand acquisition covering brewing, marketing, and distribution. Firestone Walker will produce the pilsner at its Paso Robles, California facility while Gambrinus winds down its Berkeley brewery where the beer was brewed for the US market since 2004. Financial terms were not disclosed. This transaction represents a brand divestiture by Gambrinus.
- Garrison Brothers DistillerycoreSpoetzl Brewery collaborated with Garrison Brothers Distillery to release a Barrel-Aged Doppelbock, the first in Shiner's 2022 Brewers Pride series. The doppelbock was aged in ex-Port casks previously used to create Garrison Brothers' Guadalupe Bourbon, resulting in bold and innovative flavors. The product sold at a suggested retail price of $19.99 for 24 oz bottles at HEB, Kroger, and Total Wine in Texas.
- Balcones DistillingcoreSpoetzl Brewery partnered with Balcones Distilling to produce Balcones Texas Bock Whisky, based on the exact recipe for Shiner Bock. The partnership utilizes the brewery's mash bill and proprietary lager yeast strain, with Balcones aging the product in American oak barrels. This is the fourth collaboration between the two Texas brands. Balcones previously partnered on a Barrel-Aged Bock craft beer and Barrel-Aged Spoetzl Marzen. Texas Bock whisky retails for $44.99 and is available at Balcones Distillery in Waco and select retailers in Texas and Oklahoma.
- Bakery Creative AgencycoreSpoetzl Brewery appointed Bakery as its lead creative agency and agency of record starting January 2021. Based in Austin, TX (with offices in NYC and Tokyo), Bakery is responsible for all creative work across Shiner's full product portfolio, including brand strategy, cultural relevance initiatives, and consumer insight-driven innovation. Bakery's clients include Fortune 500 companies such as Nike, T-Mobile, Diageo, and Humana.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Gambrinus Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company: California-based craft brewer that acquired the U.S. rights to Trumer Pils from Gambrinus in April 2026. Directly comparable craft-scale brewery with national distribution and a portfolio expansion strategy.
- New Belgium Brewing: Craft brewery founded on heritage and sustainability principles, now owned by Kirin; comparable craft-scale operations with a national tap footprint and brand-led innovation.
- Garrison Brothers Distillery: Texas bourbon distiller and partner with Gambrinus on Barrel-Aged Doppelbock and Guadalupe cask-finished products; closely aligned craft distilling scale and Texas heritage positioning.
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Family-founded craft brewery of similar scale and national distribution footprint; comparable portfolio strategy spanning year-round, seasonal, and specialty beers with deep award recognition.
- Lagunitas Brewing Company: Major craft brewer (now part of Heineken) with national distribution and a broad specialty portfolio; comparable craft-scale operations and brand-driven growth model.
- D.G. Yuengling & Son: America's oldest brewery (1829) and largest 100% family-owned brewer; closest analog to Gambrinus on family ownership, heritage, regional-to-national growth trajectory, and lager-led portfolio.
- Balcones Distilling: Texas craft distillery and active Gambrinus partner (Texas Bock Whisky, Barrel-Aged collaborations); directly comparable Texas craft spirits producer with 350+ awards and similar GTM focus.
Regional players
- Karbach Brewing Company: Houston-based Texas craft brewery competing for the same regional on-premise and retail accounts as Shiner; relevant peer for Texas market share dynamics though smaller and AB-InBev owned.
- Deep Eddy Vodka: Texas-based craft vodka brand (now owned by Heaven Hill) that pioneered a Texas craft spirits identity; comparable regional positioning in the Texas craft spirits category.
Broad incumbents
- Boston Beer Company: Public craft pioneer (Samuel Adams) with national distribution and a diversified portfolio (beer, hard seltzer, Twisted Tea RTDs); comparable category breadth and distribution scale, though publicly traded and broader in scope.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Gambrinus Company social profiles
Digital presenceThe Gambrinus Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Gambrinus Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Gambrinus Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
The Gambrinus Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Gambrinus Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Gambrinus Company
What does The Gambrinus Company do?
The Gambrinus Company produces, markets, and distributes craft beer, craft spirits, and ready-to-drink beverages manufactured at the K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery in Shiner, Texas. Its portfolio spans the Shiner Beers lineup (including flagship Shiner Bock), Shiner Texas Spirits (vodka, gin, moonshine, bourbon), Texas Special, and the LandShark Vodka Seltzer line produced under partnership with the Margaritaville Alcohol Beverage Trust.
Is The Gambrinus Company a public or private company?
The Gambrinus Company is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Gambrinus Company founded?
The Gambrinus Company was founded in 1986. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Gambrinus Company based?
The Gambrinus Company is headquartered in San Antonio, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Gambrinus Company make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are spirits Sales, landShark Vodka Seltzer, brewery/Distillery Tourism and trumer Pils.
Who are The Gambrinus Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Firestone Walker Brewing Company, New Belgium Brewing, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Lagunitas Brewing Company, D.G. Yuengling & Son and Balcones Distilling. Regional players are Karbach Brewing Company and Deep Eddy Vodka. Boston Beer Company is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Gambrinus Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Gambrinus Company.
What industry is The Gambrinus Company in?
The Gambrinus Company's product category is Craft Beer and Premium Spirits Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAA, Beer Brewing & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAJ, Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.