Restaurants

Shiner Brewery Makes for the Ultimate Texas Day Trip

The historic Texas brewery offers an easy escape from Austin with tours, dining and plenty to explore

By Avery Toomes
August 18, 2026

Rows of barrels line the ceiling at Rickhouse, the onsite restaurant and bar at Spoetzl Brewery. (Photo courtesy of Shiner)

Ninety minutes southeast of Austin, K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery, the Shiner, Texas, brewery behind Shiner beer, offers the perfect day trip, with brewery and distillery tours, a restaurant, live music and plenty of lawn space to settle in with a cold Shiner in hand. Since 1909, K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery has been making the beer that put this small Texas town on the map. Today, Shiner offers visitors a look into that history, with in-depth tours of the spirits- and beer-making processes and an easy way to unwind outside the city.

Spoetzl Brewery and K. Spoetzl Distilling Company in Shiner, Texas, offer brewery and distillery tours, craft spirit tastings, dining and live music. (Photo courtesy of Shiner)

Before you go

Spoetzl Brewery and K. Spoetzl Distilling Company offer separate brewery and distillery tours, each running about 45 minutes and costing $35. For a seamless arrival, book a reservation in advance and arrive about 15 minutes early with a photo ID. Visitors planning to take the distillery tour should also arrange a designated driver, as the experience concludes with a spirit tasting. While the flight of spirits is small, it’s always a good idea to drive responsibly. For visitors looking to make a full day of it, leave time between the tour and lunch to enjoy the lawn and outdoor spaces rather than rushing from one stop to the next.

The distillery tour offers visitors a closer look at how Shiner's craft spirits move from raw ingredients to finished pour. — The distillery tour offers visitors a closer look at how Shiner’s craft spirits move from raw ingredients to finished pour. (Photo courtesy of Shiner)

Touring the distillery

The distillery tour begins with a knowledgeable guide leading visitors to the distillery and speakeasy, where guests can see the brass inner workings of the operation while learning how Shiner’s craft spirits are made from start to finish. The tour also offers a look at the history that shaped the brewery, with an informational video tracing its story from the German and Czech immigrants who settled in Shiner, Texas, to Kosmos Spoetzl, a classically trained brewer from Germany who brought his family’s Bavarian brewing recipe to Texas. The story continues through Prohibition, when Spoetzl Brewery survived while much of the country’s brewing industry was forced to close.

After the historical overview, the tour shifts from Shiner’s story to the craft behind its spirits, giving visitors a look inside the distillery to see the equipment and learn how each spirit is made. The experience concludes with a flight of Shiner craft spirits, including vodka, gin, moonshine and cinnamon moonshine. Guests leave with a deeper understanding of what goes into each pour, along with a K. Spoetzl Distilling Company shot glass as a souvenir.

Rickhouse offers a lively setting for drinks, dining and conversation just across the lawn from K. Spoetzl Distilling Company. (Photo courtesy of Shiner)

Grab lunch at Rickhouse

Once the tour wraps, there is no need to get back in the car in search of food. Open Thursday through Saturday, Rickhouse, the on-site restaurant, offers an easy way to continue the Shiner experience. Just across the lawn from the distillery, the restaurant features rows of barrels lining the high ceilings above a large bar, creating a polished take on classic Texas interiors.

The menu puts an elevated spin on Texas favorites, while the cocktail program gives guests another opportunity to sample the spirits featured on the distillery tour. For a more casual option, K. Spoetzl BBQ Co. serves slow-smoked Texas barbecue right on the brewery grounds. After lunch, head out to the lawn for live music, shaded and sunny seating options and plenty of space to settle in and relax.

Shiner_Rickhouse_Exteriors_02204-nt (2) — A day at Spoetzl Brewery begins with a tour and can easily stretch into an afternoon of food, drinks and live music. (Photo courtesy of Shiner)

Upcoming events

K. Spoetzl Brewery and Distillery’s fall calendar is packed with reasons to make the trip from Austin. Its Mini Concert Series returns Sept. 5 with Reagan Hicks performing from 6 to 9 p.m., followed by three Oktoberfest weekends on Sept. 19, Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, each featuring German music, food and games for all ages. Market Days and a pumpkin patch arrive Oct. 10, with Market Days running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the pumpkin patch open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The season builds toward its annual Shinerfest on Oct. 24, a full-day celebration featuring country music, Shiner beer and spirits, K. Spoetzl BBQ Co., Rickhouse and other food vendors, plus brewery and distillery tours.