On the day my boyfriend and I visited Shiner, Texas, 17,000 cases of beer rolled off the assembly line at the Spoetzl brewery. The hospitality suite allowed us four small plastic cups of beer; after that, we were on our own. We knew there was more beer to be found nearby.
Where is the Friday night scene in this small town of just over 2000 residents? The tour guide recommended Howard's. As she gave us directions, she told us that, from the front, it's a convenience store with gas pumps; out back, they have Shiner beer on draft and a beer garden.
When Howard Gloor opened his convenience store in 1984, he went beyond the usual "beer, bait and ammo" by taking the extra step of getting an on-premises beer license. His store follows in the tradition of the "icehouses" that once dotted the Texas landscape. Icehouses offered ice, beer, and other items to take home, but also provided a place to visit over a cold beverage. He lucked into a keg cooler and started with two taps, serving the original Shiner brew and Lone Star.
He now has nine taps, including five varieties of Shiner. Out on the back porch, the brick-and-steel facade of the convenience store gives way to the weathered wood of an old barn wall. Howard's wife keeps an artificial Christmas tree up year-round. This week, it is festooned with red poppies and U.S. flags in honor of Memorial Day.
When the sun starts setting, the tables in the beer garden fill up quickly. Families gather for hand-scooped Blue Bell ice cream cones, popcorn and beer after the kids' softball games. One woman explains she often strolls up to visit on Friday evenings. She lives three houses away; her friend lives just a few blocks away. They agreed that when people purchase houses in Shiner, they consider whether or not it's walking distance to Howard's.
A few people start checking with Howard:
"Should we play tonight?"
"You wanna?"
"Looks like there's enough of us here."
"OK, I could go get my ..."
Article comments
1 - Coni Kurtz Jenkins
It was very intersting to read this article. It brought to mind a multitude of childhood memories of my family. Marty Shimek is my 1st cousin and as a child of 4 years old I attended the private school run by Ms. Gloor, Howards mother. This story was every weekend of my life growing up as a member of the Kurtz family. Even though over 20 years ago I moved on to surburbia and embraced an urban lifestyle, I am proud that this is my family and the rich heratige in which I grew up. It made me who I am today.