
Episode #317
Lone Star Beer: How It Became The National Beer Of Texas
Lone Star Beer: The Story of Two San Antonio Breweries This week on Beer In Front, we’re heading to Texas to talk about one of America’s great regional beer brands: Lone Star Beer.You know the red star. You know the slogan, “The National Beer of Texas.” But did you know the history of Lone Star actually involves two completely different San Antonio breweries? My guest is Jeremy Banas, author of the new book Lone Star Beer: A History of Two Iconic San Antonio Breweries. Jeremy helps untangle the story, beginning with the original Lone Star Brewing Company founded in the 1880s with the backing of Adolphus Busch, through Prohibition, and eventually to the second Lone Star brewery that created the beer and Texas identity we recognize today.We talk about how brewery equipment made its way from Mexico to San Antonio, a connection to Pancho Villa, and how Lone Star became intertwined with Texas culture.A big part of that story happened during the 1970s, when Lone Star found a natural home in Austin's music scene. Jeremy explains the brand's connection to the Armadillo World Headquarters, Willie Nelson and the emerging cosmic/outlaw country movement—and how simply making sure musicians had plenty of Lone Star helped turn the beer into a Texas icon.We also get into the myths surrounding Lone Star's supposed 140-plus-year continuous history and why Jeremy believes the stories of the two breweries deserve to be separated.After talking with Jeremy, I crack open a Lone Star Original and give it the Beer In Front treatment. It's a classic, straightforward American lager: light, crisp, crushable and exactly the kind of beer that makes sense ice-cold at a neighborhood bar.Put It In The Cart? You'll have to listen, but let's just say Lone Star understands the assignment. Finally, I have an update on Rogue Ales & Spirits. Roughly nine months after Rogue filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, there's interest in acquiring the company's intellectual property—including its recipes, trademarks, yeast strains and, most importantly, Dead Guy Ale. Could Dead Guy eventually make its way back onto store shelves? I take a look at where things stand.In This Episode The surprising story of the two Lone Star breweries Adolphus Busch's role in the original San Antonio brewery How Prohibition ended the first Lone Star How the Lone Star name returned in 1940 Moving brewery equipment from Mexico to San Antonio The Lone Star connection to Pancho Villa Harry Jersig and the growth of the brand Austin's Armadillo World Headquarters Willie Nelson, outlaw country and Lone Star How Lone Star became synonymous with Texas Jeremy debunks the biggest Lone Star history myth Tasting Lone Star Original Put It In The Cart Could Rogue Dead Guy Ale return? This Week's Guest Jeremy Banas Author of Lone Star Beer: A History of Two Iconic San Antonio Breweries Jeremy has spent years documenting San Antonio's brewing history, including books covering Pearl and the city's larger beer story. His latest book digs into the complicated and often misunderstood history behind Lone Star.Look for Lone Star Beer: A History of Two Iconic San Antonio Breweries through Arcadia Publishing , Amazon , Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and participating bookstores. Beer In Front Sometimes the best beer isn't the rarest, newest or most complicated beer.Sometimes it's simply the beer that's sitting in front of you. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support . Beer Media Group






