Pinsetter Amber Lager: Our Homage to Texas 9-pin Bowling
Going back almost 150 years, the German tradition of 9-pin bowling was once the most popular style of bowling in the United States. Nowadays, Texas is the exclusive home to the country’s few remaining 9-pin bowling clubs. The sport is known for its emphasis on socializing and community over athletic success, and also for its uniquely old-fashioned use of “pinsetters” to keep the game rolling. Instead of transitioning to the modern use of electronic pinsetting machines, Texas 9-pin leagues still opt for hiring local youth to do the job. Only a handful of these bowling clubs are left anymore, including one in Real Ale’s Hill Country home of Blanco. Pinsetter Amber Lager is the brewery’s homage to this time-honored tradition: celebrating the pride, independence, and good times that these Texas landmarks stand for.
