Herman Weiss was a Prussian born brewmaster. He immigrated to Texas in the 1880s with his wife Maria. Herman Weiss was living in San Antonio in 1900, when the 1900 hurricane destroyed Galveston. Perhaps seeking opportunity in the new city, he moved to Galveston and started Weiss and Son's brewery. His sons, Herman Jr. and Charles, helped him at the brewery. Herman was offered the position of head brewmaster in 1909 at the newly formed Shiner Brewery which later became the Spoetzl Brewery.