Saint Arnold's 'Moveable Yeast' Returns!

Saint Arnold's "Moveable Yeast" series has already produced one major winner of a beer, Weedwacker (which quickly became my absolute favorite summer beer). Press release from StA announcing the next entry in the series:

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Sets Release Date for Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian

Moveable Yeast series returns with alternate version of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA

HOUSTON, Feb. 7, 2012 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced plans to release the fourth brew of its popular “Movable Yeast” series: Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian. It is an alternate version of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA made with Belgian Trappist yeast. A limited supply of 60 barrels (approximately 20,000 12-ounce servings) of Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian will be released on Thursday, February 9, 2012. It will be available on tap at the brewery (for weekday tours only) as well as at select bars and restaurants throughout Texas.

The concept behind the Movable Yeast series is to focus on the flavor contribution of yeast. This release was created by brewing a regular batch of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA, which debuted in 2004, and splitting the wort (unfermented beer) into two 60 barrel fermenters. One fermenter was pitched with the usual Saint Arnold yeast to make Saint Arnold Elissa IPA and the second fermenter was pitched with Belgian Trappist yeast to create Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian.

“I encourage everyone to start by appreciating the aroma, which is full of cloves with a grapefruit undercurrent,” said Saint Arnold founder/brewer Brock Wagner who has used these same tasting techniques as a judge at the Great American Beer Festival. “When you put it up to your mouth it is basically an explosion of flavor, full of malt, spice and hops. The notes from the Belgian Trappist yeast work very well with the big Cascade flavor.”

As was the case with the other brews in the Moveable Yeast series, Wagner encourages craft beer enthusiasts to try Bitter Belgian side-by-side with Elissa IPA to get the full impact of the Belgian Trappist yeast.

The previous brews in the Moveable Yeast series were greeted with rave reviews and strong demand as craft beer enthusiasts enjoyed learning about the significant role yeast plays in influencing the aroma and flavor of craft beer. The reception for the first beer in the series, Saint Arnold Weedwacker, was so strong that the brewery added it its year-round lineup. However, production pressures at the brewery necessitated a one-year hiatus for the series.

Saint Arnold Bitter Belgian will not be bottled. It will start showing up on draft in select bars and restaurants throughout Texas at the end of next week, although some accounts may choose to hold off on tapping their kegs for special occasions. Supplies tend to last just a few weeks.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing's ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 38 dedicated employees. The brewery was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold's five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

Saint Arnold Austin Pub Crawl

Cut-and-pasted from their newsletter:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, Saint Arnold Austin Pub Crawl!

This will be our Downtown/6th Street Pub Crawl with five stops. We are utilizing our "open house" schedule for the first four stops. This means that we will be punching tickets at all of the stops for three and a half hours so people can split up between the establishments. You will get your ticket at whichever stop you decide to visit first. But, VERY IMPORTANT, we will only be handing out the tickets between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Thus, you still need to start between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Then, at 6:00 PM, everybody will gather at one final stop, and that is where we will award the glasses. The prize for making all five stops will be our awesome Saint Arnold Pub Crawl pint glass. We will have a large but limited supply of glasses. And as always, designated drivers are both eligible for the award and encouraged to attend! So here is the layout and our vague directions:

The locations (at which we will be simultaneously between 2:00 and 3:00 PM):

• Chupacabra on 6th St.
• Logan's on 6th St.
• Jackalope on 6th St.
• Shiner's Saloon (5th St. @ Congress - 2nd floor)

At 6:00 PM, we will end up at The Ginger Man for the pint glass giveaway.

Now, for our annual tips for maximum enjoyment:

• PRECOATING: Try to eat something before commencing the crawl.
• PACING: Too many Saint Arnold beers at the first stop is a critical strategic mistake. This is known as "Sprinting Too Early" which is not advisable in this, a distance event. Can have negative repercussions later.
• MANNERS: Be patient with bar staff. Remember, 300+ or so people will be descending upon a poor crew. They will be working as fast as they can. Also, it is considered very good manners to tip well everywhere you go. This creates good "beerma".
• CASH: Bring cash! This pleases the bar staff and the people standing behind you. Cash is fast. Credit cards are slow. They cannot run tabs for 300+ people.
• BUDDY SYSTEM: Make sure that you are always in contact with a couple of people you know. One of you is bound to notice that the pack is starting to move on to the next stop. This prevents the disoriented feeling of looking around an empty bar and realizing that the only three people still in there are guzzling some inferior malted beverage and may be related to the missing link.
• MAKE NEW FRIENDS: As everyone on this crawl will be intelligent and good looking, this is an excellent place to meet new people. Also, you will note that some people become better looking as the crawl wears on. If this occurs, be sure to consult your Buddy System partner.
• DESIGNATED DRIVER: Yes, we encourage this strongly. You never know when you might decide to run for president. And even the designated drivers on the crawl qualify for the prize. While pregnant wives are perfect for this role, it is known to be poor judgment for a husband to claim that this is the best part of her being pregnant. See "Mood Swings."
• ENJOY ST. ARNOLD'S BEERS: It is in poor taste to be seen quaffing anything else. Ever. See "Curse of Saint Arnold."
  

Saint Arnold Gives Houston Texans Some Incentive

Thanks to the Shirl for sending me this story.

The Houston Texans, for the first time in franchise history, will contest a playoff game, beginning about five minutes from now. According the Houston Business Journal, Brock Wagner, owner of Houston's Saint Arnold Brewing, has said he'll give them a beery treat if they take down the Bengals today. Sounds like good motivation to me.

Saint Arnold Scavenger Hunt

Sorry, I've been neglecting the blog while I was job-hunting (I lost my full-time gig at The Austin Chronicle back in August) and I might neglect it some more while I adjust to my new job (I just got hired by a state Senator to be her communications director), so I just wanted to offer this quick hit: Saint Arnold's Austin Scavenger Hunt wraps up this weekend. Details here.

New Saint Arnold Winter Seasonal

Whoa! A blend of my two very favorite Saint Arnold beers, Elissa IPA and Christmas Ale? Okay, I'm listening. Press release from Saint Arnold:

New Holiday Seasonal from Saint Arnold Sails into Stores Thursday

HOUSTON, November 16, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced another new seasonal release: Saint Arnold Sailing Santa. A blend of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA and Saint Arnold Christmas Ale, Sailing Santa is scheduled to begin appearing in stores throughout Texas and select Louisiana markets on Thursday, November 17^th in 22-ounce bombers.

This is the first time Saint Arnold has released Sailing Santa, which was invented by craft beer lovers a few months after the introduction of Elissa IPA in 2004. In the years that followed, the community adopted the name, “Sailing Santa,” for the concoction when ordering draft pints at bars and restaurants.

“Normally we aren't big fans of blending beers, but this one works,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “The hoppiness of Elissa IPA with the big malt and slightly higher alcohol of Christmas Ale makes a nice winter beer.”

Saint Arnold Sailing Santa will be an annual seasonal release that precedes Thanksgiving. It is the second new seasonal from Saint Arnold in just over a month, following the highly regarded release of Saint Arnold Pumpkinator. As was the case with Pumpkinator, supplies will be limited.

Saint Arnold produced a single 240 barrel batch, which translates to approximately 3,600 cases of twelve 22-ounce bombers. Saint Arnold Sailing Santa will not be shipped in kegs, but can be prepared on-site wherever Saint Arnold Elissa IPA and Saint Arnold Christmas Ale are on tap.

Next up from Saint Arnold will be Saint Arnold Winter Stout, which will begin appearing in stores in early December as supplies of Saint Arnold Christmas Ale are depleted.

Saint Arnold Santo In Stores Today

Saint Arnold's new "black Kölsch," Santo, hits stores today. I got a review six-pack yesterday. Not sure I taste the Kölsch aspect of it, but it is definitely lighter than your typical dark beer, with a faint touch of roastiness. Saint Arnold's brewers are no doubt happy to finally get this out to the public after a false start back in September, as they relate in press release below.

Saint Arnold Brewing Slates Santo for October 20^th Release

HOUSTON, October 18, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced its newest year-round beer, Santo, will be released on October 20, 2011. Originally planned for September, the release of Santo was delayed after the initial batch was tasted and the brewers felt there was something missing. After modifying the mash temperature and replacing the wheat malt with Munich malt, the brewers believe they have created the light, refreshing yet dark and flavorful beer they were after.

It is the second major new brew to be introduced by Saint Arnold in October, following closely on the heels of Saint Arnold Pumpkinator, which will be released on October 13^th.

“When we set out to create Santo, the idea was to create the beer we always wished we would get when we ordered a dark Mexican lager to go with our enchiladas,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “While we were a little embarrassed about announcing that we decided to dump our first batch, we are happy with the decision, especially given the beer that we are ready to release now. Our brewing team has been thoroughly enjoying this new version. We haven’t waited for the release date to tap some for ourselves.”

Santo is a black Kölsch. It is light in body and dark in color. Despite Santo’s dark appearance, the beer maintains other characteristics of a true Kölsch. Saint Arnold uses the same special Kölsch yeast – an ale yeast that ferments at almost lager temperatures – that is used in Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer. This contributes to Santo being light bodied and floral even though it has a distinctive dark malt flavor.

Santo is brewed using pale two-row and pils malted barley, a dash of Munich malt and an addition of black malt. Saint Arnold uses Hallertau Hersbrucker hops, added to the brew kettle in four separate cycles to create a delicate flavor and aroma. It has an original gravity of 1.045 (11.4° Plato), bitterness of 17 IBU and alcohol content (by volume) of 4.6 percent.

Santo will be available on tap and in 12-ounce bottles sold in six-packs and cases throughout Texas starting on October 20, 2011.

Santo is the sixth year-round beer from Saint Arnold. It joins Saint Arnold Amber Ale, Saint Arnold Brown Ale, Saint Arnold Elissa IPA, Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer and Saint Arnold Weedwacker in the regular lineup.

Saint Arnold Austin News & Events

From their newsletter:

OCTOBER 10, Saint Arnold Oktoberfest Pint Night-Ginger Man, 6pm
It's time for some fine Saint Arnold Oktoberfest, but then it always is!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, PUMPKINATOR!
You knew it as Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #9-it is making a comeback as a seasonal, and will be available in very limited amounts in 22oz bottles and draft!

OCTOBER 15, UT-v-OSU Tailgates
Root for Horns with Bevo's Benchwarmers (lot in front of Bullock Museum) and UT Tailgaters, 18th @ San Jacinto-both will have some cold Saint Arnold and great grub! ( 4 hrs before game time, which is TBA)

OCTOBER 16, Chefs Under Fire-Finals, 6pm
AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center.
Three deserving chefs will compete for the Chefs Under Fire Champion title to be awarded by Celebrity Chef Judge Chefs David Bull, Tyson Cole, & Kent Rathbun
http://www.chefsunderfire.com/tickets/

OCTOBER 19, Saint Arnold Oktoberfest Pint Night, Zax, 6pm
One of Austin's best beer-centric restaurants celebrates Oktoberfest, so stop in for some tasty Saint Arnold!
http://zaxaustin.com/

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, SANTO is released!!!
A new tasty beer by Saint Arnold is described as a black Kölsch will start showing up at your favorite beer stores!

OCTOBER 24, Homesick Texan Booksigning, Book People, 7pm
Our friend Lisa Fain, transplanted Texan in NYC, whose blog, Homesick Texan, has evolved into a cookbook and she will be signing them and drinking cold Saint Arnold all the while!
http://www.bookpeople.com/event/lisa-fain-homesick-texan-cookbook

OCTOBER 29 UT-v-Kansas, and that means it's tailgate time again!
Bevo's Benchwarmers (lot in front of Bullock Museum) and UT Tailgaters, 18th @ San Jacinto-Hook 'em Horns! ( 4 hrs before game time, which is TBA)

OCTOBER 30, Austin Beer Week
Cask-Conditioned Saint Arnold Pumpkinator, Ginger Man, 6pm. A rare treat for sure to close out Austin Beer Week!!

Coming Soon: Christmas Ale; Sailing Santa; Austin Pub Crawl

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator (DR 9 Returns!)

I know pumpkin beers are kind of controversial, but take my word for it: Saint Arnold's Divine Reserve Number 9, a limited-edition pumpkin imperial stout released back in 2009, was awesome.

Now, DR9 is coming back as a holiday seasonal, renamed Pumpkinator. This is the first time Saint Arnold has re-released one of their Divine Reserve selections, which are usually very limited edition and always cause Texas craft beer lovers to run around like chickens with their heads cut off to snatch up a six-pack before supplies run out. Presumably this run will be larger, so no need to knock over little old ladies in the beer aisle to get it.

Press release from Saint Arnold below:

Thirteen is a Lucky Number for Texas Craft Beer Fans

First Annual Release of Saint Arnold Pumpkinator™ Slated for October 13th

HOUSTON, October 4, 2011 – Just in time for Halloween, Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com) will resurrect one of its dearly departed brews. But Saint Arnold Pumpkinator is no zombie of a beer. Formerly released as Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 9 nearly two years ago, Pumpkinator is slated for the first of what will be an annual pre-holiday release on Thursday, October 13, 2011.

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator is an Imperial Pumpkin Stout Ale. There are a number of firsts associated with Saint Arnold Pumpinator’s release, including:

- The first new seasonal brew introduced by Saint Arnold since the release of Saint Arnold Spring Bock 13 years ago.

- The first re-release of one of the brewery’s Saint Arnold Divine Reserve recipes.

- The first beer from Saint Arnold to be released in 22-ounce bombers.

“When we first introduced Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 9 in 2009, we set out to brew a beer that would stand up to the spicing traditionally associated with pumpkin ales,” said Brock Wagner, Founder/Brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing. “Our solution was to pumpkinize an imperial stout. We loved the result. We found it to be the perfect finish to our Thanksgiving dinners – and it made our relatives much more enjoyable.”

Black with ruby highlights, Saint Arnold Pumpkinator is full of pumpkin pie spices with notes of nutmeg, caraway and vanilla. In fact, some describe the beer’s taste as chocolate pumpkin pie. For this brew, serving at temperatures of 50 degrees or higher can considerably enhance the flavor profile. As it warms, the spices move forward in the taste and the chocolate moves to the finish. The pumpkin provides a pleasant undertone and a nice mouthfeel.

Saint Arnold Pupkinator will be available in 22-ounce bombers sold separately or in 12-bomber cases and in limited draft.

Saint Arnold Santo Release Delayed

Hearing that they dumped out 11,000 gallons of beer makes me want to cry, but Saint Arnold says it's for the best:

Saint Arnold Announces Delay of Santo Release

HOUSTON, August 23, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced it will delay the release of its newest beer, Santo. The scheduled release date was September 1, 2011. Below is a statement from Brock Wagner, Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer:

We regret to announce that we are delaying the release of our newest beer, Santo. After brewing a 10 gallon test brew several months ago that we were enthusiastic about, we scaled up the recipe and recently brewed our standard 3,700 gallon batch. In fact, we have three such batches in the fermenters right now. After filtering a batch this week and getting it ready for packaging, we tasted it. It was good, but it was missing that spark that separates a good beer from a great beer. So we are dumping the over 11,000 gallons of beer we have in the tanks.

We are brewing another batch tomorrow with a series of recipe tweaks. We will taste this in two to three weeks. If we are excited about the results, we will release it then — or more likely, about three weeks later so we can brew some additional batches. If we again do not believe it is a world class beer, we'll continue tweaking. We apologize for this issue. We would rather experience the embarrassment of delaying the release than release something that isn't the best beer we can brew.

The company has not set a new release date for Santo, but the earliest a full release could occur would be sometime in October 2011.

Saint Arnold Santo: A Black Kölsch?

Sounds interesting. Press release from Saint Arnold:

HOUSTON, August 8, 2011 – What do you do if you brew a beer that doesn’t fit an existing category? You make one up. At least that is what Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com) is doing with the upcoming release of its latest creation: Santo. The company is describing its new brew as a black Kölsch – light in body and dark in color. Santo will be available on tap and in 12-ounce bottles sold in six-packs and cases throughout Texas starting on September 1, 2011.

The other big development is Santo’s packaging. Instead of the distinctive image of an outreaching St. Arnold, which continues to grace the brewery’s other beers as it has for more than 17 years, Santo features a design created by Houston artist Carlos Hernandez. His attention-grabbing “Day of the Dead” style artwork depicts a big eyed crowned skull on a bright red background.

“This is the first beer we have ever brewed that started with the packaging,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “The process started over four years ago. We originally commissioned Carlos to design new packaging for Saint Arnold Brown Ale. We loved what he came back to us with, but somehow it didn’t fit the Brown Ale. Thus began our work on creating a beer to fit the packaging, an odd process for us. The final result was a recipe we called a black Kölsch. We’ve been waiting to have the capacity available to brew it and are now very excited to begin drinking it.”

To some in the craft beer community, the black Kölsch concept is an oxymoron, since the Kölsch style is expected to have a golden appearance. However, Saint Arnold’s brewers insist that stretching the boundaries is part of the fun. Besides, despite Santo’s dark appearance, the beer maintains other characteristics of a true Kölsch. Saint Arnold uses the same special Kölsch yeast – an ale yeast that ferments at almost lager temperatures – that is used in Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer. This contributes to Santo being light bodied and floral even though it has a distinctive dark malt flavor.

Santo is brewed using pale two-row and pils malted barley, a dash of malted wheat and an addition of dark malt. Saint Arnold uses Hallertau Hersbrucker hops, added to the brew kettle in four separate cycles to create a delicate flavor and aroma. It has an original gravity of 1.045 (11.4° Plato), bitterness of 15 IBU and alcohol content (by volume) of 4.9 percent.

Santo is the sixth year-round beer from Saint Arnold. It joins Saint Arnold Amber Ale, Saint Arnold Brown Ale, Saint Arnold Elissa IPA, Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer and Saint Arnold Weedwacker in the regular lineup.

Austin-to-Saint Arnold Bus Trip

Hey Austinites, would you like to check out Saint Arnold's new brewery in Houston? And more importantly, would you like someone else to be your designated driver? Here's your chance. This is on the Saint Arnold website:

Austin to the Brewery Bus Trip

Once again it's time for another trip down to Houston to see Texas' oldest craft brewery! If you have not been to the new brewery, now is your chance. Saturday, August 20, at 10:30 am we will meet at The Flying Saucer and depart at 11 am sharp. We will get there at the end of our regular Saturday tour and enjoy some cold Saint Arnold. Then we will open the iPub for lunch and more tasty beverages. We will leave the brewery at 5 pm and return to Austin at 8 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here:

Click here for tickets!

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Reports Record First Half Production

Yeah, I was bitching just yesterday about how Texas' archaic beer laws are holding back Texas' craft brewers and making it hard to grow their businesses. Thankfully, however, some Texas brewers are swimming against that tide and expanding nonetheless. Just imagine how well they could do if our laws were more like those of California or Oregon.

Here's a press release from my favorite Houston brewer (glad to see that note about the popularity of Weedwacker — that is an absolutely marvelous beer, and I want to continue seeing on store shelves. If you haven't tried it yet, hunt some down):

HOUSTON, July 27, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today reported record first half production of more than 17,000 barrels of beer. The Houston brewery is due to expand production in the second half of 2011 with the addition of four 240-barrel fermenters to keep pace with increasing demand throughout Texas and Louisiana.

Overall, shipments from the brewery were up 22 percent with the brewhouse limited by fermentation capacity for much of the period. Sales of Saint Arnold brand beers were up 50 percent from the same period in 2010 at the distributor level as distributor inventories were depleted severely. Shipments related to the brewery’s brands that are sold primarily at BJ’s restaurants decreased as the brewery shifted more of its capacity to its Saint Arnold brands. By market, sales of Saint Arnold in San Antonio surged 102 percent over the same period in 2010, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth, up 66 percent. Houston was up 51 percent, while Austin was up 44 percent.

“We are seeing a long-term shift in people’s perceptions of what beer is and what beer can be,” said Brock Wagner, Founder/Brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing. “People in their 20s and 30s now expect a wide spectrum of flavor and diversity from their beers and they get it from Saint Arnold and other craft beers.”

Year Production % Growth

2011 (1^st Half) 17,018 barrels 22 percent

2010 31,445 barrels 22 percent

2009 25,710 barrels 13 percent

2008 22,749 barrels 28 percent

2007 17,811 barrels 30 percent

The big surprise of the first half was the enthusiasm for Saint Arnold Weedwacker, which was introduced as a year-round beer during the second quarter. Early sales of Weedwacker have rivaled Saint Arnold’s top-seller Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer.

The first half of 2011 has also been notable for Saint Arnold’s efforts to promote community. The recent Feast of Saint Arnold Week raised $15,000 for Texas Children’s Hospital IBD Clinic, the brewery’s team in the BP MS 150 raised more than $262,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the brewery donated $10,000 from the sale of Saint Arnold Elissa IPA to support the preservation of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing's ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 32 dedicated employees. The brewery was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer,” and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the “Top 5 breweries to host an event.” Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold's five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.

Feast of Saint Arnold, Benefiting Texas Children's Hospital

For my Houston-area readers, a press release from Saint Arnold:

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Launches Week-Long Celebration and Fundraiser

HOUSTON, July 11, 2011 - Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, wants to make the Texas Children’s Hospital IBD Center the leading center in the country for the treatment and study of IBD related diseases. With that in mind, on Friday, July 15, the brewery will host the Feast of Saint Arnold, culminating a week of activities to celebrate St. Arnold and the craft of brewing, which will raise funds for Texas Children’s Hospital IBD Center / Gastroenterology Clinic.

The Feast of Saint Arnold will feature dishes prepared by Scott Castell of Brenner’s. Each dish incorporates a Saint Arnold beer or root beer. Dishes of beef, pork, seafood and poultry will fill each table, and diners will be invited to sample each. They can either eat with utensils or their fingers, whatever feels right. Plus, this is no black-tie affair. In fact, it’s no tie or jacket affair. Just come hungry and casual.

“At Saint Arnold Brewing Company, we focus on two things: beer and community,” said brewery Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “We feel we are at our best when the two come together. The Feast will be the crown jewel of the week of events. We are imaging a feast like from Beowulf, but without Grendel or his mother visiting. We think St. Arnold himself would be proud.”

The Feast of Saint Arnold Week honors St. Arnold of Metz, for whom the brewery is named. St. Arnold was renowned for his piousness and generosity to the poor as well as his promotion of beer as a safe and healthy beverage. His actual feast day is July 18.

As part of the celebration, Saint Arnold Brewing will also have special beers available, in addition to their regular offerings. The special beers include chardonnay barrel aged Brown Ale with cherries as well as barrel aged Farmer Brown's Ale.

Tickets for the Feast are $85 with at least $50 per ticket going to the TCH IBD Clinic. The event is sold out. Doors will open at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 15, and The Feast of Saint Arnold will commence at 7:30. The Great Hall at Saint Arnold Brewing Company is located at 2000 Lyons Ave. in Houston.

Other events during the week include:

Monday, July 11: Starting at 2 p.m., Ginger Man, will feature rum barrel aged Winter Stout, Divine Reserve No. 11 on cask, bourbon barrel imperial stout on cask, and an auction. One dollar per pint plus a portion of auction proceeds will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic.

Tuesday, July 12: Starting at 5 p.m., Boondoggles will tap a cask of Divine Reserve No. 11. One dollar per pint will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic. Then, starting at 7 p.m., Petrol Station will tap a cask of Brown Ale, barrel aged with cherries. All proceeds will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic.

Wednesday, July 13: Starting at 7 p.m., Rudyard’s joins the celebration with a Saint Arnold Ale dinner. Tickets are $60, with $10 per ticket donated to TCH IBD Clinic, plus $1 per pint. For reservations, call 713.521.0521

Thursday, July 14: The Flying Saucer will tap a cask of Divine Reserve No. 11 and promises more surprises when that runs out. One dollar per pint will be donated to TCH IBD Clinic.

Weedwacker Returns Today

Press release from Saint Arnold:

Saint Arnold Weedwacker Returns to Taps Today, in Bottles in June

HOUSTON, May 9, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced the return of Saint Arnold Weedwacker. A cousin of the brewery’s top-selling Fancy Lawnmower Beer, Saint Arnold Weedwacker debuted in August 2010 as the inaugural brew in Saint Arnold’s Movable Yeast series. The limited supply of Weedwacker was greeted with strong demand and quickly sold out.

While Weedwacker features Bavarian hefeweizen yeast, it is not a classic hefeweizen. It is exactly the same recipe as Fancy Lawnmower Beer, a Kölsch, except for the yeast. Both are brewed with pale malted barley and a dash of malted wheat. The brewery uses imported pils and wheat malts to create the light yet rich malt body followed by four separate additions of Hallertauer Hersbrucker hops. Weedwacker is Saint Arnold’s first unfiltered year-round beer, pouring a hazy blonde. The Bavarian hefeweizen yeast gives the beer a pleasant clove spiciness and a hint of banana.

Saint Arnold Weedwacker will be available on tap (starting today) and in 12-ounce bottles (in early June) sold in six-packs and cases throughout Texas.

The introduction of Saint Arnold Weedwacker to the brewery’s lineup of year-round beers will coincide with the retirement of Saint Arnold Texas Wheat, supplies of which are expected to be available through May. Originally known as Saint Arnold Kristall Weizen, Saint Arnold Texas Wheat has been part of the brewery’s core beer lineup since shortly after opening in 1994. The recipe was tweaked and the beer renamed in 2005, but has remained a small part of the brewery’s overall product mix.

“While we would love to just keep adding beers, we also considered the production logistical issues, limited shelf space as well as how to ensure that all of our beers in the market are fresh.,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “Our conclusion was it would be best to stop Texas Wheat production. We understand that we have disappointed some fans of this beer, but we hope that having Weedwacker will more than make up for that.”

Saint Arnold Weedwacker joins top-selling Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer, Saint Arnold Elissa IPA, Saint Arnold Amber Ale and Saint Arnold Brown Ale in the brewery’s core year-round beer lineup. The brewery also has five seasonal beers, periodically releases single-batch offerings of its Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series and tweaks its existing beer recipes with different yeast to create new beers as part of its Moveable Yeast series.

Saint Arnold Discontinuing Texas Wheat

I was very surprised to hear that Saint Arnold will be discontinuing its Texas Wheat, given the popularity of wheats in our hot-weather state, but apparently it was a victim of StA's other, better-selling light-bodies beers (Lawnmower, Wheedwacker, Summer Pils). The Houston Chronicle's Ronnie Crocker has more details.

(Tip of the hat to my buddy Bill in Houston for pointing me to the Crocker article.)

Correction: DR 11 Coming Out March 29

In a previous post, I said that Saint Arnold's Divine Reserve 11 would come out April 1. Actually, the press release said "around April 1." The actual release date is now set at March 29.

Divine Reserve No. 11 Coming Out March 29

(UPDATE: So apparently, "around April 1" actually means March 29.)

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Will Go Big with Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11

HOUSTON, March 17, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today revealed plans for its upcoming release of Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11. Brewed in mid-February, Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11, is a Double IPA (India Pale Ale). The beer is slated for release around April 1, 2011 – no fooling.

The Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series was introduced more than five years ago and generates considerable excitement among craft beer fans for delivering high-quality, full-flavored beer in limited quantities. In response to frustrations voiced by some who have been unable to locate previous releases of Divine Reserve before supplies ran out, Saint Arnold significantly increased production of Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11.

“We had intended to boost production of Divine Reserve No. 10 to make it easier to find, but we ran into some challenges in the brewing process and ended up with fewer than 2,000 cases and three dozen kegs,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “We intend to come close to doubling production of Divine Reserve No. 11 so that people with jobs don’t have to take a day off to be able to score a six pack. Still, we thought previous production increases would help out with availability.”

This will be the second time the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series offered a Double IPA, but this is the first Double IPA created by the Saint Arnold brew crew (the recipe for Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 3, also a Double IPA, was based on a winning entry from the Big Bash Brew Bash). Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11 uses Simcoe, Columbus and Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest, resulting in a very citrusy, hoppy beer. More information on the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series is available at http://saintarnold.com/beers/divine.html.

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11 is priced at approximately $16 per six pack and will be available at stores, restaurants and bars in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Even with the larger quantities produced, Saint Arnold is requesting that retailers limit sales to two six packs per customer and is asking customers to limit their purchase to a six pack or two.

H

Saint Arnold Farmhouse Brown Debuts Today

The next entry in Saint Arnold's "Moveable Yeast" series debuts today. Still haven't had one of these, need to hunt this one down, especially since I love saisons. (And by the way, as I post this, I'm enjoying a Divine Reserve No.9, the pumpkin imperial stout, aged about a year and a half. Yum.) Press release from StA:

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Releases Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale

Moveable Yeast series offers alternate version of Saint Arnold Brown with saison yeast

HOUSTON, Feb. 21, 2011 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today announced plans to release the third brew of its “Movable Yeast” series: Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale. It is an alternate version of Saint Arnold Brown Ale made with Saison Yeast. A limited supply of 60 barrels (approximately 20,000 12-ounce servings) of Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale is being released today and will be available on tap at the brewery (for weekday tours only) and at select bars and restaurants throughout Texas.

The concept behind the Movable Yeast series is to focus on the flavor contribution of yeast. This release was created by brewing a regular batch of Saint Arnold Brown Ale, which was originally released in 1995, and splitting the wort (unfermented beer) into two 60 barrel fermenters. One fermenter was pitched with the usual Saint Arnold yeast to make Saint Arnold Brown Ale and the second fermenter was pitched with saison yeast to create Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale.

“I encourage craft beer lovers to try Farmer Brown’s Ale side-by-side with Saint Arnold Brown Ale to get the full impact of the saison yeast,” said Saint Arnold founder/brewer Brock Wagner. “Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale has pleasantly spicy and earthy notes, nice fruitiness, a dry finish but with a nice malt flavor to stand up to all of the yeast notes. We were so pleased with how it turned out that we moved it up from its planned release this spring.”

The previous brews in the Moveable Yeast series have been greeted with rave reviews and strong demand. Both Saint Arnold Weedwacker and Saint Arnold Altared Amber showcased the significant role yeast plays in influencing the aroma and flavor of craft beer. Supplies tend to last just a few weeks.

Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale will be available at Saint Arnold’s downtown Houston brewery for weekday tours starting today at 3 p.m. Saint Arnold Farmer Brown’s Ale will start showing up on draft in select bars and restaurants throughout Texas this week, although some accounts may choose to hold off on tapping their kegs.

Saint Arnold Pub Crawl in Austin

Hey Austinites, Saint Arnold is having a pub crawl here on Saturday. I can't make it, but y'all should go drink one for me. Details below. And if you're wondering why they can't tell exactly where they'll be, thank those idiots at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (and our state Legislature) and their stupid, arbitrary rules.

SAINT ARNOLD PUB CRAWL II, SATURDAY, JUNE 19
Since we overwhelmed some of the bars at the last Crawl, we are utilizing our "open house" schedule for the first 3 stops this time. This means that we will be punching tickets at all three of the first three stops for three hours so people can split up between the establishments. You will get your ticket at whichever stop you decide to visit first. But, VERY IMPORTANT, we will only be handing out the tickets between 6 PM and 7 PM. Thus, you still need to start between 6 and 7. Then, at 9 PM, everybody will gather at one final stop and that is where we will award the glasses. The prize for making all four stops will be our latest St. Arnold pub crawl pint glass. We will have a large but limited supply of glasses. And as always, designated drivers are both eligible for the award and encouraged to attend! We can't tell you exactly where the stops will be, so instead enjoy our vague directions and hints:

The first 3 stops between 6 PM and 9 PM:
On E. 7th St. around Red River. Expect lawyers whispering to judges.
On E. 6th St. between Sabine St. and I-35. Be a good ambassador from our republic.
On E. 6th St. just past Comal. Freedom, keep walkin', keep on your toes and don't stop talkin' 'bout freedom.

The Final Stop at 9 PM:
E. 6th St. just west of Medina. Seek nirvana.

There is plenty parking under I-35, and lots of cool food carts to get a base down!
Hope to see everyone there! (Please leave the vuvuzelas at home!)

Events and More

Okay, I'm trying to quit being a bad beer blogger and get back to tending this thing. Here's a round-up of all kinds of things sitting in my inbox, mostly upcoming events here in Austin:

• Austin's Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery held a groundbreaking ceremony today for the construction of their new brewery. Given that they're actually moving into a building that has already been constructed, they dispensed with digging their shovels into dirt and instead plowed them into a stack of spent barley (see photo.) The Co-op invites the public to a "Construction Zone Beer Social" on Saturday, May 15, 2-5pm. Also, Black Star's next Members' Assembly meeting, open to all member-owners, is on May 22, 3pm, at the Scoot Inn.
  
• Judging in the 15th Annual Big Batch Brew Bash will be held this Sunday, May 16, starting at 1pm at the Saint Arnold Brewery in Houston. The winning English-style barleywine will serve as the "inspiration" for SA's Divine Reserve No. 10, and the winning brewer will be invited to be Brewer for a Day. Four previous Big Batch winners have served as the model for previous versions of the limited-edition DR series: No. 3 (Double IPA), No.5 (Russian Imperial Stout), No.7 (Weizenbock), and No.8 (Scotch Ale).
• American Craft Beer Week will be held May 17-23. I'm sure there are several Austin bars planning events, but the only one who contacted me about it was the Draught House Pub & Brewery, which is planning on having a different brewery representative at the bar each night through Saturday, 5-8pm, and then will conclude the event Sunday, 1-3pm, with a $45 beer and cheese pairing. Go to the Draught House's website for full details.
• If you're a political conservative, you can probably skip to the next item. The nonprofit organization Drinking Liberally needs a little bit of cash, as it's facing a $6,000 budget shortfall over the next six months. If you lean to the left, both in your politics and your barstool, you may want to give to them here.
• My apologies for not posting the LifeWorks May 7 event in time. I hope lots of you made it down there and enjoyed some (512) beer.
• Every Wednesday is Pint Night at Zax Restaurant & Bar. If you get there in the next few minutes (they close at 10pm), you can enjoy something from the Real Ale Barrel Aged Series. Since it's probably too late for that, head down there May 19 for Avery IPA or May 26 for St. Arnold Summer Pils. They also report: "Our current seasonal and rotating taps include Real Ale Devil's Back Bone, St. Arnold Summer Pils, Allagash White, Victory Hop Devil and Trumer Pils. We are also excited to welcome back Live Oak Liberation IPA."